Episode Guide: Law and Order SVU - Season 15
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Season 15 of Law and Order SVU, premiered on NBC with a two-hour episode on on Wednesday, September 25, 2013 and concluded on Wednesday, May 21, 2014.
Raúl was elevated to series regular for season 15, making him the first regular ADA in the cast since series 11. Raúl appeared in 14 of the 24 episodes. Episodes that Raúl appeared in are indicated with ** |
Episode 1: Surrender Benson
Air Date: September 25, 2013
Synopsis: Hours turn into days, and with no word from Detective Benson, the Special Victims Unit takes drastic measures to find her and her abductor, William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber). As Benson fights for her life, her squad follows a trail of murder and rape victims throughout Long Island, which leads them to fear it may be too late.
Ratings: 9.58m (US)
Episode 2: Imprisoned Lives**
Air Date: September 25, 2013
Synopsis: Just as Benson returns from her two month leave, an abandoned child in Times Square leads the SVU to more victims in the basement of a home. As they work to solve the decade old case, Benson tries to prove to herself that she is ready to be back on the job, despite Captain Cragen and her new therapist Dr. Lindstrom's (Bill Irwin) reservations.
Ratings: 9.58m (US)
Episode 3: American Tragedy**
Air Date: October 2, 2013
Synopsis: When a string of rapes puts the SVU squad and the city on high alert, a celebrity chef (Cybill Shepherd) fears she is the next victim and shoots a hooded teenager in a claim of self defense. The case evolves into a murder trial for a racially charged shooting, putting pressure on ADA Barba to get a conviction
Ratings: 6.85m (US)
Episode 4: Internal Affairs
Air Date: October 9, 2013
Synopsis: When an officer gets placed in a psychiatric ward after accusing his precinct of sexual misconduct, IAB Lt. Tucker (Robert John Burke) asks SVU to lead his investigation. Tucker recruits Brian Cassidy to go undercover in the crooked precinct, offering him the chance to regain his detective's shield. With SVU watching Cassidy's every move, they realize he could be in grave danger.
Ratings: 6.31m (US)
Episode 5: Wonderland Story
Air Date: October 16, 2013
Synopsis: After a night of partying, a rape victim (Sofia Vassilieva) seeks help from Benson after she believes she has been raped again. The search for her attacker leads the detectives to a world of underground parties and a cyber mogul who preys on vulnerable girls. Meanwhile, the SVU comes together to celebrate the retirement of Sergeant Munch.
Ratings: 7.48m (US)
Episode 6: October Surprise**
Air Date: October 23, 2013
Synopsis: When Barba’s childhood friend is arrested for attempted rape, his connection to Alex Munoz (Vincent Laresca), a mayoral frontrunner, puts his campaign in jeopardy. When an undercover investigation uncovers further misconduct by Munoz, Detective Amaro and the SVU team wonder if Barba can put aside personal feelings to prosecute the man he used to idolize.
Ratings: 5.53m (US)
Episode 7: Dissonant Voices**
Air Date: November 6, 2013
Synopsis: TA popular singing coach and television personality (Billy Porter) is accused of sexual abuse by a four-year-old student at a prestigious private school. While Detective Rollins urges the squad to give the man the benefit of the doubt, Benson's investigation uncovers condemning evidence and more victims come forward.
Ratings: 5.65m (US)
Episode 8: Military Justice**
Air Date: November 13, 2013
Synopsis: A Coast Guard officer (Shiri Appleby) is stopped for a DUI while on leave in New York City, but the arresting officer calls SVU when she appears to have been raped. The detectives home in on a group of officers in her unit as suspects, but her commanding officer (Terry Serpico) hinders the investigation. When Amaro asks his ex-wife to dig up information, he jeopardizes Barba's case.
Ratings: 6.16m (US)
Episode 9: Rapist Anonymous**
Air Date: November 20, 2013
Synopsis: Rollins' friend from her Gamblers Anonymous meeting claims she was raped by her lover, but the case is challenging to prove. Things get further complicated when a murder occurs, and Rollins is caught in the middle between her squad and someone who she thought was her friend. When Barba is forced to reveal some of Rollins' personal life on the stand, it proves too much for her to handle. Meanwhile, Benson announces her promotion to sergeant and Cassidy is reinstated as a detective.
Ratings: 5.97m (US)
Episode 10: Psycho/Therapist**
Air Date: January 8, 2014
Synopsis: The trial of serial rapist William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber) once again brings Benson face-to-face with her attacker and the stress of reliving the attacks causes setbacks in her recovery. With Lewis trying every trick in the book, including representing himself at trial, Benson is forced to reveal secrets she has kept about her attack.
