Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critics

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USER SCORE

Universal acclaim based on 49 Ratings

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8.2

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8.2	Your Score
8.2	User Score Universal acclaim based on 49 Ratings

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Season Details & Credits

NBC | Season Premiere Date: September 20, 1999

Starring: Kelli Giddish, B.D. Wong, Christopher Meloni

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."
This hard-hitting and emotional companion series from NBC's Law & Order"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."
This hard-hitting and emotional companion series from NBC's Law & Order franchise chronicles the life and crimes of the elite Special Victims Unit of the New York Police Department. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was created by Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf. SVU celebrated its 200th episode in April 2008.
Although Law & Order: Special Victims Unit carries the brand name Law & Order, the newer program has established a strong unique identity and has proved itself as a hit in its own right. In the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 seasons, the series broke into the Top 20. Mariska Hargitay has won a Golden Globe and Emmy each for her portrayal of Det. Olivia Benson. It also garnered Emmy wins for guest-stars Amanda Plummer, Leslie Caron, and Cynthia Nixon. The past three seasons, SVU has been NBC's highest-rated drama. Additionally, the series' popularity was recognized with the People's Choice Awards, Image Awards, Satellite Awards, and the TV Guide Awards with nominations for Favorite New Series.
The drama follows Det. Elliot Stabler, a seasoned veteran of the unit who has seen it all, and his partner, Olivia Benson, whose difficult past is the reason she joined the unit. Overseeing the team is Capt. Donald Cragen. Cragen's tough but supportive approach to the team's complex cases guides the squad through the challenges they face every day. Also featured is Det. John Munch, a transfer from Baltimore's homicide unit, who brings his acerbic wit, conspiracy theories and street-honed investigative skills. Munch is partnered with Det. Odafin Tutuola, whose unique sense of humor and investigative experience make him a formidable match for Munch. Assistant District Attorney Kim Greylek adds a legal component to the series through her efforts to bring closure to the intense investigations. Also aiding the detectives is forensic psychiatrist Dr. George Huang, whose insight into the minds of the accused often provides significant clues that lead to the resolution of a case, and M.E. Melinda Warner, who helps the detectives get the evidence they need from the bodies they find.
NBC Broadcast History:
September 1999 to November 1999 – Mondays at 9:00 p.m.
January 2000 to May 2003 – Fridays at 10:00 p.m.
September 2003 to May 2009 – Tuesdays at 10:00 p.m.
September 2009 to Present – Wednesdays at 9:00 p.m.… Expand

Creator: Dick Wolf

Genre(s): Drama, Suspense

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Show Guide

66
Series Overview
68
Season 1 Overview
Air Date: September 20, 1999
tbd
22. Slaves
Air Date: May 19, 2000
tbd
21. Nocturne
Air Date: May 12, 2000
tbd
20. Remorse
Air Date: May 5, 2000
tbd
19. Contact
Air Date: April 28, 2000
tbd
18. Chat Room
Air Date: April 14, 2000
tbd
17. Misleader
Air Date: March 31, 2000
tbd
16. The Third Guy
Air Date: February 25, 2000
tbd
15. Entitled
Air Date: February 18, 2000
tbd
14. Limitations
Air Date: February 11, 2000
tbd
13. Disrobed
Air Date: February 4, 2000
tbd
12. Russian Love Poem
Air Date: January 21, 2000
tbd
11. Bad Blood
Air Date: January 14, 2000
tbd
10. Closure
Air Date: January 7, 2000
tbd
9. Stocks & Bondage
Air Date: November 29, 1999
tbd
8. Stalked
Air Date: November 22, 1999
tbd
7. Uncivilized
Air Date: November 15, 1999
tbd
6. Sophomore Jinx
Air Date: October 25, 1999
tbd
5. Wanderlust
Air Date: October 18, 1999
tbd
4. Hysteria
Air Date: October 11, 1999
tbd
3. …Or Just Look Like One
Air Date: October 4, 1999
tbd
2. A Single Life
Air Date: September 27, 1999
tbd
1. Payback
Air Date: September 20, 1999

Metascore

Positive:

Mixed:

Negative:

Critic Reviews

100

Tom Shales

Feb 22, 2013

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

Caryn James

Feb 22, 2013

A crackling-sharp spinoff...The show swiftly finds its balance. Not every series lends itself to cloning, but the essential qualities of "Law and Order" seem made for it: headline-generated stories resolved in self-contained episodes; a no-nonsense tone; a cast large enough to vary the focus. Read full review

Los Angeles Times Howard Rosenberg

Feb 22, 2013

Despite a bizarre courtroom sequence that strains credibility early in the episode, this is a very good start for Special Victims Unit, which promises to be a solid cop drama capable of occasionally stretching toward greatness. Read full review

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Rob Owen

Feb 22, 2013

As a loyal "Homicide" viewer, for me Munch is the best part of SVU, especially in tonight's scene where he explains his departure from Baltimore. [20 Sept 1999, p.B-1]

New York Post Michele Greppi

Feb 22, 2013

If the crimes that drive "Law & Order" have the cops who solve them and the lawyers who prosecute them shaking their heads, the sex crimes dealt with by Special Victims will have the cops - and viewers - holding onto their stomachs. Read full review

Seattle Post-Intelligencer John Levesque

Feb 22, 2013

At times, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit flashes the same no-nonsense style of its sire: spare writing, quick pacing, ripped-from-the-headlines plot. But for much of the time, tonight's premiere is enervating, plodding and dull, which seems kind of odd when you're dealing with crimes of passion. [20 Sept 1999, p.E-3]

Orlando Sentinel Hal Boedeker

Feb 22, 2013

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]

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User Score

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8.2

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Mixed:

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User Reviews

maddog13

Apr 24, 2014

This show is amazing! The acting is phenomenal! Mariska Hargitay should win many awards for her performance in the Save Benson Saga. I had the privilege of going behind the scenes to meet the cast and crew. I couldn't believe how hard-working and talented these people are! Tune in to NBC onThis show is amazing! The acting is phenomenal! Mariska Hargitay should win many awards for her performance in the Save Benson Saga. I had the privilege of going behind the scenes to meet the cast and crew. I couldn't believe how hard-working and talented these people are! Tune in to NBC on Wednesdays at 9/8c. HELP #RenewSVU… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

nautico

Sep 25, 2014

It's still a good show, but I miss Chris Meloni's "Eliot Stabler." Besides the show's losing a great character, his departure seems to have resulted in "Olivia Benson"'s being given even more preachy lines about the scourge of sexual assault. "None of this is your fault" has become asIt's still a good show, but I miss Chris Meloni's "Eliot Stabler." Besides the show's losing a great character, his departure seems to have resulted in "Olivia Benson"'s being given even more preachy lines about the scourge of sexual assault. "None of this is your fault" has become as inevitable and as mind numbingly frequent as the Miranda warning. I do understand and appreciate Mariska Hargitay's desire to use her show to keep the issue of rape in the public consciousness. I've just had my fill of the increasingly gratuitous preachiness in what is otherwise a terrific show that's certainly met the test of time.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Castian77

Mar 1, 2015

WAS a good show so much ago, then the Anita Sarkesian Episode came, really?
All lies, zero research, complete misunderstanding of what gamers and gamers are or do.

1 of 5 users found this helpful14

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