The Best Episodes of Law & Order Season 4

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Fan Favorite
   

   8.1/10(450 votes)

   #1 - Sweeps

   S4:E19/15/1993

   A guest is murdered on-air on a controversial talk show. Meanwhile Logan and Briscoe have a new boss, Lt. Anita Van Buren, and Stone gets a new collague; the police and district attorney attempt to prosecute the show's abrasive host.

   Director:James Frawley

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Craig McNeer

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   Director:James Frawley

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Craig McNeer
2. 

   7.6/10(403 votes)

   #2 - Volunteers

   S4:E29/29/1993

   A disruptive, unbalanced homeless man is found severely beaten in an alley of the middle class neighborhood he calls home, leading Stone to try and prosecute one of the residents for premeditated murder.

   Director:James Quinn

   Writer:René Balcer

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   Director:James Quinn

   Writer:René Balcer
3. 

   7.8/10(384 votes)

   #3 - Discord

   S4:E310/6/1993

   A college student charges an admittedly promiscuous rock star with rape, but he claims the act was consensual.

   Director:Edwin Sherin

   Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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   Director:Edwin Sherin

   Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin
4. 

   8.1/10(427 votes)

   #4 - Profile

   S4:E410/13/1993

   Stone finds himself up against an ambitious black lawyer defending a white, racist serial killer.

   Director:E.W. Swackhamer

   Writer:Unknown

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   Director:E.W. Swackhamer

   Writer:Unknown
5. 

   7.7/10(398 votes)

   #5 - Black Tie

   S4:E510/20/1993

   The police suspect a cover up when they receive an anonymous tip that a wealthy man was murdered by his wife, who refuses to allow an autopsy after a physician declares that the death occurred from natural causes.

   Director:Arthur W. Forney

   Writers:Walon Green, Michael S. Chernuchin

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   Director:Arthur W. Forney

   Writers:Walon Green, Michael S. Chernuchin
6. 

   7.8/10(389 votes)

   #6 - Pride and Joy

   S4:E610/27/1993

   A 17-year-old boy becomes the chief suspect in the murder of his father, raising questions of self-defense and abuse that the family does not want to face.

   Director:Gilbert M. Shilton

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Edward Pomerantz

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   Director:Gilbert M. Shilton

   Writers:Robert Nathan, Edward Pomerantz
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7. 

   6.3/10(370 votes)

   #7 - Apocrypha

   S4:E711/3/1993

   Stone and Kincaid try to prove that the young woman believed to have planted a bomb in a parking garage had been brainwashed and was acting under the direct orders of a charismatic cult leader.

   Director:Gabrielle Beaumont

   Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin

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   Director:Gabrielle Beaumont

   Writer:Michael S. Chernuchin
8. 

   8.6/10(430 votes)

   #8 - American Dream

   S4:E811/9/1993

   A skeleton unearthed at a building site resurrects one of Stone's old cases, and brings him face to face with the tenacious, brilliant culprit, who is seeking a new trial.

   Director:Constantine Makris

   Writer:Sibyl Gardner

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   Director:Constantine Makris

   Writer:Sibyl Gardner
9. 

   7.4/10(408 votes)

   #9 - Born Bad

   S4:E911/16/1993

   A lawyer decides to defend her teenage client charged with murder as an adult with the claim that he's violent because of a genetic predisposition due to an extra Y chromosome.

   Director:Fred Gerber

   Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Sally Nemeth

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   Director:Fred Gerber

   Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, Sally Nemeth
10. 

    7.2/10(344 votes)

    #10 - The Pursuit of Happiness

    S4:E1012/1/1993

    A "green-card" bride from Russia is suspected of murdering her rich, but cold husband, who was threatening to divorce her just weeks before she would qualify to remain in this country.

    Director:Dann Florek

    Writers:Morgan Gendel, Robert Nathan

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    Director:Dann Florek

    Writers:Morgan Gendel, Robert Nathan
11. 