Ratings: 8.81m (US)
Episode 11: Amaro's One-Eighty
Air Date: January 15, 2014
Synopsis: After leaving a dinner party at Benson's apartment, Amaro and Rollins witness an officer in the chase of a suspected drug dealer. A standoff leads to gunfire and a teenage boy is gravely wounded. When the evidence leads to a shocking revelation, the SVU squad struggles to keep IAB Lt. Tucker and recently assigned Detective Cassidy from jumping to conclusions. As the case becomes a public spectacle, special prosecutor Derek Strauss (Greg Germann) pushes for a grand jury indictment and Amaro begins to question if fighting for his badge is best for his family. Meanwhile, Cragen announces his retirement from the NYPD.
Ratings: 5.44m (US)
Episode 12: Jersey Breakdown**
Air Date: January 22, 2014
Synopsis: When an underage runaway (Stefanie Scott) is found beaten and raped, the girl leads SVU to a strip club owner (Chazz Palminteri), who denies any wrongdoing. After New Jersey police arrest the girl, Barba calls on Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana de la Garza) for help. But when Barba and Rubirosa fail to get the help they need from Jersey law enforcement, SVU begins to suspect a coverup in the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
Ratings: 6.68m (US)
Episode 13: Betrayal's Climax**
Air Date: January 29, 2014
Synopsis: Detectives respond to a suspected kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl and the father points fingers at her boyfriend, who detectives discover is part of a local gang. After the girl is found during a failed suicide attempt, she reveals she was gang-raped while her boyfriend was forced to watch and that she had regrettably experienced multiple orgasms during the assault. With the girl afraid to testify and the boyfriend refusing to aid in the investigation, Amaro finds evidence the gang was responsible for more than just the attack.
Ratings: 7.59m (US)
Episode 14: Wednesday's Child
Air Date: February 5, 2014
Synopsis: When a father (John Benjamin Hickey) discovers his son missing from his bed, detectives suspect the boy wandered off alone because of his history of behavioral problems. The search becomes more urgent when the boy's insulin pump runs out and a dangerous criminal couple is spotted with the boy. With the boy still missing, detectives try to turn the wife (Rosanna Arquette) against her husband (Mark Boone Junior).
Ratings: 6.24m (US)
Episode 15: Comic Perversion**
Air Date: February 26, 2014
Synopsis: When a student is assaulted after protesting a comedian (Jonathan Silverman) who jokes about rape, Barba tells SVU they cannot arrest the comedian just based on his words. After another student accuses the comedian of rape, Benson quickly arrests the man, giving Barba a tough, circumstantial case, which propels him to call out Benson on the arrest. Meanwhile, Chicago police officer Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) comes to Manhattan to ask SVU for help. This episode begins a crossover with Chicago P.D. that concludes on "Conventions".
Ratings: 7.78m (US)
Episode 16: Gridiron Soldier
Air Date: March 5, 2014
Synopsis: After a high school football star goes missing in NYC, his uncle seeks helps from Rollins, who is a hometown friend. When Rollins finds the boy in jail, she begins to suspect that he was a victim of a cruel prank by the Hudson University football team. Although she is initially hesitant to let the investigation proceed, Benson lets Amaro and Rollins look into the team's culture, which uncovers several victims of abuse, prejudice and hazing.
Ratings: 6.01m (US)
Episode 17: Gambler's Fallacy
Air Date: March 12, 2014
Synopsis: When Rollins' gambling addiction drives her to an illegal club, a waitress tips the club managers off that she is a cop. Rollins strikes a deal with the managers to make her illegal activity disappear, but when her debt is not paid to their liking, she becomes involved in a unthinkable crime, which forces Benson and Detective Tutuola to suspect her guilt.
Ratings: 6.28m (US)
Episode 18: Criminal Stories**
Air Date: March 19, 2014
Synopsis: A renowned journalist, Jimmy MacArthur (Alec Baldwin), is given an inside look into the SVU to profile their new commanding officer, Sergeant Benson. When a young Muslim woman is raped, he interferes with the investigation and declares the crime a hoax. With the victim facing public scrutiny, Benson and Barba fight to keep the case on solid ground and get a conviction.
Ratings: 5.82m (US)
Episode 19: Downloaded Child**
Air Date: April 2, 2014
Synopsis: When a mother refuses to trust anyone to take care of her daughter, she leaves the child home alone for days. The mother's fear of men leads Benson to suspect she may have been a victim herself. With help from Dr. Lindstrom, she recovers repressed childhood memories of violence, rape, and neglect.
