'Law & Order SVU' season 18 spoilers, plot news: Benson is in for more complicated work and love life

Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) will have so many issues to deal with in "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" season 18 and it begins with the death of Mike Dodds (Andy Karl).

New showrunner Rick Eid revealed during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that Benson blames herself for what happened.

Eid added that with her "high standard" as a person and as a detective, Benson will give herself a hard time to forgive herself in "Law and Order: SVU" season 18.

"I think you'll see her becoming maybe a little more protective of her team and fearing danger and becoming a little more protective of those around her. That's the direct aftermath of the shooting," Eid explained.

"Her other challenge is she's trying to make a relationship work with someone while working in a pretty difficult place with a lot of responsibility, a lot of accountability," the showrunner added, referring to Ed (Robert John Burke).

Eid said that dealing with guilt and a relationship, which he described as "complicated," might be a bit too much for even a person as strong as Benson to handle in "Law and Order: SVU" season 18.

The new season is set about a month following the death of Dodds. It is still fresh on everyone's minds especially to Dodds' father himself Chief William Dodds (Peter Gallagher).

Eid teases that there will be "some interesting things going on" with Benson and Dodds Sr. as they deal with the aftermath of the tragedy in "Law and Order: SVU" season 18.

Meanwhile, things might get more complicated for Benson with the arrival of Anthony Edwards, who worked with Hargitay on the series "ER," where they played as love interests.

There's no word on what role the actor will play in "Law and Order: SVU" season 18, but SheKnows says that if it is of the same nature as in "ER," Benson will have more problems on her hands.

"Law and Order: SVU" season 18 will premiere Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 9 p.m. EDT on NBC.