8.1/10794 votes#1 - Prescription For Death
Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1990
When a young woman dies during a hectic emergency room night shift, her father claims the hospital was negligent, and an investigation leads the detectives to believe that the doctor treating her may have been drunk on duty.
Director: John Whitesell
Writer: David Black, Ed Zuckerman
7.5/10616 votes#2 - Subterranean Homeboy Blues
Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/1990
The shooting of two black men by a white woman in a crowded subway initially appears to be a case of self-defense, but further investigation reveals revenge as a possible motive.
Director: E.W. Swackhamer
Writer: Robert Palm
7.5/10565 votes#3 - The Reaper's Helper
Season 1 Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/1990
The death of a man with AIDS appears to be the work of a serial killer who may have been motivated by mercy.
Director: Vern Gillum
Writer: David Black, Robert Nathan
7.5/10520 votes#4 - Kiss the Girls And Make Them Die
Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1990
Stone has difficulty prosecuting a privileged preppie with a history of abusing his girlfriends after one of them dies at his hands.
Director: Charles Correll
Writer: Robert Nathan
7.6/10477 votes#5 - Happily Ever After
Season 1 Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1990
Greevey and Logan have a hunch that robbery is a cover for the real motive in the death of a millionaire in a parking garage.
Director: Vern Gillum
Writer: David Black, Robert Nathan
7.6/10531 votes#6 - Everybody's Favorite Bagman
Season 1 Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1990
The mugging of a councilman leads the detectives to arrest a mobster, who in turn leads Stone and Robinette to corrupt city officials.
Director: John Patterson
Writer: Dick Wolf
7.5/10482 votes#7 - By Hooker, By Crook
Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/1990
When Logan and Greevey investigate how a family man came to be found unconscious in Central Park, they uncover a very high-class call girl operation run by a well-educated socialite.
Director: Martin Davidson
Writer: David Black
7.8/10471 votes#8 - Poison Ivy
Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/1990
The shooting of a black honors student stirs up racial tensions, especially after it becomes apparent that the cop responsible for the death may have planted a gun on the body to excuse the shooting.
Director: E.W. Swackhamer
Writer: N/A
8.4/10549 votes#9 - Indifference
Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/27/1990
During the investigation into the death of a little girl in a respectable, middle-class family, Greevey and Logan uncover a myriad of family secrets involving abuse, molestation, and murder.
Director: N/A
Writer: Robert Palm
7.3/10454 votes#10 - Prisoner Of Love
Season 1 Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/1990
A city arts commissioner and a socialite come under investigation when an artist noted for his sadomasochistic themes is found dead under suspicious circumstances.
Director: Michael Fresco
Writer: Robert Nathan
7.8/10461 votes#11 - Out Of The Half-Light
Season 1 Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/1990
Greevey and Logan's investigation into a black teenager's claim that she was raped by white policemen is hampered by a publicity hungry, black politician who will not grant the detectives access to the victim.
Director: N/A
Writer: Michael Duggan
7.9/10457 votes#12 - Life Choice
Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 1/8/1991
Stone faces pressure from the public and from Schiff as he prepares to prosecute the person accused of bombing an abortion clinic.
Director: Aaron Lipstadt, Dick Wolf
Writer: David Black, Robert Nathan
7.6/10424 votes#13 - A Death In The Family
Season 1 Episode 13 - Aired 1/15/1991
Police start a citywide manhunt for a man suspected of killing a cop during a rooftop pursuit.
Director: Gwen Arner
Writer: David Black
7.7/10474 votes#14 - The Violence Of Summer
Season 1 Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/1991
Greevey and Logan reopen an investigation to help Stone and Robinette build a stronger case against three boys accused of gang-raping a TV reporter.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Michael Duggan
7.9/10438 votes#15 - The Torrents Of Greed (1)
Season 1 Episode 15 - Aired 2/12/1991
An assault on a candy storeowner leads Stone and Robinette to build a case against a powerful mafia don.
Director: E.W. Swackhamer
Writer: N/A
8.0/10429 votes#16 - The Torrents Of Greed (2)
Season 1 Episode 16 - Aired 2/19/1991
Stone tries to salvage his prosecution of the Masucci family when Beigel faces bribery charges and seems willing to turn against his brother-in-law.
Director: N/A
Writer: N/A
8.1/10447 votes#17 - Mushrooms
Season 1 Episode 17 - Aired 2/26/1991
The accidental shooting of two children by a 14-year-old hired killer leads to a drug dealer and a real estate agent.
Director: Daniel Sackheim
Writer: Robert Palm
7.4/10382 votes#18 - The Secret Sharers
Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/12/1991
Stone faces a flashy Texas lawyer and a hostile community as he tries to prosecute a young man accused of killing a drug dealer.
Director: N/A
Writer: Robert Nathan
7.6/10380 votes#19 - The Serpent's Tooth
Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 3/19/1991
Two brothers appear to be the logical suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents.
Director: Don Scardino
Writer: Robert Nathan, René Balcer
7.7/10393 votes#20 - The Troubles
Season 1 Episode 20 - Aired 3/26/1991
Logan is forced to face his cultural biases when both a Cuban drug dealer and an Irish terrorist are suspected of killing a Lebanese gunrunner.
Director: John Whitesell
Writer: Dick Wolf, Robert Palm
8.0/10413 votes#21 - Sonata For Solo Organ
Season 1 Episode 21 - Aired 4/2/1991
Stone and Robinette prosecute a surgeon and the wealthy father of a transplant patient for illegally obtaining a kidney.
Director: Fred Gerber
Writer: Michael Duggan
8.1/10404 votes#22 - The Blue Wall
Season 1 Episode 22 - Aired 6/9/1991
Cragen comes under suspicion when his mentor in the department is investigated for laundering drug money.
Director: Vern Gillum
Writer: Robert Nathan, Dick Wolf
The Best Episodes of Law & Order Season 1
Every episode of Law & Order Season 1 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Law & Order Season 1!
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...
Genres:CrimeDrama
Network:NBC
Season 1 Ratings Summary
"Prescription For Death" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order" season 1. It scored 8.1/10 based on 794 votes. Directed by John Whitesell and written by David Black, Ed Zuckerman, it aired on 9/13/1990. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Subterranean Homeboy Blues".