Ratings: 5.90m (US)
Episode 20: Beast's Obsession
Air Date: April 9, 2014
Synopsis: William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber) escapes from prison and begins another killing rampage. 1PP removes Benson as commanding officer of Manhattan SVU and assigns Lt. Declan Murphy (Donal Logue) to lead the manhunt for the sadistic murderer. Benson is given a 24-hour security detail and instructed to stay at the precinct, but when Lewis kidnaps a young girl Benson is forced to decide how much she is willing to sacrifice in order to save the child's life.
Ratings: 7.41m (US)
Episode 21: Post-Mortem Blues
Air Date: April 30, 2014
Synopsis: Benson is rescued by the squad moments after Lewis' final act and IAB Lt. Tucker's investigation is deemed inconclusive into Benson's actions. When the Brooklyn DA's Office, led by ADA Strauss, convenes a grand jury to investigate her actions, Benson's torment continues and she must choose between her badge and her convictions.
Ratings: 6.20m (US)
Episode 22: Reasonable Doubt**
Air Date: May 7, 2014
Synopsis: The SVU squad investigates renowned television producer, Frank Maddox (Bradley Whitford), when he is accused of molesting his eight-year-old daughter. His estranged wife (Samantha Mathis) wants to know the truth but when she refuses to cooperate with the authorities, the detectives suspect it was a ploy to win the public's favor. With Maddox engaged to his ex-wife's younger sister (Emma Bell), Benson fights to help the child amid the media circus.
Ratings: 5.34 (US)
Episode 23: Thought Criminal**
Air Date: May 14, 2014
Synopsis: Murphy leads the squad in an undercover operation targeting sex offenders and they soon discover a well-regarded photographer, Simon Wilkes (Joshua Malina), whose fantasies may have crossed the line into reality at a child's expense. After a horrific discovery, the detectives push Barba to take the tough case to trial.
Ratings: 6.48m (US)
Episode 24: Spring Awakening
Air Date: May 21, 2014
Synopsis: Amaro is charged by the DA's office after assaulting Simon Wilkes while off duty and Munch returns to provide him with much needed advice. Meanwhile, the squad investigates a string of male tourist rapes and robberies, with Murphy leading another undercover sting. When a couple is arrested as suspects, the woman is found to have a surprising connection to Baby Boy Doe, whose custody hearings continue to distract Benson.
Ratings: 6.39m (US)
Air Date: September 25, 2013
Synopsis: Hours turn into days, and with no word from Detective Benson, the Special Victims Unit takes drastic measures to find her and her abductor, William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber). As Benson fights for her life, her squad follows a trail of murder and rape victims throughout Long Island, which leads them to fear it may be too late.
Ratings: 9.58m (US)
Episode 2: Imprisoned Lives**
Air Date: September 25, 2013
Synopsis: Just as Benson returns from her two month leave, an abandoned child in Times Square leads the SVU to more victims in the basement of a home. As they work to solve the decade old case, Benson tries to prove to herself that she is ready to be back on the job, despite Captain Cragen and her new therapist Dr. Lindstrom's (Bill Irwin) reservations.
Ratings: 9.58m (US)
Episode 3: American Tragedy**
Air Date: October 2, 2013
Synopsis: When a string of rapes puts the SVU squad and the city on high alert, a celebrity chef (Cybill Shepherd) fears she is the next victim and shoots a hooded teenager in a claim of self defense. The case evolves into a murder trial for a racially charged shooting, putting pressure on ADA Barba to get a conviction
Ratings: 6.85m (US)
Episode 4: Internal Affairs
Air Date: October 9, 2013
Synopsis: When an officer gets placed in a psychiatric ward after accusing his precinct of sexual misconduct, IAB Lt. Tucker (Robert John Burke) asks SVU to lead his investigation. Tucker recruits Brian Cassidy to go undercover in the crooked precinct, offering him the chance to regain his detective's shield. With SVU watching Cassidy's every move, they realize he could be in grave danger.
Ratings: 6.31m (US)
Episode 5: Wonderland Story
Air Date: October 16, 2013
Synopsis: After a night of partying, a rape victim (Sofia Vassilieva) seeks help from Benson after she believes she has been raped again. The search for her attacker leads the detectives to a world of underground parties and a cyber mogul who preys on vulnerable girls. Meanwhile, the SVU comes together to celebrate the retirement of Sergeant Munch.
