Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (season 1)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The first season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit was originally aired between September 20, 1999 and May 21, 2000. It consists of 22 episodes in total. The four main characters of the series are introduced: Detective Elliot Stabler (played by Christopher Meloni), Detective Olivia Benson (played by Mariska Hargitay), Detective John Munch (played by Richard Belzer) and Captain Don Cragen (played by Dann Florek); all of whom work at the 16th Precinct of New York City in its Special Victims Unit. The two other prominent characters who were featured in the first season are Detective Brian Cassidy (played by Dean Winters) and Detective Monique Jeffries (played by Michelle Hurd).

DVDs of the first season were first released in box-sets on October 21, 2003 in region 1, February 28, 2005 in region 2 and January 20, 2005 in region 4.


Contents

[edit] Cast

[edit] Episodes

Ep. # Title Writer(s) Director Airdate Prod. code
1 "Payback" Dick Wolf Jean de Segonzac September 20, 1999 E0901
Benson and Stabler investigate the stabbing & genital-mutilation of a cab driver, only to learn that the victim had been an inmate at Rikers Island. Further investigation reveals that the dead man was a Serbian soldier who had been indicted on charges of ethnic cleansing. Herself a child of rape, Benson has trouble separating herself from the case after realizing that the victim was a rapist. Stabler tries to keep her from crossing the line in her attempts to protect suspects she feels were justified in their actions.
2 "A Single Life" Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Lesli Linka Glatter September 27, 1999 E0903
When the body of Gretchen Quinn is found wearing only a red slip after having gone through an upper-story window, Benson and Stabler soon find out that 'Gretchen Quinn' has never existed. While trying to piece together her life, the detectives are led to the victim's psychiatrist and a well-known television newscaster, both of whom were sleeping with her. It soons comes to light she was a young woman who changed her name and identity after graduating high school, to get away from her sexually abusive father.
3 "Or Just Look Like One" Michael R. Perry Rick Rosenthal October 4, 1999 E0907
After teen model Jazmin Burgess is beaten, raped, and dumped in front of Roosevelt Hospital, Benson and Stabler investigate to find out why a sixteen-year-old girl was out alone after midnight. High levels of drugs in Jazmin's system lead them to take a look at not only the modeling agency with which Jazmin was signed, but also the photographer who was supervising her last shoot (and had booted her out because she was 'too heavy'). Stabler's disgust with the whole issue is aggravated by his wife and his' concern that their daughter Maureen, who has been refusing to eat, may be anorexic.
4 "Hysteria" Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Richard Dobbs October 11, 1999 E0908
When a young woman is found dead, she is initially believed to be a prostitute and the latest in a long line of victims. When looking into her home life, Benson and Stabler realise that she does not fit the pattern, and may not be connected to the other deaths after all. However, the other deaths have a connection no one anticipated.
5 "Wanderlust" Wendy West David Hugh Jones October 18, 1999 E0905
After a travel writer is found with a woman's undergarments choking off his air supply, Benson and Stabler initially suspect his landlady's boyfriend. Suspicion soon turns to the landlady and her daughter. Both seem far too interested in what their tenant is doing with his time. After learning the daughter had a sexual relationship with the tenant, things take an even stranger turn.
6 "Sophomore Jinx" John Chambers Clark Johnson October 25, 1999 E0904
After a female student is murdered at a local college, Benson and Stabler turn their attention to the school's basketball team. However, the college blocks their investigation at every turn, because they are not willing to risk the negative publicity that the investigation could bring to the school and the upcoming championship.
7 "Uncivilized" Wendy West & Robert Palm Michael Fields November 15, 1999 E0912
When a young boy is found murdered, suspicion leads Benson and Stabler to a recently paroled child molester. Although they both hate what the man has done in the past, it is soon obvious to the detectives that the teenagers who initially steered them in the man's direction are hiding secrets of their own.
8 "Stalked" Roger Garrett Peter Medak November 22, 1999 E0911
When the body of an assistant district attorney is found raped and beaten in Central Park, Benson lets her emotions get the best of her as she takes it upon herself to bring the suspected rapist, a local realtor, to justice. Stabler tries to get the man's business partner to help in the investigation, but Benson may be the one who ends up needing help.
9 "Stocks & Bondage" Michael R. Perry Constantine Makris November 29, 1999 E0914
The death of a local businesswoman throws the team into the world of bondage and sado-masochism.
10 "Closure" Wendy West Stephen Wertimer January 7, 2000 E0915
Benson does her best to help a rape victim, who is able to describe her attack in perfect detail (not one's typical attack; this woman was raped with a curling iron), cope. When the detectives revisit the case a few months later, they find the woman even less willing to talk about what happened, as she claims she has moved on. Things turn uncomfortable within the squad when Benson and Cassidy spend the night together, because Benson just wanted one night, but Cassidy is left wanting more.
11 "Bad Blood" Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Michael Fields January 14, 2000 E0916
The death of a young gay man initially leads Benson and Stabler to investigate his father,but once they start looking into the young man's living arrangements they realise the person they're looking for may be closer than they think. Munch tries to help Benson find the man who raped her mother, and could potentially be her father.
12 "Russian Love Poem" Eva Nagorski Rick Rosenthal January 21, 2000 E0913
When multi-millionaire Andrew Harlin is found murdered in his home, Benson and Stabler turn their suspicion to Harlin's long list of lovers, which includes both men and women. Evidence at the crime scene leads detectives to a pair of Russian escorts, but before they can get the truth from them, one turns up dead, and the boyfriend of the other confesses to murder.
13 "Disrobed" Janet Tamaro David Platt February 4, 2000 E0910
After a judge is found murdered in his car, the detectives begin looking into his background and learn that he often delivered special verdicts for women in return for sexual favors. The team soon turns their eye to a battered wife with a secret. Cassidy transfers to narcotics.
14 "Limitations" Michael R. Perry Constantine Makris February 11, 2000 E0919
At the request of a victim, the police commissioner comes to Cragen with a special request - close the case of the man who raped three women nearly five years ago before the statute of limitations expires. The detectives finally get a lead when they realise one of the victims knows the rapist, but she's not willing to talk.
15 "Entitled" Robert Palm & Wendy West Ed Sherin February 18, 2000 E0918
After a salesman is murdered, the detectives turn their attention to Stephanie Mulroney, the youngest daughter of a well-known family with some deep connections. But as they join forces with the officers from the two-seven, they realise that their case is connected with a long-unsolved case that Briscoe once handled years ago with his former partner, Mike Logan.

