Law & Order might have been recently surpassed by its spin-off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in terms of popularity, but it remains the most iconic police procedural ever made. Law & Order has enjoyed a remarkably long run, having been on the air for 22 seasons and counting, but not every season can be a winner.

Law & Order is the perfect show for any crime fan who needs a long series to sink their teeth into. As 22 seasons can be somewhat intimidating for new fans or those looking for a rewatch, audiences should look to Law & Order’s strongest installments.

Updated by Alan A. Mehanna, on March 11, 2024: This list has been updated to adhere to CBR’s most recent standards for formatting.

10 Season 4

The fourth chapter of Law & Order felt a lot like a legal drama because it had some of the most fact-filled courtroom arguments. The most memorable one played out when the attorney of a 14-year-old boy tried to get his client off a murder charge by claiming that since he had an extra Y-chromosome, so he was genetically wired to engage in violence.

Season 4 made major strides in gender inclusivity. After relying on male protagonists for the first three seasons, Law & Order placed Lieutenant Van Buren in charge of the 27th precinct. ADA Kincaid joined the DA’s office and had proper character development, which kickstarted a new and important trend in Law & Order. Season 4 also gave fans numerous compelling and high-stakes cases, resulting in a near-flawless season.

9 Season 9

In Season 9, Law & Order explored racial discrimination —a topic that many other procedurals avoided at the time. Rather than just tell a simple story about cops being accused of killing a Black man, the show heavily rooted for the victim and made several proper arguments that explained why force isn’t always necessary.

Season 9 also examined the ever-challenging career-or-family conundrum through Detective Curtis’ predicament. Since he had an ill wife at home, he had to decide whether to continue with his work or resign to take care of her. His decision was obvious from the start, and even though it was heartbreaking to see him leave, Season 9 gave fans a great goodbye to one of Law & Order’s most important characters.

8 Season 14

Law & Order has had many abominable villains, but few were as menacing as Mark Bruner, who gave Season 14 a perfect start. With his unnerving mannerisms, Bruner taunted officers and refused to give out the location of his victims’ bodies. He even threw his lawyer under the boss, which proved he didn’t care about freedom.

Season 14 was full of many absorbing cases, notably one where two women murdered each other’s husbands and another where a lawyer argued that the laws should be different when homeless people kill each other. Just as it started with a bang, Season 14 ended in the same way, thanks to a proper farewell to Detective Briscoe.

7 Season 8

J.K. Simmons might be better known for playing Peter Parker’s condescending boss, J. Jonah Jameson, in Spider-Man, but his performance in Season 8 of Law & Order was especially memorable. Simmons played Dr. Emil Skoda, a psychiatrist who helped interrogate a college couple that had killed their newborn baby.

Law & Order Season 8 dissected psychology and mental health through Skoda, giving viewers a better understanding of how the minds of criminals work. Fans were also treated to one of the best Law & Order crossover episodes when detectives from Homicide: Life on the Street joined in on an investigation of a 14-year-old’s death. Season 8 had a long-running theme of religion, and things got even more complicated when a cop killer turned to religion to atone for his sins.

6 Season 17

From school shootings to the persecution of members of the LGBTQ+ community, Season 17 covered many serious issues that the American populace deals with. Season 17 marked Detective Cassady’s introduction, and his clashes with Van Baren made for some wildly entertaining moments.

ADA Connie Rubirosa proved to be a great addition to Law & Order, as she easily solved cases that initially seemed incredibly difficult. Whether it was a fundamentalist murderer claiming he was protecting his child from evolution or a priest influencing his congregants to break the law, the drama kept flowing throughout Season 17.

5 Season 6

Many of Season 6’s complex plots made Law & Order feel like a spy show, especially the episode that involves a subway bomber. The domestic terrorism saga was so complex that the officers had to seek help again, resulting in yet another brilliant crossover with Homicide: Life on The Street.

Season 6 was a lot more experimental than Law & Order’s other seasons. The finale discarded the half investigation-half prosecution episode formula and simply dedicated segments to the four main characters. Season 6 also threw in a major dark plot twist in the end when Kincaid got involved in a road accident and died.

4 Season 10

Season 10 raised important questions, including how minors and people with terminal illnesses should be handled after the police name them suspects. The episode “Killerz” featured one of the show’s creepiest killers, the remorseless Jenny, who bashed her classmate’s head to death.

Many officers and prosecutors were divided about how Jenny should be handled. Surprisingly, the police released her, and Law & Order last showed her staring at another young boy. Season 10’s developments showed just how flawed the American justice system is. The season also introduced Detective Green, whose poise and reasonableness made him instantly likable. His bond with Briscoe was also adorable.

3 Season 18

The cast turnover continued in Season 18, so Detective Lupo replaced Detective Cassady. McCoy’s promotion from EADA to DA gave fans a reason to smile. Though he is slightly antagonistic, he had consistently proven himself as one of the best legal minds on TV over the years.

Season 18 paid more attention to the main characters’ personal lives, and Green’s gambling addiction became a major focus point. Sadly, he couldn’t overcome his demons, which resulted in yet another sad departure. Still, Season 18 was an intriguing Law & Order installment that touched on fresh issues, such as interracial marriages and political conspiracies.\

2 Season 13

Law & Order Season 13 was the peak when it came to police competence, with Green and Briscoe even managing to solve three murder cases within 24 hours. This impressive feat established the two as the best detective pairing in TV history, so it’s a shame that they aren’t the main focus of the recently-revived show.

Arthur Branch became the boss of the DA’s office, which was a great decision, as his experience in politics constantly helped the prosecution team overcome some major bureaucratic obstacles. Overall, Season 13 was full of thrilling cases, tense mysteries, and great showings from the Law & Order officers.

1 Season 5

Sam Waterston’s Jack McCoy is a great Law & Order character who debuted in Season 5. Right from the start, the relentless and intelligent prosecutor’s talents were evident. He quickly solved problems that others had struggled with, charmed his way into Claire Kincaid’s heart, and soon became an iconic character.

Away from McCoy’s brilliance, Season 5 was defined by incredible performances from actors who are now household names. Ozark’s Laura Linney bossed the proceedings in the highly tense “Blue Bamboo” where she portrayed a singer being charged with murdering her boss. Other A-list names in Season 5 include Sarah Paulson, who played a teenager accused of killing her mother.