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The Best Episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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

Binge this in 17d 10h•Peaking at 9.3/10

In the criminal justice system, sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit.

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 7 Episode 3 - 911
    9.3/10(2815 votes)

    #1 - 911

    S7:E3

    Benson is on her way out for the evening when a call comes in from a little girl who says she's all alone. While trying to draw the girl out, Benson is drawn deeper into the little girl's life, and although the other officers begin to suspect the whole thing may be some sick joke, Benson is convinced that the little girl is the real deal. By talking to Maria, Benson is able to ferret enough information from her so that they have a place to start, but Maria's captor has an affinity for electronics and has done everything he can to make sure that no one can find the little girl he bought and paid for.

    Director:Ted Kotcheff
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 5 Episode 4 - Loss
    9.0/10(1510 votes)

    #2 - Loss

    S5:E4

    A female undercover agent for the DEA is raped and murdered, leading to a complicated investigation and the arrest of a suspect highly connected with a Colombian drug cartel. This is the toughest case of Cabot's career as she is faced with death threats on herself and her family along with pressure to yield the case to federal authorities.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writers:Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters

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  3. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 Episode 15 - Undercover
    9.0/10(1770 votes)

    #3 - Undercover

    S9:E15

    After a woman was found raped in a garden, Benson and Stabler realize that the case goes much deeper because of the victim's mother, drugs, and the realization that a corrections officer is involved. Benson decides to go undercover at the same prison where the mother is, putting herself on the other side of the fence.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Mark Goffman

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  4. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 Episode 17 - Authority
    9.0/10(2277 votes)

    #4 - Authority

    S9:E17

    An engineer plays a series of mind games with Benson and Stabler.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Neal Baer

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  5. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 12 Episode 3 - Behave
    9.0/10(1691 votes)

    #5 - Behave

    S12:E3

    A woman who has been raped multiple times is afraid to leave her house. The issue of unopened rape kits will see Detective Olivia Benson travel from New York City to Los Angeles.

    Director:Helen Shaver
    Writer:Jonathan Greene

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  6. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 17 Episode 23 - Heartfelt Passages (2)
    9.0/10(1437 votes)

    #6 - Heartfelt Passages (2)

    S17:E23

    When the investigation of Corrections Officer Gary Munson deepens, he and his union take drastic actions that threaten the lives of ADA Barba and the SVU squad.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Julie Martin, Warren Leight

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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  7. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 6 Episode 6 - Conscience
    8.9/10(1761 votes)

    #7 - Conscience

    S6:E6

    The detectives and the district attorney get played first by the teenage murderer of a young boy, and then by the victim's father, who uses his professional expertise to escape punishment for avenging his son's death.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Roger Wolfson

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  8. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 7 Episode 6 - Raw
    8.9/10(1812 votes)

    #8 - Raw

    S7:E6

    After a six-year-old boy dies in a school shooting, detectives trace the gun used back to a white supremacist's gun shop. Munch and Tutuola both face hatred and prejudice from the major suspects in the case, but their investigation soon takes them from the man who pulled the trigger back to the gun shop owner, who makes no bones about his hatred of anyone who isn't white.

    Director:Jonathan Kaplan
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 14 Episode 9 - Dreams Deferred
    8.9/10(1477 votes)

    #9 - Dreams Deferred

    S14:E9

    A man goes on a killing spree, but he has links to a prostitute that Benson encountered in an earlier investigation, so the FBI contacts SVU for information.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writers:Julie Martin, Warren Leight

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  10. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 6 Episode 4 - Scavenger
    8.8/10(1624 votes)

    #10 - Scavenger

    S6:E4

    The entire squad races against the clock to solve the puzzles and uncover the clues scattered throughout the city by a serial killer who is taunting them to find him and the next victims on his list.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 10 Episode 21 - Liberties
    8.8/10(1294 votes)

    #11 - Liberties

    S10:E21

    A favor for a judge who is hearing a harassment case sends Stabler and Benson to interview a death-row serial killer in order to determine the fate of his son.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 10 Episode 22 - Zebras
    8.8/10(1599 votes)

    #12 - Zebras

    S10:E22

    A murder in Central Park that involves a tourist puts the SVU on high alert, but when the suspect they've brought in for questioning escapes, Munch has to reach out to an ex-wife in an effort to prevent another killing that's closer to home.

