“In the criminal justice system…”
Since 1990, those famous words followed by a “dun-dun" sound effect, have been a staple for NBC and syndication. When Law & Order began, it was simply a unique mix of police and legal drama. It’s now become the linchpin of an amazing franchise that has boasted a half-dozen spin-offs in the United States and a few abroad.
Obviously, ranking the shows can be tricky, as everyone has their own favorites. Some prefer the format of the original or the more daring cases of some spin-offs. A couple of shows weren’t as long-lasting despite the name, while a couple of the overseas productions are surprisingly good. Here’s how each Law & Order series ranks to shine as a testament to a TV franchise that seemingly refuses to die.
9. Conviction
This isn’t usually considered a Law & Order show. However, it does somewhat count, as it starred Stephanie March as ADA Alex Cabot. Having returned from being in witness protection, Cabot was assigned to lead a pack of young ADAs in the New York prosecutor's office. Frankly, the series felt like a totally different show that just added Cabot to it.
The show is more notable for its cast, including Eric Balfour, Anson Mount, J. August Richards, Jordan Bridges, and future Law & Order stars Milena Govich and Julianne Nicholson. The show was more about soap-opera antics than actual crime cases, so it’s no surprise it doesn’t truly carry the Law & Order name.
8. Law & Order: Trial by Jury
The concept of Trial by Jury was sound. It examined the lead-up to cases with the prosecution collecting further evidence and prepping for jury selection and the like. There were also looks at the defense side, including how a lawyer defended someone they knew was guilty. The cast was strong with Bebe Neuwirth, Amy Carlson, and Scott Cohen. Jerry Orbach played Lennie Briscoe, but sadly, his death after just two episodes set the show back.
It had a different dynamic, still with the L&O flavor, while putting a spin on the trial and even a crossover with SVU. It had promise, and maybe with a little more time, it could have developed into a good show. It only lasted 13 episodes, the first failure for the franchise, although the DNA of Law & Order was there.
7. Law & Order: L.A.
Law & Order: L.A. was likely doomed from the start. NBC’s decision to unceremoniously cancel the mothership show after 20 years was shocking. Filling the hole with a spinoff set on the other side of the country wasn’t a worthy substitute. Somehow, the glitz and sun of Los Angeles didn’t work as well as the gritty streets of New York City. The larger cast, with D.A.s swapping, didn’t help, despite attempts to draw inspiration from California-based crimes.
The producers tried to do a big creative overhaul that included killing off one cop, having Alfred Molina’s prosecutor become a detective, and bringing L&O's Alana de la Garza along to help. It didn’t work; the show was axed after one season, and it took over a decade for NBC to finally correct their mistake by bringing back the original Law & Order. It’s a reason the show has always worked best in New York.
6. Law & Order: Organized Crime
Having Christopher Meloni return to the Law & Order world as Detective Elliot Stabler was a huge deal. A spinoff of him leading a task force tracking criminals was an offbeat choice. The show differed from other installments by having longer story arcs spanning multiple episodes, requiring more investment, which may have played a part in it never quite becoming a hit.
Meloni was terrific in the lead role, delivering an older, darker Stabler with the same intensity. He had a good supporting cast with Danielle Moné Truitt as a tough boss and Ainsley Seiger stealing every scene as wisecracking hacker Jet. The arcs could be compelling with great guest stars (especially Dylan McDermott) and crossovers with the other shows.
At the same time, it wasn’t quite the same as the usual Law & Order format, which worked against it. That final season on Peacock was a daring experiment that didn’t quite work, yet Meloni made it watchable.
5. Law & Order: Toronto: Criminal Intent
This Canadian import captures the early Criminal Intent aura excellently. Like the original Criminal Intent, it unfolds more like a classic murder mystery, including the criminals' perspectives. Aden Young and Kathleen Munroe make a marvelous lead pair as detectives with different styles yet matching up perfectly, unraveling clues and hunting down the killer.
The show uses real-life Canadian crimes for inspiration and does a fine job of it, showing how Canada has a real dark underbelly. It also boasts a who’s who of Canadian stage and TV actors to spice up each episode. Seeing the differences between Canadian and U.S. law also adds a new element. For anyone who wants a throwback to how Law & Order once felt, this show from the Great White North nails it.
4. Law & Order: UK
Running a good eight seasons from 2009 to 2014, Law & Order: UK was a more than faithful adaptation of the show. It followed the format of the first half with the cops investigating the crime and the second on the prosecution. However, the vast legal differences between the U.S. and Great Britain made it even more fascinating. It wasn’t just seeing the prosecutors in wigs and robes, but also realizing that things like Miranda rights don’t exist in London and guns are not as commonplace.
Like a Stateside L&O series, the show had some cast turnovers, which included a shocking character death. Some episodes adapted older L&O stories, while others used London-based “ripped from the headlines” events. Either way, this proved how this format easily fits into the wide range of British crime dramas.
3. Law & Order: Criminal Intent
The original conceit of this spinoff was to see from the criminal’s point of view. However, it soon shifted to showcase Vincent D'Onofrio's amazing talents as Detective Robert Goren. Like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, the eccentric cop would slowly untangle the web of lies and secrets to get to the truth. He was backed by Kathryn Ebre’s equally compelling Alexandra Eames for cases that rarely took place in the courtroom but were always amazing to watch.
The series would see a few nice cast additions like Chris Noth, Annabella Sciorra, Julianne Nicholson, Saffron Burrows, and Jeff Goldblum, who all fit in nicely and brought a variety of quirks and auras to the show. Still, those early seasons with D’Onofrio were the best, backed by a bevy of amazing guest stars. It was a more cerebral L&O show, while still amazing to watch no matter who the cops were.
2. Law & Order: SVU
The longest-running primetime drama of all time just keeps chugging along. SVU never ceases to be on top of the news for stories about the seedy side of New York and the often twisted desires that lead to tragedy. The heart of it all has been Mariska Hargitay, whose record, Emmy-winning run as Olivia Benson makes her the longest-lasting Law & Order star and still a fantastic force for justice.
The show has endured countless cast changes, adapting to the times without ever losing focus on cops trying to help those who have endured an unspeakable tragedy. It never shies away from controversy, and even if some recent seasons aren’t as strong, its sheer longevity qualifies it for the top of the list.
1. Law & Order
Really, what else could top the list? Long before procedural TV was a genre, Law & Order was striking for self-contained episodes that still enthralled viewers. Splitting each story in half between the cops and prosecutors was a genius idea, mixing police and legal dramas together. It benefited from tales torn from the headlines and a terrific cast (including the late, great Jerry Orbach as Lennie Briscoe).
The best episodes showed how flawed the justice system could be and how, despite their efforts, the good guys sometimes lost. Law & Order became an institution, making it harder when the mothership was canceled in 2010. Thankfully, it was finally revived and right back to taking on stories that few other shows would attempt. Whether you’re watching an episode from season 1 or season 23, the original Law & Order is a masterful show whose legacy shows no signs of dying.
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