In some cases, Law & Order: SVU episodes ended on cliffhangers that were followed up with sequels later in the series. Sometimes, the cliffhangers made episodes of Law & Order: SVU more creepy. However, some cliffhangers at the end of Law & Order: SVU made audiences want to smash their TVs.
Occasionally the procedural offered a cliffhanger for the sake of having one. Season-ending cliffhangers were often guilty of being overly sensationalistic, though other episodes also ended on infuriating cliffhangers.
10. William Lewis Shoots Himself In Front Of Benson
“Post-Mortem Blues” (Season 15, Episode 21)
Benson’s ordeal at serial rapist William Lewis’ hands was one of Law & Order: SVU‘s creepiest episodes. Lewis tormented her, forced her to drink and take pills, and came close to raping her. That shocking episode was hard enough to watch without two unnecessary sequels.
In the final episode featuring William Lewis, Lewis kidnaps a young girl in order to lure Benson back into his trap. He and Benson have a tense, psychological standoff, which ends with Lewis shooting himself while Benson is helpless to stop him.
9. The End Of Stabler’s Final Episode
Smoked (Season 12, Episode 24)
Stabler’s final episode as a regular in Law & Order: SVU is considered one of the series’ best, but it is also both disturbing and infuriating. The episode begins as a typical investigation into a rape, but ends with the rapist’s daughter grabbing a gun and shooting the squad room.
This disturbing sequence results in the death of three people, including Sister Peg, who was a beloved minor character. Sister Peg often helped out the squad, and her death was as devastating as it is unforgivable. Additionally, this episode is infuriating for Stabler/Benson fans because Stabler disappears without saying goodbye to Benson afterward.
8. Stabler and Jeffries’ Jobs in Danger At The End of Season 1
“Slaves” (Season 1, Episode 22)
While the desire to ensure cops are not becoming violent vigilantes is admirable, the concern is silly.
Stabler is considered potentially dangerous because he admits that he sometimes fantasizes about killing pedophiles. While the desire to ensure cops are not becoming violent vigilantes is admirable, the concern is silly. There is a difference between thoughts and actions, and a police psychiatrist ought to know that.
Additionally, it’s disappointing that Jeffries is so easily discarded. She is fired for admitting to sleeping with a suspect, which reinforces stereotypes about Black women and adds nothing of substance to the procedural as it wraps its freshman season.
7. Fin’s Nephew Threatens Him After Being Revealed As A Murderer
“Venom” (Season 7, Episode 18)
Fin’s nephew, Darius — biologically his son’s half-brother — was a troubled character who went too far in “Venom.” Darius’ backstory is that Fin’s ex-wife is his mother , not his aunt, but she has always refused to accept him, yet Darius remained close with Ken, Fin’s son.
Instead, Darius refuses a plea deal and threatens Fin, saying his family’s secrets will all come out in court, and that’ll give him his revenge. Darius later makes good on his threats in an unnecessary sequel story.
6. Maddie Flynn Remains Missing
“Tunnel Blind” (Season 25, Episode 1)
Law & Order; SVU season 25 included an annoying arc in which Benson became obsessed with missing teenager Maddie Flynn and became close friends with her family. The Flynns constantly called on Benson for help while Maddie was missing, while Fin and others worried Benson was chasing false leads and not focusing on other cases or victims.
The cliffhanger at the end of the season premiere was especially infuriating. Maddie Flynn is not recovered by the end of the episode, and her mother interrupts a press conference demanding to know why her daughter has not yet been found. While her emotionality is understandable, it makes Benson feel guilty enough to make Maddie even more of a priority.
5. Benson and Stabler Exchange Gifts
“All Pain Is One Malady”/”With Many Names” (Law & Order: SVU Season 24, Episode 22 / Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 3, Episode 22)
Law & Order: SVU season 24 ended with the crossover audiences were eagerly waiting for: Stabler and Benson working together and realizing what they meant to each other. After Stabler saved Benson’s life during an attempted shooting in a diner, he and Benson exchanged gifts.
This would have been a strong cliffhanger, considering how much it added to the relationship between Law & Order: SVU‘s Benson and Stabler. Unfortunately, this episode was followed by two years of radio silence between the characters.
Benson even gave the compass necklace Stabler gifted her to Eileen Flynn, which he approved of. This decision symbolically erased the relationship and made this cliffhanger meaningless.
4. William Lewis Taking Benson Hostage
“Her Negotiation” (Season 14, Episode 24)
It’s unrealistic that a veteran SVU cop who had just made an enemy out of someone like William Lewis wouldn’t take precautions to prevent this type of situation. Additionally, at the time this cliffhanger was filmed, Law & Order: SVU had not yet been greenlit for season 15.
This cliffhanger risked the series ending with Benson being held hostage in her apartment.
Thus, this cliffhanger risked the series ending with Benson being held hostage in her apartment. This ending image would have undermined Law & Order: SVU‘s core message after 15 years of hard work.
3. Harper’s Rapist Gets Away With It
“Closure, Part 1” (Season 1, Episode 10)
Unlike most of the episodes that ended with disturbing cliffhangers, “Closure, Part 1” offered the only logical conclusion to the story. This early episode introduces a victim named Harper who is worn down by the justice system as she pursues her case.
This ending made audiences angry at the system, as it should have. When season 2 offered a sequel, it was easy to root for Harper even though she broke the law by stalking her attacker. Eventually, she kills him, though the man’s wife takes responsibility for the murder.
2. Captain Cragen Was Accused Of Murder
“Rhodium Nights” (Season 13, Episode 23)
“Rhodium Nights” has the interesting, thrilleresque premise of Captain Cragen waking up to find a dead body in his bed, which makes him look liable for a murder he can’t remember committing. However, it’s difficult to believe that anyone seriously thought Cragen would do such a thing.
Cragen was well-known as the leader of the Special Victims Unit. Additionally, the team was threatening to unmask powerful people throughout the episode, and Cragen himself was blackmailed prior to this incident. Thus, it was an obvious setup.
Although the cliffhanger got strong marks at the time, in retrospect it seems like manufactured drama for the sole purpose of getting audiences to tune in for the next season.
Although the cliffhanger got strong marks at the time, in retrospect it seems like manufactured drama for the sole purpose of getting audiences to tune in for the next season. The cliffhanger is infuriating because it could have been compelling had it been written better.
1. Sheila Porter Claims Noah Disappeared
“Gone Baby Gone” (Season 19, Episode 9)
The Sheila Porter arc is another one that could have benefited from more subtlety. In the course of a few episodes, Noah’s biological grandmother returns, pushes her way into Noah and Benson’s lives, and kidnaps Noah. This could have been a compelling story had it not been so obvious what had happened.
Sheila’s cover story that Noah disappeared while her back was turned in a department store was an obvious lie, and the majority of the audience guessed that she had taken him herself. Law & Order: SVU almost gave her a redemption arc by Noah wanting to continue to see her after he was returned. However, this angle was quickly dropped, making this story even more disappointing.
