Christopher Meloni, the actor from ‘Law & Order: Organized Crime,’ penned Dean Norris’ hospital scene dialogue in Episode 2 as he said: “I am very familiar with all these characters.”

Law & Order: Organized Crime returns to Peacock with its fifth season! Starring Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler, the series follows Stabler, who came out of retirement after his wife’s murder to join Sergeant Ayanna Bell’s (Danielle Moné Truitt) Organized Crime Control Bureau. With a renewed energy and sense of purpose, Stabler works to break up New York City’s most dangerous and deadly illegal enterprises while trying to keep himself and his family safe. Since their reunion following a prolonged estrangement, Stabler depends on his brother Randall (Dean Norris) to keep an eye on things at home, including their mother, Bernadette (Ellen Burstyn).

Following his debut in Season 4, Norris joined the cast as series regular for Season 5. “I couldn’t be prouder of what Dean has been able to do with his limited talent,” joked Meloni. All kidding aside, Meloni reveals that he and his long-time pal Norris had been looking for a project to do together for a while now after starring together in an independent movie in 2014. “I rarely feel chemistry like I do with him,” said Meloni. “I admire this guy; he’s a great human being.”

Despite the ribbing, Norris says his experience within the Law & Order family has been “positive.” “Not to give him too much credit [laughs], but Chris Meloni has made it a very comfortable show for me to come on to,” said Norris, adding that the entire cast and crew have been “incredibly welcoming,” including Mariska Hargitay, who reprises her role as Detective Olivia Benson. Meloni calls Norris’ and Hargitay’s first scene together an “immediate love affair” between the two actors. “It was insane,” marveled Meloni. However, Meloni wasn’t surprised by their chemistry, noting that he didn’t have to “convince her” to make an appearance on the series.

Meloni’s and Norris’ closeness easily translates to the screen, especially when a rescue gone wrong sends Stabler to the hospital in critical condition. When asked about the scene, Norris observed that it was a “life or death situation” for the two characters. “Throughout the season, there are more moments where they become more authentically brothers,” said Norris. “That hospital bed scene is a big part of why Randall’s able to start to move on. Norris called the scene a “a brilliant piece of writing,” which is a compliment to Meloni, who happened to co-write the episode.

Meloni and Norris spoke to DECIDER during a virtual press day to discuss the new season, working with the fabulous Hargitay, and what actor(s) they think should join the Stabler family.

DECIDER: Chris, what does Dean bring to Randall that made you want to bring him back as a series regular for Season 5?

CHRISTOPHER MELONI: When I saw what Dean was bringing, I wanted to have him killed immediately [laughs], but the upper-level people wouldn’t allow that. So, I messaged Dean and coached him into a semblance of what Randall should be. I couldn’t be more proud of what Dean has been able to do with his limited talent.

DEAN NORRIS: [Laughs] He gives great notes.

CM: All joking aside, Dean and I did an independent movie ten years ago called Small Time, and we hit it off. I admire this guy; he’s a great human being.And I thought our chemistry was really special. I rarely feel chemistry like I do with him. Ever since that time, we’ve kicked around the idea of trying to get a show going together. I couldn’t have been more pleased when his name was brought up to play my brother.

DN: As soon as the team revealed that the role was the brother of Chris Meloni, I was like, “yes, for sure.”

Dean, so the experience of joining the Law & Order: OC family has been a positive one?

DN: Oh, absolutely positive. Not give him too much credit [laughs], but Chris Meloni has made it a very comfortable show for me to come on to. I just felt like part of the family right away. Ellen was incredibly welcoming too. Everyone was.

Chris, what about the storyline in Season 5 involving a case that felt like an opportunity to reunite Olivia and Elliot once again? Did you have to work hard to convince to Mariska?

CM: No, you never have to convince her, come on [laughs]. She always going to act with me. When she was introduced to Dean Norris it turned into an immediate love affair between those two. It was really insane. I was kicking around ideas with the showrunner because we knew Mariska was around. We thought that Stabler would get injured, Olivia would come to the hospital, and it would be a great introduction for Randall and Benson for their first meeting. Plus, it was a chance for people to say what they don’t usually say in front of Stabler since he’s unable to respond.

Dean, I loved Randall’s monologue delivered to the comatose Elliot in which he expresses all the anger he’d held towards his brother and then lets it go. How important is that moment for their relationship going forward?

DN: It’s a life-or-death situation. Randall had a lot of things he wanted to say. Throughout the season, there are more moments where they become more authentically brothers. That hospital bed scene is a big part of why Randall’s able to start to move on, which was a brilliant piece of writing. Did you know he wrote that episode, by the way [gestures to Chris]? Did we get to that yet?

That was my next question! Chris, to Dean’s point, Episode 2 is an important one for Stabler. Was it important for you to have a hand in that writing process?

CM: It actually was. I just felt very confident that I had an insider’s view on the essence of the Benson/Stabler relationship–how they operate, how they talk, what she needs in those fraught moments. I know all of these characters so well. I’ve always wanted to write certain sentiments for Stabler’s mother, Bernie, and Randall.

Chris, you do some prime hospital bed acting in this episode. Dean, Mariska, and Ellen have these incredibly poignant monologues/scenes over you. What’s your secret to being so present when your character is out of it?

CM: The quietness and the stillness when Dean was delivering the monologue that I wrote for him put me to sleep [laughs]. It was either fall asleep or I’d be so tense from what he was doing to the lines, the butchery that was going on. I chose to be in a comatose state rather than listen [laughs].

DN: [Laughs] The work I had to do to make that script just tolerable! I reached down to some of the earliest things I had in me as an actor for inspiration, but I think we managed it. I think tolerable is a good word.

Chris and Dean, Elliot and Randall have an unnamed brother out there. Put on your casting hat and tell me which other actor you’d like to see join the Stabler family?

CM: Denzel?

DN: Denzel would be perfect.

CM: Timothée Chalamet?



DN: He’s not—



CM: He’s not Stabler family material.

The first two episodes of Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 are now streaming on Peacock with the remaining eight episodes dropping weekly.