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  3. 'Law & Order: SVU': The Best Fan-Favourite Episodes

'Law & Order: SVU': The Best Fan-Favourite Episodes

Lucas Anderson / April 29, 2025 - 09:00 pm

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU Best Episodes fan-favourites disturbing true story Benson Stabler
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

'Law & Order: SVU'

Law & Order: SVU will surpass its 500th episode in season 22! But before we get there, we're going to take a look back at the 10 very best episodes of the series. These fan-favourite episodes are highly rated, award winners, and, in some cases, feature notable guest stars. Do you agree with the well-known episode that fans often identify as the best? Continue through the gallery to see the top 10 SVU fan-favourite episodes! RELATED: SVU Season 22 - Everything We Know So Far

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Pinterest Law Order SVU Episodes best fan-favourite Scavenger Mariska Hargitay and Richard Belzer in Law & Order: SVU season 6.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Scavenger"

In "Scavenger," a season 6 episode, the detectives are led on a hunt by a serial killer who leaves clues about his crimes. The investigation comes with a high-stakes twist, too: The killer threatens to kill again if they don't catch him within 24 hours. Doug Hutchison guest stars as the killer who ultimately faces a showdown with "Benson" (Mariska Hargitay).

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes Pablo Schreiber as "William Lewis" season 14 15.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Psycho/Therapist"

Serial killer and rapist "William Lewis" (Pablo Schreiber) appeared in several of SVU's most memorable episodes in recent years. Not only did he kidnap "Benson" (twice!), he also gave her a run for her money in a tense one-on-one court battle. The traumatic experiences left an impression on "Benson," whose battles with "Lewis" culminated in a near-death game of Russian Roulette.RELATED: SVU - Where Is "William Lewis" Now?

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes Loss Stephanie March as "Alexandra Cabot" in season 5.
(© imago images / Mary Evans)

"Loss"

This SVU season 5 episode is a bittersweet one for ADA "Alexandra Cabot" (Stephanie March) and her fans! "Loss" was her original farewell, after the unit was involved in an investigation of a drug cartel. "Cabot" is nearly killed multiple times, and is forced to go into witness protection. Fans also voted the dramatic episode in a tie for second-best of the series on IMDb.SVU: Where Is ADA "Alexandra Cabot" Today?

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Pinterest 'Law & Order: SVU' best episodes Robin Williams guest stars "Authority."
(© Getty Images)

"Authority"

Robin Williams gave a terrifying performance as sexual predator "Merritt Rook" in the season 9 episode "Authority." "Rook" manipulates "Stabler" and "Benson" as he ultimately tests their bond — with a cruel and dangerous game. The episode, with Williams's guest role, stands out as one SVU's best.

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Pinterest 'Law & Order: SVU': Mariska Hargitay and Chris Meloni Reunite In Selfie Together.
(© imago images / ZUMA Press)

"Charisma"

In season 6 episode "Charisma," the unit investigates the disturbing truth behind a 12-year-old girl's pregnancy. The episode sees the detectives uncover a deadly cult led by a con man (guest star Jeff Kober). Fans cite the episode as one of the best in the series, with many tense scenes and a high-stakes case to protect children.

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes "Zebra" Richard Belzer as "John Munch" season 10.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Zebras"

"Zebras" is without a doubt one of the wildest episodes of SVU. The season 6 episode sets "Benson" and "Stabler" on the tracks of CSU "Dale Stuckey" (Noel Fisher) after he's first caught making a crucial error in a case. He's later identified as a spree killer himself, leading to a shocking takedown scene involving a kiss and "Benson" attacking "Stabler."

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes Alternate Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay  season 10.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Alternate"

Another season 10 episode, "Alternate" is one of SVU's finest moments. It features guest star Cynthia Nixon, who steals the show as "Janice Donovan" — a woman with a dissociative identity disorder. Her condition leads the detectives down a twisted road as they investigate the child abuse incident she reported. Nixon would win an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress for the role.RELATED: SVU - The Best Guest Stars!

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes "Undercover" fan favourites Mariska Hargitay
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Undercover"

SVU fans may still be recovering from the scare in season 9 episode "Undercover." It follows "Benson" as she poses as a prison inmate to catch a rapist correctional officer behind bars. The operation goes awry when "Benson" is assaulted and nearly becomes his next victim, but "Fin" (Ice-T) arrives in time to save the day.

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Pinterest Law & Order: SVU best episodes "Conscience" B.D. Wong "Dr. Huang" in  season 9.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

"Conscience"

Season 6 shined once again in "Conscience," an episode about a sociopathic 13-year-old killer and the father (played by Kyle MacLachlan) of one of his victims. The episode features a shocking courtroom murder, a masterful investigation by "Dr. Huang" (BD Wong), and memorable performances by guests MacLachlan and Jordan Garrett as the teenage killer.

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Since it debuted in 1999, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit has crossed many milestones. In its 22nd season, the show will even surpass its 500th episode! 

But out of these hundreds of episodes, fans have grown to love a select collection of episodes more than others. In this gallery, we'll take a look at those that have most captivated viewers across SVU's many seasons.

Law & Order: SVU - The Fan-Favourite Episodes

For the fan-favourite SVU episodes, viewers tend to gravitate toward high-stakes investigations that sometimes even involve crimes in-progress. "Benson" (Mariska Hargitay) is often at the centre of the events, and several of the episodes involve notable guest stars. What's more, most tend to come from the show's "golden age" — which is generally agreed to have occurred near the middle of its two-decade run on NBC (beginning around season 6 or 7).

All the same, fans still highlight unforgettable episodes in the earliest and even the newest seasons. Continue through this gallery to see if your favourites have made the list! Do you agree with the single episode that fans and critics consistently cite as SVU's best?

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