Summary
Choosing the best episodes ofLaw & Order: SVUis nearly as difficult as choosing a favorite one-liner by Benson. With a whopping 26 seasons in total so far,Law & Order: SVUhas had more emotional, thought-provoking, and radicallyunhinged criminals than any other crime show on cable. With superstarsOlivia Benson and Elliot Stabler tag-teamingthe helm of New York City’s Special Victim’s Unit, they’ve become fan favorites with a massive following.
It’s easy to see why when each episode ends with either hope or utter heartbreak. Occasionally, an episode ends on a cliffhanger, some of which become the best back-to-back episodes in the series.Ranking each of the bestSVUepisodes based on their emotional impactisn’t easy, but someone needs to do it.
10"Outcry"
Season 6, Episode 5
In this episode, a young Amanda Seyfried plays the role of Tandi McCain, an assault victim. Her original testimony claims three Army cadet students attacked her, but in this twisted narrative, Benson and Stabler begin to believe otherwise.
In a shocking turn, it’s revealed that McCain’s stepfather is the abuser. With a clear-cut message about the lengths victims may go to protect their families,“Outcry"was just as heartbreaking as it was sobering.
9"Scavenger”
Season 6, Episode 4
“Scavenger"was a break from tradition forSVUand still had viewers on the edge of their seats. The episode follows the entire cast of detectives as they attempt to track down a criminal who repeatedly taunts the department.
Taking inspiration from history’s most notorious serial killers, this episode had nods to the games and puzzle-like cluesthat real-life detectiveshad to follow in casessuch as the Zodiac killer.
8"Heartfelt Passages”
Season 17, Episode 23
While it’s not the first death thatSVUhas seen on the show, this Season 17 episode is particularly harrowing. After corrections officer Gary Munson is put on trial for abusing female inmates, Benson and Sargeant Dodds show up at his house and walk right into a hostage situation.
Dodds has his wife and children held at gunpoint and, while Benson finally saves his family, she is unable to save Dodds. Tragically,“Heartfelt Passages"was the sergeant’s last episode as he succumbs to his wounds at the hospital. This episode showcased the risks for those who give everything in the line of duty, reminding viewers that it’s not always a happy ending.
7"Dominance”
Season 4, Episode 20
One of the aspects ofSVUthat makes it so thrilling to watch is its intense openings.“Dominance"was no exception, and opens with a quadruple homicide. The crime scene is discovered by a couple meant to be attending a dinner party (the hosts of which are now dead), and the body count continues to increase steadily from this opening scene on.
Ian Somerhalder’s performance with his on-screen brother, played by Jason Ritter, is convincing and altogether chilling, and it makes this episode a standout in Season 4, and likely helped boost Somerhalder’s subsequent TV pedigree in shows likeLostandThe Vampire Diaries.
6"Born Psychopath”
Season 14, Episode 19
Tragedy always unfolds onSVUwhen children are involved as victims, and these are often the most disturbing—albeit powerful—episodes. However, sometimes the episode turns out to be far more twisted than viewers originally expected, which was the case with"Born Psychopath."
While this episode starts with Benson and Stabler investigating a little girl’s parents for abuse, the abuser turns out to be someone no one expected: her older brother, played by Ethan Cutkosky. His performance in this role was truly disturbing, and it stuck with fans for quite some time after the episode aired.
5"911"
Season 7, Episode 3
The detectives must make some tough callsonSVU, and"911"proved that sometimes, making the unpopular call is the right one. Olivia Benson shines in this episode, fighting for a victim who no one can confirm is actually real.
After receiving a 911 call from a little girl named Maria, Benson is determined to find her before it’s too late. The anticipation builds throughout this entire episode until the last minute when they finally discover that Maria is not only real, but she’s also very much alive, and very much in danger.
4"Authority"
Season 9, Episode 17
“Authority"is an emotional roller coaster to begin with, but that emotion is heightened thanks to the brilliant performance of the late Robin Williams as a guest star. Tackling the role of an audio engineer by the name of Merritt Rook, Williams plays a convincing abuser who calls fast-food establishments with directions to detain and strip-search employees.
While Rook is acquitted, Benson and Stabler continue to stay on his tail, until Benson gets a little too close and becomes a kidnapping victim herself. The end of this episode is full of drama, tension, and explosives, and is arguably one of the best in the entire series.
3"Delinquent”
Season 12, Episode 23
One thing (of many) thatSVUdoes well is burying the lead.“Delinquent"is an episode that proves not all is as it seems, and takes fans on a twisted journey through the world of child abuse.
This episode follows Hunter, ateenager believed to be an abuser. As the episode progresses, Hunter turns on the detectives and accuses Stabler of abusing him, leading to an effort by Stabler to clear his name of crimes he didn’t commit. By the end, both Benson and Stabler find the truth—that Hunter wasn’t the abuser, but the one being abused.
2"Loss”
Season 5, Episode 4
“Loss"is one ofSVU’s most memorable episodes, with Stephanie March playing the role of a determined Alex Cabot as ADA. When Cabot prosecutes Rafael Zapata Gaviria, a powerful member of the Colombian cartel, her life is also threatened in the process.
The episode comes to a head when Cabot is seemingly killed by the cartel in a drive-by. Moments after her funeral, viewers find out that Cabot is very much alive, but was forced into witness protection. March’s performance is what sells this episode, and her fearlessness shines through in every scene.
1"Surrender Benson”
Season 15, Episode 1
Mariska Hargitay is an incredible actress, delivering powerful and emotional performances that can single-handedly reduce an audience to tears. The William Lewis saga is ongoing throughoutSVU, and"Surrender Benson"shows a pivotal moment when Benson is captured, tortured, and psychologically tormented by the very serial abuser she hunted.
Pablo Schreiber’s portrayal of Lewis is all too believable, and Benson’s performance as his victim is nothing short of perfection. While this episode was tough to watch, it also demonstrated just how strong one woman can be in the face of her abductor,even in a crime drama.