    7.6/10(367 votes)

    #11 - Golden Years

    S4:E111/5/1994

    An emaciated elderly woman is found dead of an apparent heart attack and her granddaughter is charged with neglect and grave indifference to human life.

    Director:Helaine Head

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Helaine Head

    Writer:Unknown
12. 

    7.8/10(360 votes)

    #12 - Snatched

    S4:E121/12/1994

    A millionaire friend of Schiff's won't cooperate with the police following his son's kidnapping.

    Director:Constantine Makris

    Writers:Walon Green, René Balcer

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    Director:Constantine Makris

    Writers:Walon Green, René Balcer
13. 

    7.8/10(381 votes)

    #13 - Breeder

    S4:E131/19/1994

    While investigating a woman's claim that she passed out in a taxi and awoke to find her newborn missing, Briscoe and Logan uncover a scam involving private adoptions.

    Director:Arthur W. Forney

    Writers:René Balcer, Michael S. Chernuchin

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    Director:Arthur W. Forney

    Writers:René Balcer, Michael S. Chernuchin
14. 

    7.9/10(413 votes)

    #14 - Censure

    S4:E142/2/1994

    A phone call threatening a woman's young daughter leads to a case that causes Kincaid to resign from Schiff's office because of an affair in her past.

    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writer:William N. Fordes

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    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writer:William N. Fordes
15. 

    7.5/10(355 votes)

    #15 - Kids

    S4:E152/9/1994

    A 14-year-old's shooting death involves the son of a former police detective, who's also an old friend of Briscoe's.

    Director:Don Scardino

    Writers:Robert Nathan, Michael Harbert

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    Director:Don Scardino

    Writers:Robert Nathan, Michael Harbert
16. 

    7.9/10(352 votes)

    #16 - Big Bang

    S4:E163/2/1994

    A scientist becomes the chief suspect when his estranged wife, who's been delaying divorce proceedings, is the victim of a letter bomb.

    Director:Dann Florek

    Writer:Ed Zuckerman

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    Director:Dann Florek

    Writer:Ed Zuckerman
17. 

    8.1/10(463 votes)

    #17 - Mayhem

    S4:E173/9/1994

    During a 24-hour period, Briscoe and Logan have a heavy caseload that includes 5 unrelated murders and a domestic quarrel, which results in the maiming of the husband.

    Director:James Quinn

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:James Quinn

    Writer:Unknown
18. 

    7.3/10(339 votes)

    #18 - Wager

    S4:E183/30/1994

    Briscoe and Logan bet that the killing of a star athlete's father is linked to gambling debts and threats to the baseball player's family.

    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writer:Unknown
19. 

    7.8/10(399 votes)

    #19 - Sanctuary

    S4:E194/13/1994

    A black minister fans the flames of racial intolerance after a hit-and-run in Harlem claims the life of a 12-year-old and the Jewish driver isn't indicted.

    Director:Arthur W. Forney

    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, William N. Fordes

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    Director:Arthur W. Forney

    Writers:Michael S. Chernuchin, William N. Fordes
20. 

    7.5/10(367 votes)

    #20 - Nurture

    S4:E205/4/1994

    Briscoe and Logan investigate the disappearance of a child from her abusive foster home and find her being held by a loving but disturbed woman who insists she has acted only for the child's own good.

    Director:Jace Alexander

    Writers:Ed Zuckerman, Paris Qualles

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    Director:Jace Alexander

    Writers:Ed Zuckerman, Paris Qualles
21. 

    6.9/10(352 votes)

    #21 - Doubles

    S4:E215/18/1994

    An assailant breaks the wrist of a tennis player prior to a tournament, and a competitor is among the suspects.

    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writers:René Balcer, Michael S. Chernuchin

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    Director:Edwin Sherin

    Writers:René Balcer, Michael S. Chernuchin
22. 

    8.3/10(435 votes)

    #22 - Old Friends

    S4:E225/25/1994

    A truck hits a pedestrian and the investigation reveals the victim's link to a baby-food company in which a new partner has connections to the Russian mob.

    Director:James Quinn

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:James Quinn

    Writer:Unknown