Ratings: 7.48m (US)
Episode 6: October Surprise**
Air Date: October 23, 2013
Synopsis: When Barba’s childhood friend is arrested for attempted rape, his connection to Alex Munoz (Vincent Laresca), a mayoral frontrunner, puts his campaign in jeopardy. When an undercover investigation uncovers further misconduct by Munoz, Detective Amaro and the SVU team wonder if Barba can put aside personal feelings to prosecute the man he used to idolize.
Ratings: 5.53m (US)
Episode 7: Dissonant Voices**
Air Date: November 6, 2013
Synopsis: TA popular singing coach and television personality (Billy Porter) is accused of sexual abuse by a four-year-old student at a prestigious private school. While Detective Rollins urges the squad to give the man the benefit of the doubt, Benson's investigation uncovers condemning evidence and more victims come forward.
Ratings: 5.65m (US)
Episode 8: Military Justice**
Air Date: November 13, 2013
Synopsis: A Coast Guard officer (Shiri Appleby) is stopped for a DUI while on leave in New York City, but the arresting officer calls SVU when she appears to have been raped. The detectives home in on a group of officers in her unit as suspects, but her commanding officer (Terry Serpico) hinders the investigation. When Amaro asks his ex-wife to dig up information, he jeopardizes Barba's case.
Ratings: 6.16m (US)
Episode 9: Rapist Anonymous**
Air Date: November 20, 2013
Synopsis: Rollins' friend from her Gamblers Anonymous meeting claims she was raped by her lover, but the case is challenging to prove. Things get further complicated when a murder occurs, and Rollins is caught in the middle between her squad and someone who she thought was her friend. When Barba is forced to reveal some of Rollins' personal life on the stand, it proves too much for her to handle. Meanwhile, Benson announces her promotion to sergeant and Cassidy is reinstated as a detective.
Ratings: 5.97m (US)
Episode 10: Psycho/Therapist**
Air Date: January 8, 2014
Synopsis: The trial of serial rapist William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber) once again brings Benson face-to-face with her attacker and the stress of reliving the attacks causes setbacks in her recovery. With Lewis trying every trick in the book, including representing himself at trial, Benson is forced to reveal secrets she has kept about her attack.
Ratings: 8.81m (US)
Episode 11: Amaro's One-Eighty
Air Date: January 15, 2014
Synopsis: After leaving a dinner party at Benson's apartment, Amaro and Rollins witness an officer in the chase of a suspected drug dealer. A standoff leads to gunfire and a teenage boy is gravely wounded. When the evidence leads to a shocking revelation, the SVU squad struggles to keep IAB Lt. Tucker and recently assigned Detective Cassidy from jumping to conclusions. As the case becomes a public spectacle, special prosecutor Derek Strauss (Greg Germann) pushes for a grand jury indictment and Amaro begins to question if fighting for his badge is best for his family. Meanwhile, Cragen announces his retirement from the NYPD.
Ratings: 5.44m (US)
Episode 12: Jersey Breakdown**
Air Date: January 22, 2014
Synopsis: When an underage runaway (Stefanie Scott) is found beaten and raped, the girl leads SVU to a strip club owner (Chazz Palminteri), who denies any wrongdoing. After New Jersey police arrest the girl, Barba calls on Assistant U.S. Attorney Connie Rubirosa (Alana de la Garza) for help. But when Barba and Rubirosa fail to get the help they need from Jersey law enforcement, SVU begins to suspect a coverup in the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office.
Ratings: 6.68m (US)
Episode 13: Betrayal's Climax**
Air Date: January 29, 2014
Synopsis: Detectives respond to a suspected kidnapping of a 16-year-old girl and the father points fingers at her boyfriend, who detectives discover is part of a local gang. After the girl is found during a failed suicide attempt, she reveals she was gang-raped while her boyfriend was forced to watch and that she had regrettably experienced multiple orgasms during the assault. With the girl afraid to testify and the boyfriend refusing to aid in the investigation, Amaro finds evidence the gang was responsible for more than just the attack.
Ratings: 7.59m (US)
Episode 14: Wednesday's Child
Air Date: February 5, 2014
Synopsis: When a father (John Benjamin Hickey) discovers his son missing from his bed, detectives suspect the boy wandered off alone because of his history of behavioral problems. The search becomes more urgent when the boy's insulin pump runs out and a dangerous criminal couple is spotted with the boy. With the boy still missing, detectives try to turn the wife (Rosanna Arquette) against her husband (Mark Boone Junior).