    Director:Peter Leto
    Writer:Daniel Truly

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  13. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 11 Episode 12 - Shadow
    8.8/10(1472 votes)

    #13 - Shadow

    S11:E12

    When a rich and powerful couple with political connections is found murdered in their bedroom, Detectives Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler decide to speak to the deceased couple's daughter, Anne, for more information. After hearing Anne's account of a nefarious man who has been following her, the detectives soon discover that Anne's supposed stalker is none other than Detective Ash Ramsey of the Special Frauds division. Convinced that Anne killed her parents for their money, Ramsey becomes suspicious of Anne's business manager and is led to believe that he helped her steal money from the foundation she runs. When blackmail and embezzlement come into play, the detectives find that their lives may be at risk over a girl with some serious parent issues.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 14 Episode 19 - Born Psychopath
    8.8/10(1475 votes)

    #14 - Born Psychopath

    S14:E19

    The SVU detectives investigate after a school nurse notices multiple injuries on a young girl; Detective Amaro tries to bond with his recently discovered son.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Julie Martin, Warren Leight

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  15. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 14 Episode 24 - Her Negotiation
    8.8/10(1257 votes)

    #15 - Her Negotiation

    S14:E24

    The detectives uncover a shocking theory as they work to learn the identity of a man Rollins arrested for exposing himself in the park.

    Director:Norberto Barba
    Writers:Julie Martin, Warren Leight

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  16. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 15 Episode 1 - Surrender Benson
    8.8/10(1684 votes)

    #16 - Surrender Benson

    S15:E1

    The SVU squad searches for Detective Benson and her abductor.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writers:Julie Martin, Warren Leight

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  17. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 26 Episode 8 - Cornered
    8.8/10(589 votes)

    #17 - Cornered

    S26:E8

    Carisi tries to protect two women taken hostage in a tense standoff between police and a violent thief. Benson and Rollins devise a risky plan to get everyone to safety.

    Director:Juan José Campanella
    Writers:Julie Martin, David Graziano

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  18. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 2 Episode 15 - Countdown
    8.7/10(1121 votes)

    #18 - Countdown

    S2:E15

    The detectives become a little edgy after working around the clock to find an abducted girl when clues point to a serial murderer and rapist who kills his victims on the third day. After trapping the killer, they are prepared to give him the death penalty until they find out that one of his victims was never found and he offers her location as a plea bargain.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Dawn DeNoon, Lisa Marie Petersen

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  19. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 2 Episode 18 - Manhunt
    8.7/10(1070 votes)

    #19 - Manhunt

    S2:E18

    The details of a kidnapping are similar to a series of rapes and murders that may link the crime to a serial killer.

    Director:Stephen Wertimer
    Writer:Jeff Eckerle

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  20. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4 Episode 20 - Dominance
    8.7/10(1422 votes)

    #20 - Dominance

    S4:E20

    A quadruple homicide with sexual overtones is just the start of an intense rampage of a serial killer that brings a homicide detective into the mix. As the entire squad races against time to prevent further victims, the evidence uncovers a horrible situation of incest and abuse.

    Director:Steve Shill
    Writers:Jonathan Greene, Robert F. Campbell

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  21. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 5 Episode 24 - Poison
    8.7/10(1032 votes)

    #21 - Poison

    S5:E24

    A young girl is in a coma after ingesting detergent and her mother is suspected of poisoning her. A biased judge makes the case hard to prosecute which leads to an investigation into his past.

    Director:David Platt
    Writers:Michele Fazekas, Tara Butters

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  22. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 7 Episode 19 - Fault
    8.7/10(1434 votes)

    #22 - Fault

    S7:E19

    A manhunt ensues when Victor Paul Gitano, a recently released sex offender, kidnaps two children after killing the rest of their family. Benson and Stabler pursue Gitano only to find their own relationship challenged as both experience opportunities where they put their personal relationship ahead of their job. After having her throat slashed, Benson requests for a new partner when she hears what Stabler has to say about their relationship and their job.

    Director:Paul McCrane
    Writer:Michele Fazekas

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  23. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 8 Episode 22 - Screwed
    8.7/10(1464 votes)

    #23 - Screwed

    S8:E22

    Darius Parker, goes on trial for the rape and murder of a woman and her 14-month old child. The case brings Fin under fire from the media and even has Munch and Stabler at odds. Novak prosecutes the trial that brings Stabler and Tutuola, among others, to the stand. Many previous stories are brought into the trial.

    Director:Arthur W. Forney
    Writer:Judith McCreary

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  24. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 9 Episode 1 - Alternate
    8.7/10(1691 votes)

    #24 - Alternate

    S9:E1

    Benson and Stabler investigate a suspected child abuse case only to learn that the woman who reported it is the real case.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Neal Baer

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  25. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 10 Episode 3 - Swing
    8.7/10(1554 votes)

    #25 - Swing

    S10:E3

    Stabler is shocked when his daughter, Kathleen, becomes the suspect in an investigation to catch a trespasser. He seeks his estranged mother's help in dealing with his daughter's case.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Unknown

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Best Episodes Summary

"911" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit". It scored 9.3/10 based on 2815 votes. Directed by Ted Kotcheff and written by Unknown, it aired on 10/4/2005. This episode scored 0.3 points higher than the second highest rated, "Loss".