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The Best Episodes of Law & Order

Every episode of Law & Order ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Law & Order!

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In cases ripped from the headlines, police investigate serious and often deadly crimes, weighing the evidence and questioning the suspects until someone is taken into custody. The district attorney's office then builds a case to

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    Law & Order Season 25 Episode 12 - Never Say Goodbye
    9.5/10(1 votes)

    #1 - Never Say Goodbye

    S25:E12

    After investigating a flight attendant's murder, Walker's methods are scrutinized during the trial. Meanwhile, Price and Maroun try to reveal the defendant's state of mind.

    Director:Fred Berner
    Writers:Scott Gold, Will Lapp

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  2. Law & Order Season 6 Episode 23 - Aftershock
    9.1/10(1029 votes)

    #2 - Aftershock

    S6:E23

    After Briscoe, Curtis, McCoy, and Kincaid witness the execution of a criminal they brought to justice, their unique reactions to the event culminate in personal tragedies for each of them.

    Director:Martha Mitchell
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 5 - Bend the Knee
    9.0/10(3 votes)

    #3 - Bend the Knee

    S25:E5

    A law partner with prominent government clients is murdered. Baxter must consider making political concessions for the case to be a success.

    Director:Michael Smith
    Writer:Scott Gold

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  4. Law & Order Season 6 Episode 21 - Pro Se
    8.8/10(630 votes)

    #4 - Pro Se

    S6:E21

    The investigation into multiple homicides at a clothing store leads to the arrest of a schizophrenic who presents McCoy with a formidable opponent when he decides to represent himself.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  5. Law & Order Season 16 Episode 22 - Invaders
    8.8/10(528 votes)

    #5 - Invaders

    S16:E22

    The family of a man who once turned his customers into the police is slain, and the ensuing fracas pits McCoy against a corrupt D.E.A. agent.

    Director:Matthew Penn
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 10 - Dream On
    8.8/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Dream On

    S25:E10

    Brady's son becomes a prime suspect in a murder investigation, putting a target on her back. Price must prove the defendant's alibi is bogus to make his case.

    Director:Nestor Carbonell
    Writers:Rick Eid, Tori Novie

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Law & Order

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  7. Law & Order Season 13 Episode 23 - Couples
    8.7/10(504 votes)

    #7 - Couples

    S13:E23

    Briscoe and Green catch four murders and a kidnapping on the same day, and get handed confessions in each case.

    Director:David Platt
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. Law & Order Season 14 Episode 1 - Bodies
    8.6/10(547 votes)

    #8 - Bodies

    S14:E1

    While investigating the death of a teenaged girl, the detectives stumble on a pattern of crimes that indicate they are after a serial killer. The suspect, however, puts the prosecutors through an ethical ringer when he discloses his attorney's knowledge of the victims and their whereabouts.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. Law & Order Season 14 Episode 6 - Identity
    8.6/10(474 votes)

    #9 - Identity

    S14:E6

    When a man is found murdered shortly after depositing almost $400,000 in his savings account, the investigation into the source of funds reveals that the victim ran an identity theft scam which left an elderly man homeless and impoverished.

    Director:Jace Alexander
    Writer:Unknown

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  10. Law & Order Season 20 Episode 23 - Rubber Room
    8.6/10(496 votes)

    #10 - Rubber Room

    S20:E23

    Detectives search for an anonymous blogger who has posted plans to blow up a school. Lt. Van Buren struggles to keep her personal issues private.

    Director:René Balcer
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 6 - Brotherly Love
    8.6/10(4 votes)

    #11 - Brotherly Love

    S25:E6

    A respected restauranteur with a gambling problem is murdered, and Baxter and Price disagree on the best approach to a conviction. Meanwhile, Riley's brother is released from prison.

    Director:Alex Hall
    Writer:Rick Eid

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  12. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 7 - Guardian
    8.6/10(4 votes)

    #12 - Guardian

    S25:E7

    When a high school sports star is murdered, the police find several suspects trying to make money off the victim's talent. Riley gets a new partner.

