The BEST episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21

Every episode of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 21!

Delves into the dark side of the NYC underworld as the detectives investigate and prosecute various sexually oriented crimes, including rape, pedophilia, domestic violence, and the abuses of children, the disabled, and elderly victims of non-sexual crimes who require specialist handling, all while trying to balance the effects of the investigation on their own lives as they try not to let the dark side of these crimes affect them.

Last Updated: 12/9/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
Can't Be Held Accountable (1)
star
7.87
462 votes

#1 - Can't Be Held Accountable (1)

Season 21 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/21/2019

A fellow detective asks the SVU for help when he suspects his two daughters are being groomed by a serial predator. Kat disobeys the Captain's orders.

Directors: Norberto Barba
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Must Be Held Accountable (2)
star
7.84
426 votes

#2 - Must Be Held Accountable (2)

Season 21 - Episode 10 - Aired 1/9/2020

A desperate father takes matters into his own hands in the case against his daughter's rapist.

Directors: Laurie Collyer
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Murdered at a Bad Address
star
7.83
480 votes

#3 - Murdered at a Bad Address

Season 21 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/31/2019

The case of a teenage girl assaulted in the projects leads to a startling discovery; Benson puts her trust in someone from her past.

Directors: Michael Smith
Watch Now:Apple TV
I'm Going to Make You a Star
star
7.82
592 votes

#4 - I'm Going to Make You a Star

Season 21 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/26/2019

When an actress accuses a high-powered media mogul of attempted rape, Benson finds herself in a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. Changes in the squad room put Carisi between a rock and a hard place.

Directors: Norberto Barba
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Longest Night of Rain
star
7.82
434 votes

#5 - The Longest Night of Rain

Season 21 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/30/2020

Benson investigates a police officer's accusations of sexual assault. Captain Tucker's retirement party ends in tragedy.

Watch Now:Apple TV
She Paints for Vengeance
star
7.77
439 votes

#6 - She Paints for Vengeance

Season 21 - Episode 11 - Aired 1/16/2020

After a sexual assault investigation is stalled for months, a woman puts her accusations against a popular athlete on a billboard.

Directors: Mariska Hargitay
Writer: Kathy Dobie
Watch Now:Apple TV
Redemption in Her Corner
star
7.76
429 votes

#7 - Redemption in Her Corner

Season 21 - Episode 13 - Aired 2/6/2020

Kat steps over the line when she suspects a trainer at her boxing gym is taking advantage of his students.

Watch Now:Apple TV
I Deserve Some Loving Too
star
7.71
419 votes

#8 - I Deserve Some Loving Too

Season 21 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/13/2020

Rollins goes undercover to root out a government worker withholding green cards in exchange for sex.

Watch Now:Apple TV
At Midnight in Manhattan
star
7.71
492 votes

#9 - At Midnight in Manhattan

Season 21 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/24/2019

The detectives are spread thin when three major cases come in at midnight. Rollins and Carisi argue over an arrest.

Directors: Peter Werner
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Darkest Journey Home
star
7.70
533 votes

#10 - The Darkest Journey Home

Season 21 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/3/2019

Benson works with a young woman to help her remember the details and suspects in her rape. In order to learn a new witness interview technique, Rollins and Fin have to experience it for themselves.

Directors: Jean de Segonzac
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Burden of Our Choices
star
7.64
518 votes

#11 - The Burden of Our Choices

Season 21 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/17/2019

Rollins clashes with the parents of a teenaged runaway. The squad comes together for a special event.

Directors: Martha Mitchell
Watch Now:Apple TV
Garland's Baptism by Fire
star
7.63
367 votes

#12 - Garland's Baptism by Fire

Season 21 - Episode 18 - Aired 4/2/2020

Chief Garland must put friendship aside when a pastor at his church is arrested.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Down Low in Hell's Kitchen
star
7.63
532 votes

#13 - Down Low in Hell's Kitchen

Season 21 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/10/2019

A serial predator targeting men in gay bars proves difficult to catch, until a celebrity comes forward with his story.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Watch Now:Apple TV
Solving for the Unknowns
star
7.62
394 votes

#14 - Solving for the Unknowns

Season 21 - Episode 19 - Aired 4/16/2020

The SVU struggles to find a serial predator who uses a date rape drug that leaves no evidence behind. Rollins receives some good news.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Counselor, It's Chinatown
star
7.59
449 votes

#15 - Counselor, It's Chinatown

Season 21 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/7/2019

The SVU joins an undercover task force in busting a human trafficking ring.

Directors: Leslie Hope
Watch Now:Apple TV
Dance, Lies and Videotape
star
7.57
369 votes

#16 - Dance, Lies and Videotape

Season 21 - Episode 17 - Aired 3/26/2020

An ingénue ballerina discovers she's been secretly videotaped for a pornographic website.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Eternal Relief from Pain
star
7.56
385 votes

#17 - Eternal Relief from Pain

Season 21 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/27/2020

Rollins' sister stirs up trouble and a possible SVU investigation when she reports a doctor who trades prescription painkillers for sex.

Watch Now:Apple TV
Swimming with the Sharks
star
7.53
373 votes

#18 - Swimming with the Sharks

Season 21 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/20/2020

The female CEO of a popular wellness company says she was raped, but her business partner claims the accusation is part of an embezzlement cover-up.

Watch Now:Apple TV
We Dream of Machine Elves
star
7.47
428 votes

#19 - We Dream of Machine Elves

Season 21 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/14/2019

Rollins goes undercover to find a suspect who is drugging and assaulting tourists, while Benson helps the victims sort out their memories from their hallucinations.

Directors: Jonathan Herron
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Things We Have to Lose
star
7.44
354 votes

#20 - The Things We Have to Lose

Season 21 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/23/2020

As Carisi begins the long-anticipated trial of Sir Toby Moore, the SVU faces setbacks in several other cases.

Watch Now:Apple TV