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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!

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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 custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Law & Order Season 1 Episode 1 - Prescription for Death
    7.1/10(18 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.

    Director:John Whitesell
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 2 - Subterranean Homeboy Blues
    7.7/10(11 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Robert Palm

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  3. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 3 - The Reaper's Helper
    6.7/10(11 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.

    Director:Vern Gillum
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 4 - Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die
    7.4/10(10 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.

    Director:Charles Correll
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 5 - Happily Ever After
    7.4/10(8 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.

    Director:Vern Gillum
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 6 - Everybody's Favorite Bagman
    7.4/10(9 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.

    Director:John Patterson
    Writer:Dick Wolf

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  7. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 7 - By Hooker, By Crook
    7.7/10(10 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.

    Director:Martin Davidson
    Writer:David Black

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  8. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 8 - Poison Ivy
    7.4/10(10 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 9 - Indifference
    8.1/10(11 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.

    Director:James Quinn
    Writer:Robert Palm

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  10. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 10 - Prisoner of Love
    7.0/10(10 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.

    Director:Michael Fresco
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 11 - Out of the Half-Light
    6.4/10(8 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Michael Duggan

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  12. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 12 - Life Choice
    7.4/10(8 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.

    Directors:Aaron Lipstadt, Dick Wolf
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 13 - A Death in the Family
    7.0/10(8 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.

    Director:Gwen Arner
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 14 - The Violence of Summer
    7.3/10(10 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.

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Michael Duggan

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  15. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 15 - The Torrents of Greed (1)
    7.6/10(9 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 16 - The Torrents of Greed (2)
    7.7/10(9 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Unknown

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  17. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 17 - Mushrooms
    7.6/10(8 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.

    Director:Daniel Sackheim
    Writer:Robert Palm

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  18. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 18 - The Secret Sharers
    7.1/10(8 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.

    Director:E.W. Swackhamer
    Writer:Robert Nathan

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  19. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 19 - The Serpent's Tooth
    7.4/10(8 votes)

    #19 - The Serpent's Tooth

    S1:E19

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

    Director:Don Scardino
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 20 - The Troubles
    7.5/10(8 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.

    Director:John Whitesell
    Writer:Unknown

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  21. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 21 - Sonata for Solo Organ
    7.5/10(8 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.

    Director:Fred Gerber
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 22 - The Blue Wall
    7.8/10(8 votes)

    #22 - The Blue Wall

    S1:E22

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

    Director:Vern Gillum
    Writer:Unknown

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Season 1 Ratings Summary

"Prescription for Death" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order" season 1. It scored 7.1/10 based on 18 votes. Directed by John Whitesell and written by Unknown, it aired on 9/13/1990. This episode is rated 0.6 points higher than the second-best, "Subterranean Homeboy Blues".