Note: The story is concluded in the 14th episode of Season 10 of Law & Order, which has the same title, Entitled.
16 "The Third Guy" Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Jud Taylor February 25, 2000 E0920
An elderly woman is found tied up and sexually assaulted in her apartment, and suspicion is initially on the young men that had broken into her home and robbed her. Once the detectives catch the young men, they learn that there was someone else in the apartment. The offered plea bargain initially doesn't go over well, but they finally reach a deal which leaves the detectives with a new case - whether or not the person who sexually assaulted the woman was mentally handicapped.
17 "Misleader" Nick Kendrick
Story by Nick Harding & Nick Kendrick		 Richard Dobbs March 31, 2000 E0902
After the pregnant daughter-in-law of a prominent religious figure is found murdered in her hotel room, the detectives turn their eyes on her well-connected family, only to discover that her infidelity -and the probable father of her child- was probably what lead to her death.
18 "Chat Room" Roger Garrett Richard Dobbs April 14, 2000 E0923
When a teenage girl comes into the squad room to tell the detectives that she was raped by a man she met on the Internet, the detectives set up a special sting operation. They end up stepping on some highly-placed toes as Munch plays the kid to net the big fish.
19 "Contact" Wendy West & Robert Palm Michael Zinberg April 28, 2000 E0921
After seven young women in a six-month time span are raped by a flash and dash assailant on the city subways, the brass calls in a psychiatrist to help the team get into the head of the perp. When he is caught, he possesses the driver's license of a new victim who could put him away. Jeffries decides to keep a very close eye on the man they believe is guilty of the crimes until the others can talk to her.
20 "Remorse" Michael R. Perry Alexander Cassini May 5, 2000 E0924
Television reporter Sarah Logan refuses to let her recent rape get her down, and talks about her experiences on the air, leading to the arrest of a young man that the team feels is responsible.
21 "Nocturne" Wendy West Jean de Segonzac May 12, 2000 E0922
After a pharmacy turns over some disturbing photos of a young boy, Benson and Stabler arrest a piano teacher for child molestation. After the boy claims to have seen other pictures of young boys at the teacher's house, the detectives get a warrant and discover a series of videos that document the life of a young boy named Evan. Believing he can make or break their case, the team searches for him, only to realise that his testimony may not help at all because Evan is scarred far more deeply than they realised.
22 "Slaves" Dawn DeNoon & Lisa Marie Petersen Ted Kotcheff May 21, 2000 E0926
After a shopkeeper brings a note for help to the squad, the detectives begin trying to locate a young Romanian woman named Ilena, who hasn't been seen in months. The squad eventually find her at the home of the Morrows, a successful yuppie couple. A forensic psychologist analyzes the team, and presents disturbing findings to Cragen, suggesting that one of the detectives be removed from the team. The episode ends with a cliffhanger, Cragen asking "Who?"

[edit] References

[edit] See also

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Characters
Cast
Episodes
Complete list • Season 1 • Season 2 • Season 3 • Season 4 • Season 5 • Season 6 • Season 7 • Season 8 • Season 9