Ratings: 6.24m (US)
Episode 15: Comic Perversion**
Air Date: February 26, 2014
Synopsis: When a student is assaulted after protesting a comedian (Jonathan Silverman) who jokes about rape, Barba tells SVU they cannot arrest the comedian just based on his words. After another student accuses the comedian of rape, Benson quickly arrests the man, giving Barba a tough, circumstantial case, which propels him to call out Benson on the arrest. Meanwhile, Chicago police officer Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) comes to Manhattan to ask SVU for help. This episode begins a crossover with Chicago P.D. that concludes on "Conventions".
Ratings: 7.78m (US)
Episode 16: Gridiron Soldier
Air Date: March 5, 2014
Synopsis: After a high school football star goes missing in NYC, his uncle seeks helps from Rollins, who is a hometown friend. When Rollins finds the boy in jail, she begins to suspect that he was a victim of a cruel prank by the Hudson University football team. Although she is initially hesitant to let the investigation proceed, Benson lets Amaro and Rollins look into the team's culture, which uncovers several victims of abuse, prejudice and hazing.
Ratings: 6.01m (US)
Episode 17: Gambler's Fallacy
Air Date: March 12, 2014
Synopsis: When Rollins' gambling addiction drives her to an illegal club, a waitress tips the club managers off that she is a cop. Rollins strikes a deal with the managers to make her illegal activity disappear, but when her debt is not paid to their liking, she becomes involved in a unthinkable crime, which forces Benson and Detective Tutuola to suspect her guilt.
Ratings: 6.28m (US)
Episode 18: Criminal Stories**
Air Date: March 19, 2014
Synopsis: A renowned journalist, Jimmy MacArthur (Alec Baldwin), is given an inside look into the SVU to profile their new commanding officer, Sergeant Benson. When a young Muslim woman is raped, he interferes with the investigation and declares the crime a hoax. With the victim facing public scrutiny, Benson and Barba fight to keep the case on solid ground and get a conviction.
Ratings: 5.82m (US)
Episode 19: Downloaded Child**
Air Date: April 2, 2014
Synopsis: When a mother refuses to trust anyone to take care of her daughter, she leaves the child home alone for days. The mother's fear of men leads Benson to suspect she may have been a victim herself. With help from Dr. Lindstrom, she recovers repressed childhood memories of violence, rape, and neglect.
Ratings: 5.90m (US)
Episode 20: Beast's Obsession
Air Date: April 9, 2014
Synopsis: William Lewis (Pablo Schreiber) escapes from prison and begins another killing rampage. 1PP removes Benson as commanding officer of Manhattan SVU and assigns Lt. Declan Murphy (Donal Logue) to lead the manhunt for the sadistic murderer. Benson is given a 24-hour security detail and instructed to stay at the precinct, but when Lewis kidnaps a young girl Benson is forced to decide how much she is willing to sacrifice in order to save the child's life.
Ratings: 7.41m (US)
Episode 21: Post-Mortem Blues
Air Date: April 30, 2014
Synopsis: Benson is rescued by the squad moments after Lewis' final act and IAB Lt. Tucker's investigation is deemed inconclusive into Benson's actions. When the Brooklyn DA's Office, led by ADA Strauss, convenes a grand jury to investigate her actions, Benson's torment continues and she must choose between her badge and her convictions.
Ratings: 6.20m (US)
Episode 22: Reasonable Doubt**
Air Date: May 7, 2014
Synopsis: The SVU squad investigates renowned television producer, Frank Maddox (Bradley Whitford), when he is accused of molesting his eight-year-old daughter. His estranged wife (Samantha Mathis) wants to know the truth but when she refuses to cooperate with the authorities, the detectives suspect it was a ploy to win the public's favor. With Maddox engaged to his ex-wife's younger sister (Emma Bell), Benson fights to help the child amid the media circus.
Ratings: 5.34 (US)
Episode 23: Thought Criminal**
Air Date: May 14, 2014
Synopsis: Murphy leads the squad in an undercover operation targeting sex offenders and they soon discover a well-regarded photographer, Simon Wilkes (Joshua Malina), whose fantasies may have crossed the line into reality at a child's expense. After a horrific discovery, the detectives push Barba to take the tough case to trial.
Ratings: 6.48m (US)
Episode 24: Spring Awakening
Air Date: May 21, 2014
Synopsis: Amaro is charged by the DA's office after assaulting Simon Wilkes while off duty and Munch returns to provide him with much needed advice. Meanwhile, the squad investigates a string of male tourist rapes and robberies, with Murphy leading another undercover sting. When a couple is arrested as suspects, the woman is found to have a surprising connection to Baby Boy Doe, whose custody hearings continue to distract Benson.
Ratings: 6.39m (US)