(Photo courtesy usanetwork.com)

By Alexis Broderick – News Editor 

“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” premiered on September 20, 1999, as the second series in Wolf’s successful “Law & Order” franchise. After the premiere of its 21st season in September 2019, the series became the longest-running U.S. live action series on television. This show features Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson, Ice-T as Officer Tutuola, and Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler.

The Special Victims Unit, or SVU, is a specially-trained squad of detectives in the N.Y.P.D., that investigate violent crimes, particularly sexual assault cases. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

One of the most memorable episodes of the season is Episode 19. In this episode, the SVU struggles to find a serial predator who uses a drug that leaves no evidence behind.

“Law and Order: SVU” can be very educational to the viewer. For example, a 2015 Washington State University study found that college students who watched shows from the “Law & Order” franchise were better educated about rape and sexual consent. The study concluded, “For some people, shows like ‘SVU’ are helpful because it can help them categorize: ‘Wait a second. What happened to me looked like that, and that’s a crime.'”

The female actors in the show are very relatable and while this show can be scary at times, it is also super-informative and a good binge show to watch. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars