Though judging from the limited story details that have surfaced concerning Stabler’s current-day situation and his emotional headspace, the character’s return may inspire as much worry and stress as it does smiles and warm feelings.
You can tell Warren Leight is purposefully understating things, possibly not to make everyone else in that video read-through jealous of Christopher Meloni for getting all of the attention.
And just in case any fans out there suspected that Meloni might have just been popping by as a spectator only, the “original character” hashtag there very likely seals the deal that Detective Stabler is in the building.