The BEST episodes of Law & Order season 1

Every episode of Law & Order season 1, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Law & Order season 1!

A blended police procedural and courtroom drama which employs a two-part approach: The first half of each episode focuses on NYPD homicide detectives investigating a crime—often derived from a real-life headline—and apprehending a suspect. The second half takes place in the courtroom, with the district attorney prosecuting the defendant.

Last Updated: 10/8/2024Network: NBCStatus: Continuing
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Indifference
star
7.64
402 votes

#1 - Indifference

Season 1 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/27/1990

During the investigation into the death of a little girl in a respectable, middle-class family, Greevey and Logan uncover a myriad of family secrets involving abuse, molestation, and murder.

Directors: James Quinn
Writer: Robert Palm
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
The Torrents of Greed (2)
star
7.56
333 votes

#2 - The Torrents of Greed (2)

Season 1 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/19/1991

Stone tries to salvage his prosecution of the Masucci family when Beigel faces bribery charges and seems willing to turn against his brother-in-law.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Watch Now:Apple TV
A Death in the Family
star
7.52
300 votes

#3 - A Death in the Family

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 1/15/1991

Police start a citywide manhunt for a man suspected of killing a cop during a rooftop pursuit.

Directors: Gwen Arner
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Blue Wall
star
7.44
371 votes

#4 - The Blue Wall

Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 6/9/1991

Cragen comes under suspicion when his mentor in the department is investigated for laundering drug money.

Directors: Vern Gillum
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Secret Sharers
star
7.43
280 votes

#5 - The Secret Sharers

Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 3/12/1991

Stone faces a flashy Texas lawyer and a hostile community as he tries to prosecute a young man accused of killing a drug dealer.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Mushrooms
star
7.34
307 votes

#6 - Mushrooms

Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/26/1991

The accidental shooting of two children by a 14-year-old hired killer leads to a drug dealer and a real estate agent.

Directors: Daniel Sackheim
Writer: Robert Palm
Watch Now:Apple TV
Prisoner of Love
star
7.33
371 votes

#7 - Prisoner of Love

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 12/4/1990

A city arts commissioner and a socialite come under investigation when an artist noted for his sadomasochistic themes is found dead under suspicious circumstances.

Directors: Michael Fresco
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Torrents of Greed (1)
star
7.31
317 votes

#8 - The Torrents of Greed (1)

Season 1 - Episode 15 - Aired 2/12/1991

An assault on a candy storeowner leads Stone and Robinette to build a case against a powerful mafia don.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Out of the Half-Light
star
7.31
358 votes

#9 - Out of the Half-Light

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/1990

Greevey and Logan's investigation into a black teenager's claim that she was raped by white policemen is hampered by a publicity hungry, black politician who will not grant the detectives access to the victim.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Serpent's Tooth
star
7.30
311 votes

#10 - The Serpent's Tooth

Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/19/1991

Two brothers appear to be the logical suspects in the murder of their wealthy parents.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:Apple TV
Poison Ivy
star
7.29
447 votes

#11 - Poison Ivy

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/20/1990

The shooting of a black honors student stirs up racial tensions, especially after it becomes apparent that the cop responsible for the death may have planted a gun on the body to excuse the shooting.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Watch Now:Apple TV
Sonata for a Solo Organ
star
7.24
311 votes

#12 - Sonata for a Solo Organ

Season 1 - Episode 21 - Aired 4/2/1991

Stone and Robinette prosecute a surgeon and the wealthy father of a transplant patient for illegally obtaining a kidney.

Directors: Fred Gerber
Watch Now:Apple TV
Prescription for Death
star
7.23
751 votes

#13 - Prescription for Death

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/13/1990

When a young woman dies during a hectic emergency room night shift, her father claims the hospital was negligent, and an investigation leads the detectives to believe that the doctor treating her may have been drunk on duty.

Directors: John Whitesell
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Troubles
star
7.22
346 votes

#14 - The Troubles

Season 1 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/26/1991

Logan is forced to face his cultural biases when both a Lebanese gunrunner and an Irish terrorist are suspected of killing a drug dealer.

Directors: John Whitesell
Watch Now:Apple TV
By Hooker, by Crook
star
7.18
474 votes

#15 - By Hooker, by Crook

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/13/1990

When Logan and Greevey investigate how a family man came to be found unconscious in Central Park, they uncover a very high-class call girl operation run by a well-educated socialite.

Directors: Martin Davidson
Writer: David Black
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Violence of Summer
star
7.16
340 votes

#16 - The Violence of Summer

Season 1 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/5/1991

Greevey and Logan reopen an investigation to help Stone and Robinette build a stronger case against three boys accused of gang-raping a TV reporter.

Directors: Don Scardino
Watch Now:Apple TV
Life Choice
star
7.16
377 votes

#17 - Life Choice

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/8/1991

Stone faces pressure from the public and from Schiff as he prepares to prosecute the person accused of bombing an abortion clinic.

Directors: Aaron Lipstadt
Watch Now:Apple TV
The Reaper's Helper
star
7.15
501 votes

#18 - The Reaper's Helper

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/4/1990

The death of a man with AIDS appears to be the work of a serial killer who may have been motivated by mercy.

Directors: Vern Gillum
Watch Now:Apple TV
Everybody's Favorite Bagman
star
7.11
517 votes

#19 - Everybody's Favorite Bagman

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/30/1990

The mugging of a councilman leads the detectives to arrest a mobster, who in turn leads Stone and Robinette to corrupt city officials.

Directors: John Patterson
Writer: Dick Wolf
Watch Now:Apple TV
Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die
star
7.03
500 votes

#20 - Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/11/1990

Stone has difficulty prosecuting a privileged preppie with a history of abusing his girlfriends after one of them dies at his hands.

Directors: Charlie Correll
Watch Now:Apple TV
Happily Ever After
star
6.99
451 votes

#21 - Happily Ever After

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/23/1990

Greevey and Logan have a hunch that robbery is a cover for the real motive in the death of a millionaire in a parking garage.

Directors: Vern Gillum
Watch Now:Apple TV
Subterranean Homeboy Blues
star
6.96
602 votes

#22 - Subterranean Homeboy Blues

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/20/1990

The shooting of two black men by a white woman in a crowded subway initially appears to be a case of self-defense, but further investigation reveals revenge as a possible motive.

Directors: E.W. Swackhamer
Writer: Robert Palm
Watch Now:Apple TV