Mariska Hargitay delivered a performance, unmatched by pretty much anyone but herself, in Law & Order: SVU‘s 500th episode. Any attempt to explain the impact of Hargitay’s skills tends to fall short, but the need to celebrate something that goes far beyond just “acting” remains. How do we mark this landmark accomplishment, of not only staying with a character like Olivia Benson for 23 seasons and counting, but also making her more real—more human and emotionally devastating with nearly every outing? Maybe there are no answers. But with a once-in-a-lifetime talent such as Hargitay’s, one feels obligated to say, “I
