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The Best Episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20

Every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20!

Binge this in 17h 12m•Peaking at 8.7/10

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
    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 1 - Man Up
    8.0/10(920 votes)

    #1 - Man Up

    S20:E1

    Teenager Sam Conway shows evidence of rape but refuses to name his attacker. Meanwhile, Benson and Rollins confess to some major life changes.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Julie Martin, Michael S. Chernuchin

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  2. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 2 - Man Down
    8.1/10(962 votes)

    #2 - Man Down

    S20:E2

    In the conclusion to the season premiere, ADA Stone blames himself for the shocking verdict in Sam's case, and before Benson can offer help, Sam makes a tragic decision.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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  3. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 3 - Zero Tolerance
    7.4/10(1263 votes)

    #3 - Zero Tolerance

    S20:E3

    After the rescue of a young girl from a sex trafficker, Benson and Stone must take drastic measures to reunite her with her mother. Meanwhile, Rollins decides to give her rocky relationship another chance.

    Director:Michael Pressman
    Writers:Céline C. Robinson, Richard Sweren

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  4. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 4 - Revenge
    8.0/10(981 votes)

    #4 - Revenge

    S20:E4

    As a string of break-in assaults grows more violent, the cops investigate an online incel group to identify a suspect.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writers:Lawrence Kaplow, Michael S. Chernuchin

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  5. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 5 - Accredo
    7.6/10(815 votes)

    #5 - Accredo

    S20:E5

    A member of a women's empowerment group is found murdered, leading the cops to the group's charismatic male leader. Meanwhile, Rollins keeps her pregnancy under wraps to avoid going on desk duty.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writers:Julie Martin, Brianna Yellen

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  6. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 6 - Exile
    7.8/10(959 votes)

    #6 - Exile

    S20:E6

    A young woman wakes up in the hospital with no memory of her assault, and Carisi's investigation stalls when she disappears.

    Director:Stephanie A. Marquardt
    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Allison Intrieri

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  7. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 7 - Caretaker
    7.8/10(988 votes)

    #7 - Caretaker

    S20:E7

    The cops wrestle with an unthinkable crime when a family is murdered in their sleep.

    Director:Jono Oliver
    Writer:Jordan Barsky

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  8. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 8 - Hell's Kitchen
    7.7/10(935 votes)

    #8 - Hell's Kitchen

    S20:E8

    When a waitress at a popular restaurant is sexually assaulted, SVU looks for the culprit at the top of the culinary food chain, but Benson and Stone hit a wall when it's time to prosecute.

    Director:Monica Raymund
    Writers:Richard Sweren, Ryan Causey

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  9. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 9 - Mea Culpa
    8.0/10(816 votes)

    #9 - Mea Culpa

    S20:E9

    Stone asks Benson to investigate a sexual encounter from his past that he feels guilt and uncertainty about; Rollins considers a proposal from Doctor Al.

    Director:Mariska Hargitay
    Writers:Julie Martin, Michael S. Chernuchin

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  10. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 10 - Alta Kockers
    8.7/10(1134 votes)

    #10 - Alta Kockers

    S20:E10

    The investigation into a promising new author’s death leads to a decades-old secret kept between two reclusive brothers.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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  11. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 11 - Plastic
    8.2/10(910 votes)

    #11 - Plastic

    S20:E11

    A woman accuses a celebrity plastic surgeon and his girlfriend of rape.

    Director:Fred Berner
    Writers:Brianna Yellen, Lawrence Kaplow

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  12. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 12 - Dear Ben
    8.2/10(852 votes)

    #12 - Dear Ben

    S20:E12

    Stone takes up the unsolved cold case of a serial rapist that consumed his father’s career

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writers:Julie Martin, Matt Klypka

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  13. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 13 - A Story of More Woe
    8.1/10(834 votes)

    #13 - A Story of More Woe

    S20:E13

    Benson tries to help two teenaged sisters after their father is killed. Meanwhile, Rollins goes into labor.

    Director:Ray McKinnon
    Writers:Julie Martin, Céline C. Robinson

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  14. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 14 - Part 33
    6.1/10(1177 votes)

    #14 - Part 33

    S20:E14

    As Stone prosecutes the case of a woman who killed her abusive husband, Benson and her squad wrestle with the duty of testifying against her.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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  15. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 15 - Brothel
    8.0/10(737 votes)

    #15 - Brothel

    S20:E15

    Benson and the team investigate the death of a prostitute at a brothel. They wonder if there was foul play or if this could be a case of a junkie who relapsed, turned to tricking, got depressed and committed suicide.

    Director:Michael Pressman
    Writers:Julie Martin, Ryan Causey

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  16. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 16 - Facing Demons
    8.2/10(730 votes)

    #16 - Facing Demons

    S20:E16

    Benson and the SVU investigate the death of a man they believe to be a pedophile. When they dig deeper, they realize things are not what they seem and that the case actually hits really close to home.

    Director:Timothy Busfield
    Writers:Richard Sweren, Allison Intrieri

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  17. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 17 - Missing
    8.0/10(714 votes)

    #17 - Missing

    S20:E17

    The SVU pursues a suspect when a child is discovered in the trunk of an abandoned car.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Matt Klypka

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  18. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 18 - Blackout
    8.0/10(739 votes)

    #18 - Blackout

    S20:E18

    When defense attorney Nikki Staines is raped after a police charity event, Benson reluctantly looks to her own for a suspect.

    Director:Christopher Misiano
    Writer:Peter Blauner

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  19. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 19 - Dearly Beloved
    7.6/10(728 votes)

    #19 - Dearly Beloved

    S20:E19

    The SVU investigates a he-said, she-said case when a woman crashes a wedding to accuse her therapist of sexual assault.

    Director:Lucy Liu
    Writers:Richard Sweren, Allison Intrieri

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  20. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 20 - The Good Girl
    7.5/10(689 votes)

    #20 - The Good Girl

    S20:E20

    Benson and the team work to uncover a pregnant teenager's secret when she refuses to name the baby's father.

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writers:Brianna Yellen, Lawrence Kaplow

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  21. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 21 - Exchange
    7.7/10(674 votes)

    #21 - Exchange

    S20:E21

    Benson helps a teenaged exchange student after she's assaulted by a cab driver.

    Director:Michael Pressman
    Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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  22. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 22 - Diss
    7.1/10(718 votes)

    #22 - Diss

    S20:E22

    When a pop star is assaulted in her home, the SVU investigates the public feud between her rapper husband and a competing recording artist; Fin's family ties to a suspect take him off the case.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Allison Intrieri

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  23. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 23 - Assumptions
    6.9/10(717 votes)

    #23 - Assumptions

    S20:E23

    The SVU searches for two suspects spotted fleeing the scene after a Muslim woman is assaulted inside a synagogue. Meanwhile, Benson is dismayed to find Rob Miller out on bail.

    Director:Fred Berner
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 20 Episode 24 - End Game
    7.8/10(686 votes)

    #24 - End Game

    S20:E24

    When a teenager is found dead in the Hudson River, Lt. Benson suspects Rob Miller is behind the mysterious death but can't prove it. Despite having only circumstantial evidence, ADA Stone takes the case to court before Miller can destroy more lives.

    Director:Alex Chapple
    Writers:Julie Martin, Michael S. Chernuchin

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Season 20 Ratings Summary

"Man Up" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" season 20. It scored 8/10 based on 920 votes. Directed by Alex Chapple and written by Julie Martin, Michael S. Chernuchin, it aired on 9/27/2018. This episode is rated 0.1 points higher than the second-best, "Man Down".