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The Best Episodes of Law & Order

Every episode of Law & Order ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Law & Order!

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In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Law & Order Season 23 Episode 5 - Last Dance
    9.2/10(6 votes)

    #1 - Last Dance

    S23:E5

    When a woman is found murdered in Central Park, evidence points to two frequent park-goers: a street vendor and a tech billionaire. In the face of extreme political pressure, McCoy takes drastic action to make the case.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writers:Rick Eid, Pamela J. Wechsler

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  2. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 3 - Turn the Page
    8.8/10(6 votes)

    #2 - Turn the Page

    S23:E3

    When a young woman is strangled, Yee connects the MO to a potential serial offender, leading Riley to revisit a case that went cold on his watch. Price makes a risky move to bait one of their own on the stand.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writer:Rick Eid

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  3. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 12 - No Good Deed
    8.8/10(4 votes)

    #3 - No Good Deed

    S23:E12

    Shaw and Riley investigate the death of a therapist with a long list of troubled clients. Baxter takes over Price's chair when a disturbing connection to the defendant is discovered.

    Director:Eriq La Salle
    Writer:Rick Eid

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  4. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 5 - Report Card
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #4 - Report Card

    S24:E5

    A student is accused of killing his teacher. When the suspect's age puts the case in limbo, Price and Maroun put the school's policies on trial. Shaw's attempts to connect with the suspect backfire.

    Director:Nestor Carbonell
    Writers:Pamela J. Wechsler, Ajani Jackson

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  5. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 9 - Enemy of the State
    8.8/10(5 votes)

    #5 - Enemy of the State

    S24:E9

    Shaw and Riley discover a shocking motive after a young man is pushed in front of a train. When the trial hinges on a piece of legislation Baxter wrote, Price must convince Baxter to testify.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writers:Scott Gold, Ajani Jackson

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  6. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 19 - Play with Fire (I)
    8.8/10(4 votes)

    #6 - Play with Fire (I)

    S24:E19

    A mysterious phone call to Capt. Benson of the SVU leads detectives to the scene of a brutal murder. When the SVU and the 2-7 uncover a pattern of rape and murder targeting marginalized women, Carisi and ADA Price team up to charge the suspect with multiple crimes. The crossover continues on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S26E19 Play with Fire (II).

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writers:Rick Eid, Art Alamo

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Law & Order

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  7. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 5 - Bend the Knee
    8.8/10(4 votes)

    #7 - Bend the Knee

    S25:E5

    A law partner with prominent government clients is murdered. Baxter must consider making political concessions for the case to be a success.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writer:Scott Gold

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  8. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 14 - Remedies
    8.8/10(2 votes)

    #8 - Remedies

    S25:E14

    The 2-7 arrests an unlikely suspect when a popular wellness personality is murdered. Price and Maroun must determine if revealing the victim's past will help or hurt their case.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writer:Jennifer Vanderbes

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  9. Law & Order Season 13 Episode 23 - Couples
    8.7/10(9 votes)

    #9 - Couples

    S13:E23

    Briscoe and Green catch four murders and a kidnapping on the same day, and get handed confessions in each case.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Lorenzo Carcaterra

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  10. Law & Order Season 22 Episode 15 - Fear and Loathing
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #10 - Fear and Loathing

    S22:E15

    Cosgrove and Shaw must unravel a string of false crime reports to get to the truth surrounding a respected doctor's murder. Shaw becomes the target of retaliation when he files a complaint against two patrol officers.

    Director:Yangzom Brauen
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 6 - Brotherly Love
    8.7/10(5 votes)

    #11 - Brotherly Love

    S25:E6

    A respected restauranteur with a gambling problem is murdered, and Baxter and Price disagree on the best approach to a conviction. Meanwhile, Riley's brother is released from prison.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writer:Rick Eid

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  12. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 16 - Fate's Cruel Joke
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #12 - Fate's Cruel Joke

    S25:E16

    After a woman's body is discovered in a suitcase, Price and Maroun disagree over the charges to bring against the prime suspect. Riley faces scrutiny when he's involved in an on-duty car accident.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writer:Art Alamo

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  13. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 18 - Ride or Die
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #13 - Ride or Die

    S25:E18

    A talented local news reporter is brutally murdered. Maroun's mentor takes the case for the defense, pitting Maroun against the woman who shaped her career.

