Law & Order backdrop
Law & Order poster
Crime
Drama

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!

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...
  1. Background image for Prescription For Death
    8.0/10(888 votes)

    #1 - Prescription For Death

    S1:E1

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  2. Background image for Subterranean Homeboy Blues
    7.4/10(684 votes)

    #2 - Subterranean Homeboy Blues

    S1:E2

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  3. Background image for The Reaper's Helper
    7.5/10(622 votes)

    #3 - The Reaper's Helper

    S1:E3

    The death of a man with AIDS appears to be the work of a serial killer who may have been motivated by mercy.

    0 Comments
    View all
  4. Background image for Kiss the Girls And Make Them Die
    7.5/10(574 votes)

    #4 - Kiss the Girls And Make Them Die

    S1:E4

    Stone has difficulty prosecuting a privileged preppie with a history of abusing his girlfriends after one of them dies at his hands.

    0 Comments
    View all
  5. Background image for Happily Ever After
    7.6/10(527 votes)

    #5 - Happily Ever After

    S1:E5

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  6. Background image for Everybody's Favorite Bagman
    7.6/10(584 votes)

    #6 - Everybody's Favorite Bagman

    S1:E6

    The mugging of a councilman leads the detectives to arrest a mobster, who in turn leads Stone and Robinette to corrupt city officials.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Writer:Dick Wolf
  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Law & Order

    READ
  8. Background image for By Hooker, By Crook
    7.5/10(528 votes)

    #7 - By Hooker, By Crook

    S1:E7

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  9. Background image for Poison Ivy
    7.8/10(515 votes)

    #8 - Poison Ivy

    S1:E8

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Writer:Unknown
  10. Background image for Indifference
    8.4/10(602 votes)

    #9 - Indifference

    S1:E9

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
  11. Background image for Prisoner Of Love
    7.2/10(492 votes)

    #10 - Prisoner Of Love

    S1:E10

    A city arts commissioner and a socialite come under investigation when an artist noted for his sadomasochistic themes is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

    0 Comments
    View all
  12. Background image for Out Of The Half-Light
    7.7/10(495 votes)

    #11 - Out Of The Half-Light

    S1:E11

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
  13. Background image for Life Choice
    7.8/10(498 votes)

    #12 - Life Choice

    S1:E12

    Stone faces pressure from the public and from Schiff as he prepares to prosecute the person accused of bombing an abortion clinic.

    0 Comments
    View all
  14. Background image for A Death In The Family
    7.6/10(463 votes)

    #13 - A Death In The Family

    S1:E13

    Police start a citywide manhunt for a man suspected of killing a cop during a rooftop pursuit.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Gwen Arner
  15. Background image for The Violence Of Summer
    7.7/10(516 votes)

    #14 - The Violence Of Summer

    S1:E14

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  16. Background image for The Torrents Of Greed (1)
    7.8/10(476 votes)

    #15 - The Torrents Of Greed (1)

    S1:E15

    An assault on a candy storeowner leads Stone and Robinette to build a case against a powerful mafia don.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Writer:Unknown
  17. Background image for The Torrents Of Greed (2)
    7.9/10(471 votes)

    #16 - The Torrents Of Greed (2)

    S1:E16

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown
  18. Background image for Mushrooms
    8.0/10(493 votes)

    #17 - Mushrooms

    S1:E17

    The accidental shooting of two children by a 14-year-old hired killer leads to a drug dealer and a real estate agent.

    0 Comments
    View all
  19. Background image for The Secret Sharers
    7.4/10(419 votes)

    #18 - The Secret Sharers

    S1:E18

    Stone faces a flashy Texas lawyer and a hostile community as he tries to prosecute a young man accused of killing a drug dealer.

    0 Comments
    View all
    Director:Unknown
  20. Background image for The Serpent's Tooth
    7.5/10(419 votes)

    #19 - The Serpent's Tooth

    S1:E19

    Two brothers appear to be the logical suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents.

    0 Comments
    View all
  21. Background image for The Troubles
    7.7/10(433 votes)

    #20 - The Troubles

    S1:E20

    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.

    0 Comments
    View all
  22. Background image for Sonata For Solo Organ
    8.0/10(450 votes)

    #21 - Sonata For Solo Organ

    S1:E21

    Stone and Robinette prosecute a surgeon and the wealthy father of a transplant patient for illegally obtaining a kidney.

    0 Comments
    View all
  23. Background image for The Blue Wall
    8.1/10(440 votes)

    #22 - The Blue Wall

    S1:E22

    Cragen comes under suspicion when his mentor in the department is investigated for laundering drug money.

    0 Comments
    View all

Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Prescription For Death" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order" season 1. It scored 8/10 based on 888 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".