Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV Show · Crime · Drama

Detectives who are part of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit investigate crimes against the vulnerable. While the focus of other shows in the "Law & Order" franchise is primarily on murder cases, the SVU detectives frequently deal with rape and assault, in which a survivor assists with the investigation. The series cast of veteran actors includes Mariska Hargitay and rapper Ice-T, and occasional crossover episodes feature detectives from other series including editions of the "Law & Order" franchise and as well as "Chicago PD," another series from the mind of executive producer Dick Wolf.

1999 · 43m
  • 16+
Starring Mariska Hargitay, Ice-T, Kelli Giddish

Season 1

  • EPISODE 1
    Payback
    The grisly murder and dismemberment of a New York cabbie draws the elite Special Victims Unit of the NYPD, including veteran Detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni, "Oz") and his partner, Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay, NBC's "ER"), who soon discover that the victim had assumed the identity of another man -- mainly because he himself was a wanted man. As they dig deeper, the pair draw a bead on the two likely killers (guest stars Mili Avital, "Kissing A Fool") whose tortured pasts explain their very personal reasons for hating the slain cabbie. Richard Belzer reprises his character of Detective Munch from NBC's "Homicide: Life On the Street." Dann Florek (reprising his role of Captain Cragen from NBC's "Law & Order"), Dean Winters, ("Oz"), an enthusiastic newcomer who worships the ground on which his partner Munch walks, and the street-savvy detective Monique Jeffries (Michelle Hurd, "The Practice") also star. Dick Wolf ("Law & Order") created the series. Angie Harmon ("Law & Order") guest-stars as D.A. Abbie Carmichael.
    41m
  • EPISODE 2
    A Single Life
    When a woman clad only in a slip falls several floors to her death, the case is referred to Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) of the special victims unit whose investigation yields many likely suspects, including her unethical psychiatrist (guest star Dennis Boutsikaris), her married anchorman/boyfriend (guest star Michael Nouri) and her suspicious family members. Even though they discover a curious trust fund and a sordid family history, the detectives come full circle and still don't have a viable suspect. Angie Harmon ("Law & Order") guest stars. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek and Dean Winters also star.
    40m
  • EPISODE 3
    ...Or Just Look Like One
    When a popular teenaged model is found beaten, sexually assaulted and dumped, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) try to connect the dots when they probe a netherworld populated by careless parents, a slick photographer (guest star Ritchie Coster), drug-dealing doctors and a trendy modeling agency executive (Emmy and Tony Award-winning guest star Bebe Neuwirth, "Cheers," "Chicago"). The issue of the young anorexic woman's obsession with the "right look" is brought home to Stabler at mealtime when he notices his own teenaged daughter's slavish desire to become rail-thin. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd and Dean Winters also star.
    40m
  • EPISODE 4
    Hysteria
    When a series of suspected prostitutes is found murdered in similar patterns, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) can't understand why the latest victim was a cultured college student -- but they begin to believe that a fellow cop could be responsible for other slayings dating back over 30 years. Elsewhere, Stabler frets that his own 12-year-old daughter (Holiday Segal) will discover sex too soon for her own good, and the acerbic Detective Munch (Richard Belzer) revs-up into typically Munch-like overdrive during his controversial testimony in a child molestation case. Dann Florek, Dean Winters and Michelle Hurd also star. Jerry Orbach guest-stars as Detective Lennie Briscoe from NBC's "Law & Order."
    37m
  • EPISODE 5
    Wanderlust
    When a handsome travel writer is found murdered -- with a woman's panties stuffed in his mouth -- Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) focus on a pedophiliac (guest star John Dossett), the unassuming boyfriend of the victim's landlord (guest star and Emmy nominee Patricia Richardson, ""Home Improvement""). However, the key to the case might be the landlord's rebellious 14-year-old daughter (guest star Lynn Collins), whose casual, seen-it-all sexual maturity makes Stabler uneasy about his own 14-year-old as she eagerly enters the dating pool. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Michelle Hurd and Dean Winters also star.
    40m
  • EPISODE 6
    Sophomore Jinx
    When a promising female student at an exclusive private college is found murdered and sexually assaulted, Detectives Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Stabler (Christopher Meloni) zero in on a pair of star basketball players (guest stars Chuck Mosley and Kohl Sudduth) who are shielded by administration officials fearful of an investigation that could harm the school's image -- or worse yet, ruin the fast-rising team's upcoming season. While they check out the athletes' alibis, the detectives soon learn that the sweet, attractive and intelligent victim recently began an uncharacteristic downward spiral of heavy drinking and partying. Richard Belzer, Dann Florek, Dean Winters and Michelle Hurd also star. Angie Harmon (NBC's "Law & Order") guest-stars as Assistant D.A. Abbie Carmichael.
    40m
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Related

Cast & Crew

  • Mariska Hargitay
    Capt. Olivia Benson
  • Ice-T
    Sgt. Odafin Tutuola
  • Kelli Giddish
    Detective Amanda Rollins
  • Peter Scanavino
    ADA Sonny Carisi
  • Kevin Kane
    Detective Terry Bruno
  • Octavio Pisano
    Detective Joe Velasco
  • Molly Burnett
    Detective Grace Muncy
  • Jamie Gray Hyder
    Officer Katriona "Kat" Azar Tamin
  • Demore Barnes
    Deputy Chief Christian Garland
  • Philip Winchester
    ADA Peter Stone
  • Raúl Esparza
    ADA Rafael Barba

About

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Crime

Detectives who are part of the NYPD's Special Victims Unit investigate crimes against the vulnerable. While the focus of other shows in the "Law & Order" franchise is primarily on murder cases, the SVU detectives frequently deal with rape and assault, in which a survivor assists with the investigation. The series cast of veteran actors includes Mariska Hargitay and rapper Ice-T, and occasional crossover episodes feature detectives from other series including editions of the "Law & Order" franchise and as well as "Chicago PD," another series from the mind of executive producer Dick Wolf.

16+

COMMON SENSE

Grisly, sensationalized sex crimes; not meant for kids.

Information

Studio
NBC
Released
1999
Rated
TV-14
Region of Origin
United States
© 1999 Universal Network Television LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Languages

Original Audio
English (United States), English (United Kingdom)
Audio

English (United States) (AAC)

Subtitles

English (United States) (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.
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Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

  • Armenia
  • Azerbaijan
  • Bahrain
  • Botswana
  • Brunei Darussalam
  • Cape Verde
  • Egypt
  • Eswatini
  • Gambia
  • Ghana
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • India
  • Israel
  • Jordan
  • Lebanon
  • Mauritius
  • Mozambique
  • Namibia
  • Niger (English)
  • Oman
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  • Lao People's Democratic Republic
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