The Best Episodes of Law & Order Season 1

#1 Fan Favorite
8.1/10(953 votes)
#1 - Prescription For Death
S1:E19/13/1990
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
Writers:David Black, Ed Zuckerman
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Director:John Whitesell
Writers:David Black, Ed Zuckerman
7.4/10(727 votes)
#2 - Subterranean Homeboy Blues
S1:E29/20/1990
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
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Robert Palm
7.5/10(669 votes)
#3 - The Reaper's Helper
S1:E310/4/1990
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
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
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Director:Vern Gillum
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
7.5/10(616 votes)
#4 - Kiss the Girls And Make Them Die
S1:E410/11/1990
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
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Director:Charles Correll
Writer:Robert Nathan
7.6/10(570 votes)
#5 - Happily Ever After
S1:E510/23/1990
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
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
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Director:Vern Gillum
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
7.6/10(618 votes)
#6 - Everybody's Favorite Bagman
S1:E610/30/1990
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
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Director:John Patterson
Writer:Dick Wolf

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7.5/10(562 votes)
#7 - By Hooker, By Crook
S1:E711/13/1990
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
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Director:Martin Davidson
Writer:David Black
7.8/10(550 votes)
#8 - Poison Ivy
S1:E811/20/1990
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:Unknown
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Unknown
8.5/10(651 votes)
#9 - Indifference
S1:E911/27/1990
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:Unknown
Writer:Robert Palm
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Robert Palm
7.2/10(524 votes)
#10 - Prisoner Of Love
S1:E1012/4/1990
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
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Director:Michael Fresco
Writer:Robert Nathan
7.8/10(530 votes)
#11 - Out Of The Half-Light
S1:E1112/11/1990
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:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Michael Duggan
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Michael Duggan
7.9/10(531 votes)
#12 - Life Choice
S1:E121/8/1991
Stone faces pressure from the public and from Schiff as he prepares to prosecute the person accused of bombing an abortion clinic.
Directors:Aaron Lipstadt, Dick Wolf
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
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Directors:Aaron Lipstadt, Dick Wolf
Writers:David Black, Robert Nathan
7.6/10(491 votes)
#13 - A Death In The Family
S1:E131/15/1991
Police start a citywide manhunt for a man suspected of killing a cop during a rooftop pursuit.
Director:Gwen Arner
Writer:David Black
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Director:Gwen Arner
Writer:David Black
7.7/10(548 votes)
#14 - The Violence Of Summer
S1:E142/5/1991
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
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Director:Don Scardino
Writer:Michael Duggan
7.8/10(507 votes)
#15 - The Torrents Of Greed (1)
S1:E152/12/1991
An assault on a candy storeowner leads Stone and Robinette to build a case against a powerful mafia don.
Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Unknown
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Unknown
7.9/10(499 votes)
#16 - The Torrents Of Greed (2)
S1:E162/19/1991
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:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Unknown
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Unknown
8.1/10(527 votes)
#17 - Mushrooms
S1:E172/26/1991
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
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Director:Daniel Sackheim
Writer:Robert Palm
7.4/10(448 votes)
#18 - The Secret Sharers
S1:E183/12/1991
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:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Robert Nathan
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Director:E.W. Swackhamer
Writer:Robert Nathan
7.5/10(448 votes)
#19 - The Serpent's Tooth
S1:E193/19/1991
Two brothers appear to be the logical suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents.
Director:Don Scardino
Writers:Robert Nathan, René Balcer
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Director:Don Scardino
Writers:Robert Nathan, René Balcer
7.6/10(465 votes)
#20 - The Troubles
S1:E203/26/1991
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
Writers:Dick Wolf, Robert Palm
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Director:John Whitesell
Writers:Dick Wolf, Robert Palm
8.0/10(479 votes)
#21 - Sonata For Solo Organ
S1:E214/2/1991
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
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Director:Fred Gerber
Writer:Michael Duggan
8.1/10(477 votes)
#22 - The Blue Wall
S1:E226/9/1991
Cragen comes under suspicion when his mentor in the department is investigated for laundering drug money.
Director:Vern Gillum
Writers:Dick Wolf, Robert Nathan
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Director:Vern Gillum
Writers:Dick Wolf, Robert Nathan