    Director:Carlos Bernard
    Writer:Unknown

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  13. Law & Order Season 1 Episode 9 - Indifference
    8.5/10(660 votes)

    #13 - Indifference

    S1:E9

    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.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Robert Palm

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  14. Law & Order Season 9 Episode 24 - Refuge (2)
    8.5/10(437 votes)

    #14 - Refuge (2)

    S9:E24

    McCoy and Carmichael risk violating the civil liberties of witnesses when they are forced to jail them in order to safely continue their investigation.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Unknown

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  15. Law & Order Season 23 Episode 5 - Last Dance
    8.5/10(332 votes)

    #15 - Last Dance

    S23:E5

    When a woman is found murdered in Central Park, evidence points to two frequent park-goers: a street vendor and a tech billionaire. In the face of extreme political pressure, McCoy takes drastic action to make the case.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  16. Law & Order Season 25 Episode 9 - Snowflakes (I)
    8.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Snowflakes (I)

    S25:E9

    An injured woman's sudden disappearance from the hospital leads to a murder investigation. As an eyewitness to the crime, Brady partners with Benson’s SVU to unravel a complex motive. An explosive discovery puts both squads in danger. The crossover continues on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S27E09 Purity (II).

    Director:Jean de Segonzac
    Writer:Scott Gold

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  17. Law & Order Season 3 Episode 8 - Prince of Darkness
    8.4/10(471 votes)

    #17 - Prince of Darkness

    S3:E8

    Cerreta poses as a weapons dealer to help Stone build a case against a Columbian hit man, but the deal takes an unexpected turn, resulting in bloodshed.

    Director:Gilbert M. Shilton
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. Law & Order Season 4 Episode 8 - American Dream
    8.4/10(412 votes)

    #18 - American Dream

    S4:E8

    A skeleton unearthed at a building site resurrects one of Stone's old cases, and brings him face to face with the tenacious, brilliant culprit, who is seeking a new trial.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Unknown

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  19. Law & Order Season 4 Episode 22 - Old Friends
    8.4/10(425 votes)

    #19 - Old Friends

    S4:E22

    A truck hits a pedestrian and the investigation reveals the victim's link to a baby-food company in which a new partner has connections to the Russian mob.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. Law & Order Season 7 Episode 17 - Showtime
    8.4/10(414 votes)

    #20 - Showtime

    S7:E17

    The trial of Eddie Newman begins but the prosecution's chances of conviction are hampered by a "dream team" of defense attorneys, Gorton's personal pressures on Ross, the public questioning of the relationship between Curtis and Lisa Lundquist, and a surprise accusation.

    Director:Edwin Sherin
    Writers:René Balcer, Ed Zuckerman, Gardner Stern

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  21. Law & Order Season 9 Episode 23 - Refuge (1)
    8.4/10(431 votes)

    #21 - Refuge (1)

    S9:E23

    A shootout between a motorist and the police leads to the discovery of a gruesome Russian mob killing --- and a traumatized boy who was an eyewitness to the murder.

    Director:Constantine Makris
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. Law & Order Season 14 Episode 24 - C.O.D.
    8.4/10(416 votes)

    #22 - C.O.D.

    S14:E24

    Briscoe bids farewell to the 27 as the prosecution of two women for killing each other's husbands comes to a successful conclusion.

    Director:Matthew Penn
    Writer:Marc Guggenheim

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  23. Law & Order Season 16 Episode 1 - Red Ball
    8.4/10(379 votes)

    #23 - Red Ball

    S16:E1

    A young girl is abducted in broad daylight, and the only link to the girl is an ex-convict who wants a deal before he's willing to talk.

    Director:Matthew Penn
    Writers:Dick Wolf, David Wilcox

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  24. Law & Order Season 16 Episode 9 - Criminal Law
    8.4/10(368 votes)

    #24 - Criminal Law

    S16:E9

    The deaths of three women with the same name lead Fontana and Green to the nine-year-old conviction of Leland Barnes, who had shot and killed his wife in an office full of people. With two of the three witnesses against him dead and Jack McCoy on the hit list, the detectives struggle to determine how Barnes, who has been in prison the entire time, got someone on the outside to kill the only people who could keep him in jail. The investigation leads them to Leland's two sons, with surprising results.

    Director:Edwin Sherin
    Writer:David Wilcox

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  25. Law & Order Season 18 Episode 14 - Burn Card
    8.4/10(400 votes)

    #25 - Burn Card

    S18:E14

    Internal affairs takes a special interest in Detective Green after a gambler is found dead by his bullet, and the investigation turns up a part of his past he's taken pains to conceal.

    Director:Mario Van Peebles
    Writers:Dick Wolf, David Wilcox, René Balcer

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Best Episodes Summary

"Never Say Goodbye" is the best rated episode of "Law & Order". It scored 9.5/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Fred Berner and written by Scott Gold, Will Lapp, it aired on 1/29/2026. This episode scored 0.4 points higher than the second highest rated, "Aftershock".