    Director:Oscar Rene Lozoya II
    Writers:Jennifer Vanderbes, Jolie Huang

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  14. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 21 - Liberty
    8.7/10(3 votes)

    #14 - Liberty

    S25:E21

    The murder of a military hero draws the FBI into Brady's investigation. As political pressure rises during Baxter's reelection campaign, Price and Maroun worry that a series of unusual courtroom rulings mean the judge is in the defendant's pocket.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writers:Rick Eid, Scott Gold

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  15. Law & Order Season 3 Episode 6 - Helpless
    8.6/10(11 votes)

    #15 - Helpless

    S3:E6

    Dr. Olivet accuses her gynecologist of rape, but Stone finds his case in trouble when he discovers that Olivet tape-recorded the crime.

    Director:James Frawley
    Writers:Christine Roum, Michael S. Chernuchin

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  16. Law & Order Season 4 Episode 8 - American Dream
    8.6/10(10 votes)

    #16 - American Dream

    S4:E8

    A skeleton unearthed at a building site resurrects one of Stone's old cases, and brings him face to face with the tenacious, brilliant culprit, who is seeking a new trial.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Sibyl Gardner

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  17. Law & Order Season 6 Episode 21 - Pro Se
    8.6/10(7 votes)

    #17 - Pro Se

    S6:E21

    The investigation into multiple homicides at a clothing store leads to the arrest of a schizophrenic who presents McCoy with a formidable opponent when he decides to represent himself.

    Director:Lewis Gould
    Writers:René Balcer, I.C. Rapoport

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  18. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 4 - Unintended Consequences
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #18 - Unintended Consequences

    S23:E4

    Shaw and Riley investigate a real estate agent's murder. After they speak with prominent clients, an unexpected witness appears. Price and Maroun struggle to convince a jury of motive and face a difficult decision about their only witness.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writers:Pamela J. Wechsler, Gia Gordon

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  19. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 13 - In Harm's Way
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #19 - In Harm's Way

    S23:E13

    When a sports star is killed, Shaw and Riley suspect the shooter missed their intended target. Baxter's daughter comes forward as a witness, but her testimony could impact his campaign.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writers:Pamela J. Wechsler, Jennifer Vanderbes

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  20. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 10 - Greater Good
    8.6/10(5 votes)

    #20 - Greater Good

    S24:E10

    When a music mogul is found dead, Shaw and Riley clash with an undercover officer unwilling to cooperate. Price and Baxter disagree on whether the victim's reputation could help or hinder the jury's decision in the case.

    Director:Eriq La Salle
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 10 - Inconvenient Truth
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #21 - Inconvenient Truth

    S23:E10

    Shaw and Riley investigate the death of a prominent chef when he's stabbed in his own restaurant. Price has hesitations about prosecuting the defendant after new evidence comes to light.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 11 - Castle in the Sky
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #22 - Castle in the Sky

    S23:E11

    When a real estate developer is found dead in one of his buildings, Shaw and Riley sift through a long list of suspects. Dixon is concerned for the welfare of the defendant's young daughter.

    Director:Milena Govich
    Writer:Art Alamo

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  23. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 6 - Time Will Tell
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #23 - Time Will Tell

    S24:E6

    When the dean of a swanky prep school is murdered, Shaw and Riley must dig into the toxic system of pressure on the students to succeed. Brady's son asks for a favor.

    Directors:Milena Govich, Rick Eid
    Writers:Rick Eid, Scott Gold

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  24. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 8 - Bad Apple
    8.5/10(6 votes)

    #24 - Bad Apple

    S24:E8

    After a narcotics officer is shot in the back, Brady returns to her old precinct to investigate the murder. When the suspect's story doesn't add up, she enlists Shaw and Riley to discover the truth.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writer:Art Alamo

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  25. Law & Order Season 24 Episode 15 - Crossing Lines
    8.5/10(4 votes)

    #25 - Crossing Lines

    S24:E15

    When an up-and-coming politician is found dead, Shaw and Riley untangle the victim's personal life to identify a suspect. Baxter recuses himself to help Price make the case.

    Director:Fred Berner
    Writers:Pamela J. Wechsler, Marley Schneier

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Best Episodes Summary

"Last Dance" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order". It scored 9.2/10 based on 6 votes. Directed by Alex Hall and written by Rick Eid, Pamela J. Wechsler, it aired on 2/22/2024. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Turn the Page".