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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 25 Critic Reviews

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66

USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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6.8

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6.8	Your Score
6.8	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 35 Ratings

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Now Playing: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Series Details & Credits

NBC | Release Date: September 20, 1999

Summary: "In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."

Genre(s): Drama, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Recent Episodes

tbd
S24:E17. Lime Chaser
Air Date: March 30, 2023
tbd
S24:E16. The Presence of Absence
Air Date: March 23, 2023
tbd
S24:E15. King of The Moon
Air Date: February 23, 2023

See all Seasons and Episodes

Metascore

66

Positive:

14

Mixed:

11

Negative:

0

Critic Reviews

100

Washington Post

Tom Shales

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: Sparse, tough, nuts-and-bolts, hit-and-run TV. You'd need a magnifying glass to find a nuance. But it works, and grippingly. Read full review

80

Miami Herald

Terry Jackson

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: It's only measured against that formidable benchmark that the spinoff falls short of those expectations. It's a solid drama, but it's no Law & Order - yet...On its own, it's a good show. But it's got the genes to be great. [20 Sept 1999, p.1E]

75

USA Today

Robert Bianco

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: It takes a while to pull you in -- but once it does, you're likely to stay. [20 Sept 1999, p.1D]

70

Variety

Phil Gallo

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: First episode lacks the energy and grit of the first season of "Law & Order," but Anthony Jannelli's camera work reveals the guilty, and director Jean De Segonzac and editor Doug Ibold keep the action taught even when it's apparent exactly where things are headed. Read full review

50

People Weekly

Terry Kelleher

Jun 28, 2013

Season 5 Review: Sometimes compelling and sometimes too lurid to take. Read full review

50

San Jose Mercury News/Contra Costa Times

Mike Antonucci

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: There are lots of problems with the Special Victims premiere, chief among them being the focus on Olivia Benson, the female detective played by Mariska Hargitay. In a misguided rush to establish the character's background story and motivation as a cop, the episode's key moment is a revelation about an intimate detail of her life. It comes way before we have enough reason to care about her. [20 Sept 1999, p.7C]

40

Orlando Sentinel

Hal Boedeker

Feb 22, 2013

Season 1 Review: The problem is that the new show makes the original look far better...There isn't enough special yet about this Special Victims Unit. [19 Sept 1999, p.F1]

SEE ALL 25 REVIEWS

Write a Review

6.8

User Reviews

10

shaunheale

Sep 6, 2020

Jamie Gray Hyder is the prefect addition to the main cast. She bi-racial, smart, intelligent, feisty, and believable. She makes a good team with the Iceman.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

10

cruuuux18

Jan 19, 2021

i love it, it is the best show i've watched that is crime... i love ice-t, he´s my favorite actor on the show ....

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

10

randyf23456

Sep 18, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This show was exceptionally written, the way the character's change is a good idea because we don't want the same characters for the entire show. The way SVU has developed and created more suspenseful and mystical episode plots including "Return of the Prodigal Son", "Hunt, Trap, Rape and Release" and "Post-Graduate Psychopath".… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

Ohiobabe3637161

Nov 4, 2021

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I love this show so much I have been watching this show since 1999 and I am watching it now I am a huge fan of all the law and order… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

5

Shabakayahya

Aug 15, 2020

I found it redundant themes and predictable. No freshness to it. And the characters lacked credibility

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

4

Datgirlnetta

Jul 19, 2020

Great show. I can watch it all day long!! I love when they have the marathons.

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

0

Roadwater

Jul 21, 2019

This series of programmes is just drivel. The story lines are contrived and unbelievable, and, to make matters worse, the acting is really poor. In the UK, the programmes are often broadcast late at night, and, for some strange reason, my wife tends to watch them then. I sat through a fewThis series of programmes is just drivel. The story lines are contrived and unbelievable, and, to make matters worse, the acting is really poor. In the UK, the programmes are often broadcast late at night, and, for some strange reason, my wife tends to watch them then. I sat through a few episodes, to see if I could find any justification for my wife's interest in them - I could find none. I now see them as a cure for insomnia, as long as the volume is turned down, so that the frequent bouts of shouting, tyre screeching etc. do not wake me. Complete rubbish - a vote of zero is generous.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

SEE ALL 13 REVIEWS

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Seasons & Episodes

66

Series Overview
Season 24

tbd
- Season 24 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E17. Lime Chaser
  Air Date: March 30, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E16. The Presence of Absence
  Air Date: March 23, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E15. King of The Moon
  Air Date: February 23, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E14. Dutch Tears
  Air Date: February 16, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E13. Intersection
  Air Date: February 2, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E12. Blood Out
  Air Date: January 26, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E11. Soldier Up
  Air Date: January 12, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E10. Jumped In
  Air Date: January 5, 2023
- tbd
  S24:E9. And A Trauma In A Pear Tree
  Air Date: December 8, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E8. A Better Person
  Air Date: November 17, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E7. Dead Ball
  Air Date: November 10, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E6. Controlled Burn
  Air Date: November 3, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E5. Breakwater
  Air Date: October 27, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E4. The Steps We Cannot Take
  Air Date: October 13, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E3. Mirror Effect
  Air Date: October 6, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E2. The One You Feed
  Air Date: September 29, 2022
- tbd
  S24:E1. Gimme Shelter - Part Two
  Air Date: September 22, 2022
Season 23

tbd
- Season 23 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2021
Season 22

tbd
- Season 22 Overview
  Air Date: November 12, 2020
Season 21

tbd
- Season 21 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2019
Season 20

tbd
- Season 20 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2018
Season 19

tbd
- Season 19 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2017
Season 18

tbd
- Season 18 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2016
Season 17

tbd
- Season 17 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2015
Season 16

tbd
- Season 16 Overview
  Air Date: September 24, 2014
Season 15

tbd
- Season 15 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 2013
Season 14

tbd
- Season 14 Overview
  Air Date: September 26, 2012
Season 13

tbd
- Season 13 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2011
Season 12

tbd
- Season 12 Overview
  Air Date: September 22, 2010
Season 11

tbd
- Season 11 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2009
Season 10

tbd
- Season 10 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2008
Season 9

tbd
- Season 9 Overview
  Air Date: September 25, 2007
Season 8

tbd
- Season 8 Overview
  Air Date: September 19, 2006
Season 7

tbd
- Season 7 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 2005
Season 6

tbd
- Season 6 Overview
  Air Date: September 21, 2004
Season 5

tbd
- Season 5 Overview
  Air Date: September 23, 2003
Season 4

tbd
- Season 4 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2002
Season 3

tbd
- Season 3 Overview
  Air Date: September 28, 2001
Season 2

tbd
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: October 20, 2000
Season 1

68
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1999