Law & Order: Special Victims Unit 1999
“Hope in the darkness.”
Trailer
Overview
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit is an American police procedural crime drama television series created by Dick Wolf for NBC. The program serves as the first spin-off of Law & Order, effectively expanding the original production into a broader franchise. The series focuses on the criminal justice system in New York City, where sexually-based offenses are considered especially heinous. The narrative follows the dedicated detectives who serve as members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit, tasked with investigating these vicious felonies. The original cast included Christopher Meloni, who starred as Detective Elliot Stabler. In one recorded instance, detectives Benson and Stabler investigate the murder of a young woman who was initially believed to be a prostitute and the latest in a long line of victims. The show is often shortened to Law & Order: SVU or SVU. The series premiered in 1999 and continues to document the stories of the investigators who work within this specialized unit of the police department.
Should you watch it?
“Elite detectives in New York City investigate heinous sexually-based offenses within the criminal justice system.”
- focused police procedural
- established franchise spin-off
- depicts vicious felonies
Watch it if you enjoy intense crime dramas centered on specialized police investigations.
The series features themes involving vicious felonies and sexually-based offenses.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — answers are spoiler-safe.
Your verdict
Is Law & Order: Special Victims Unit worth watching?
Cast
Episode guide
Season 1 · 22 episodes
- E1 Payback Sep 20, 1999
- E2 A Single Life Sep 27, 1999
- E3 ...Or Just Look Like One Oct 4, 1999
- E4 Hysteria Oct 11, 1999
- E5 Wanderlust Oct 18, 1999
- E6 Sophomore Jinx Oct 25, 1999
- E7 Uncivilized Nov 15, 1999
- E8 Stalked Nov 22, 1999
- E9 Stocks & Bondage Nov 29, 1999
- E10 Closure Jan 7, 2000
- E11 Bad Blood Jan 14, 2000
- E12 Russian Love Poem Jan 21, 2000
- E13 Disrobed Feb 4, 2000
- E14 Limitations Feb 11, 2000
- E15 Entitled (I) Feb 18, 2000
- E16 The Third Guy Feb 25, 2000
- E17 Misleader Mar 31, 2000
- E18 Chat Room Apr 14, 2000
- E19 Contact Apr 28, 2000
- E20 Remorse May 5, 2000
- E21 Nocturne May 12, 2000
- E22 Slaves May 21, 2000
Season 2 · 21 episodes
- E1 Wrong Is Right Oct 20, 2000
- E2 Honor Oct 27, 2000
- E3 Closure (2) Nov 3, 2000
- E4 Legacy Nov 10, 2000
- E5 Baby Killer Nov 17, 2000
- E6 Noncompliance Nov 24, 2000
- E7 Asunder Dec 1, 2000
- E8 Taken Dec 15, 2000
- E9 Pixies Jan 12, 2001
- E10 Consent Jan 19, 2001
- E11 Abuse Jan 26, 2001
- E12 Secrets Feb 2, 2001
- E13 Victims Feb 9, 2001
- E14 Paranoia Feb 16, 2001
- E15 Countdown Feb 23, 2001
- E16 Runaway Mar 2, 2001
- E17 Folly Mar 23, 2001
- E18 Manhunt Apr 20, 2001
- E19 Parasites Apr 27, 2001
- E20 Pique May 4, 2001
- E21 Scourge May 16, 2001
Season 3 · 23 episodes
- E1 Repression Sep 28, 2001
- E2 Wrath Oct 5, 2001
- E3 Stolen Oct 12, 2001
- E4 Rooftop Oct 19, 2001
- E5 Tangled Oct 26, 2001
- E6 Redemption Nov 2, 2001
- E7 Sacrifice Nov 9, 2001
- E8 Inheritance Nov 16, 2001
- E9 Care Nov 23, 2001
- E10 Ridicule Dec 14, 2001
- E11 Monogamy Jan 4, 2002
- E12 Protection Jan 11, 2002
- E13 Prodigy Jan 18, 2002
- E14 Counterfeit Jan 25, 2002
- E15 Execution Feb 1, 2002
- E16 Popular Mar 1, 2002
- E17 Surveillance Mar 8, 2002
- E18 Guilt Mar 29, 2002
- E19 Justice Apr 5, 2002
- E20 Greed Apr 26, 2002
- E21 Denial May 3, 2002
- E22 Competence May 10, 2002
- E23 Silence May 17, 2002
Season 4 · 25 episodes
- E1 Chameleon Sep 27, 2002
- E2 Deception Oct 4, 2002
- E3 Vulnerable Oct 11, 2002
- E4 Lust Oct 18, 2002
- E5 Disappearing Acts Oct 25, 2002
- E6 Angels Nov 1, 2002
- E7 Dolls Nov 8, 2002
- E8 Waste Nov 15, 2002
- E9 Juvenile Nov 22, 2002
- E10 Resilience Dec 6, 2002
- E11 Damaged Jan 10, 2003
- E12 Risk Jan 17, 2003
- E13 Rotten Jan 24, 2003
- E14 Mercy Jan 31, 2003
- E15 Pandora Feb 7, 2003
- E16 Tortured Feb 14, 2003
- E17 Privilege Feb 21, 2003
- E18 Desperate Mar 14, 2003
- E19 Appearances Mar 28, 2003
- E20 Dominance Apr 4, 2003
- E21 Fallacy Apr 18, 2003
- E22 Futility Apr 25, 2003
- E23 Grief May 2, 2003
- E24 Perfect May 9, 2003
- E25 Soulless May 16, 2003
Season 5 · 25 episodes
- E1 Tragedy Sep 23, 2003
- E2 Manic Sep 30, 2003
- E3 Mother Oct 7, 2003
- E4 Loss Oct 14, 2003
- E5 Serendipity Oct 21, 2003
- E6 Coerced Oct 28, 2003
- E7 Choice Nov 4, 2003
- E8 Abomination Nov 11, 2003
- E9 Control Nov 18, 2003
- E10 Shaken Nov 25, 2003
- E11 Escape Dec 2, 2003
- E12 Brotherhood Jan 6, 2004
- E13 Hate Jan 13, 2004
- E14 Ritual Feb 3, 2004
- E15 Families Feb 10, 2004
- E16 Home Feb 17, 2004
- E17 Mean Feb 24, 2004
- E18 Careless Mar 2, 2004
- E19 Sick Mar 30, 2004
- E20 Lowdown Apr 6, 2004
- E21 Criminal Apr 20, 2004
- E22 Painless Apr 27, 2004
- E23 Bound May 4, 2004
- E24 Poison May 11, 2004
- E25 Head May 18, 2004
Frequently asked questions
What is the show about?
It follows an elite squad of detectives in New York City who investigate sexually-based offenses.
Who created the series?
The series was created by Dick Wolf.
Is it part of a larger franchise?
Yes, it is the first spin-off of the Law & Order series.
Who starred in the series?
The series originally starred Christopher Meloni as Detective Elliot Stabler.
Where does the show take place?
The investigations occur in New York City.