Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 1

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Generally favorable reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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Universal acclaim based on 50 Ratings

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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Now Playing: 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, Action & Adventure, Suspense

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E22. Slaves
Air Date: May 19, 2000
tbd
S1:E21. Nocturne
Air Date: May 12, 2000
tbd
S1:E20. Remorse
Air Date: May 5, 2000

See all Seasons and Episodes

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

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

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]

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

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]

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]

SEE ALL 22 REVIEWS

User Score

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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

Seasons & Episodes

66

Series Overview
Season 24

tbd
- Season 24 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1999
Season 23

tbd
- Season 23 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1999
Season 22

tbd
- Season 22 Overview
  Air Date: September 20, 1999
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
- tbd
  S1:E22. Slaves
  Air Date: May 19, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E21. Nocturne
  Air Date: May 12, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E20. Remorse
  Air Date: May 5, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E19. Contact
  Air Date: April 28, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E18. Chat Room
  Air Date: April 14, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E17. Misleader
  Air Date: March 31, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E16. The Third Guy
  Air Date: February 25, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E15. Entitled
  Air Date: February 18, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E14. Limitations
  Air Date: February 11, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E13. Disrobed
  Air Date: February 4, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E12. Russian Love Poem
  Air Date: January 21, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E11. Bad Blood
  Air Date: January 14, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E10. Closure
  Air Date: January 7, 2000
- tbd
  S1:E9. Stocks & Bondage
  Air Date: November 29, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E8. Stalked
  Air Date: November 22, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E7. Uncivilized
  Air Date: November 15, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E6. Sophomore Jinx
  Air Date: October 25, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E5. Wanderlust
  Air Date: October 18, 1999
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  S1:E4. Hysteria
  Air Date: October 11, 1999
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  S1:E3. …Or Just Look Like One
  Air Date: October 4, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E2. A Single Life
  Air Date: September 27, 1999
- tbd
  S1:E1. Payback
  Air Date: September 20, 1999