When the witness in a jewelry store robbery-homicide fails to appear in court, McCoy suspects foul play until he discovers that the man is a fugitive in a 20-year-old murder case.

The episode was rated 7.50 from 84 votes.

The execution style shooting of a city contractor leads Detectives Briscoe and Green to suspect a professional hitman. They first focus upon possible enemies of the victim, but end up suspecting the victim's wife and her boyfried of hiring the killer. However later discovered evidence leads McCoy and Southerlyn to a conspirator that no one had suspected.

The episode was rated 7.51 from 95 votes.

Investigating the murder of a cab driver, the detectives come to suspect a famous author and his protege, a former child prodigy.

The episode was rated 7.52 from 85 votes.

The smoldering corpse of an Asian girl found outside the Chinese consul general's apartment leads the detectives to believe she had made a political statement. When forensics shows that she had been murdered beforehand, they find themselves in the middle of a religious conflict with the consul general their prime suspect and his attorney an old friend of District Attorney Branch.

The episode was rated 7.53 from 88 votes.

The discovery of a body in Hells Kitchen who had been wearing a $40,000 diamond ring leads the detectives back to the World Trade Center attacks as the victim had been reported to have died when Tower One collapsed. The ensuing investigation leads to a fiancee and a lover and the determination that the events of 9/11 may have been good timing to hide the fact that she was murdered the night before.

The episode was rated 7.54 from 95 votes.

Briscoe and Green are assigned to a case involving an eccentric comedian who may have killed his young son by dangling him off a ledge.

The episode was rated 7.54 from 85 votes.

A struggling actress is murdered in an apparent robbery-homicide where a video tape, made by a couple touring the city sold to a local news station, shows three suspects loading the stolen property into an SUV. They are charged with felony murder, a capital crime, and causes unrest with Southerlyn surrounding the death penalty.

The episode was rated 7.56 from 90 votes.

A media-savvy attorney defends a black teenager accused of shooting an off-duty policy officer.

The episode was rated 7.57 from 76 votes.

The death of a stockbroker leads the detectives to his girlfriend whose mother is a cosmetics mogul who has a long standing friendship with Branch, and will stop at nothing to protect her corporate image by using hormone replacement therapy withdrawal as the basis for her defense.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 81 votes.

The bludgeoning of a luxury sports car dealer leads the detectives to a mentally challenged man and his girlfriend who is extremely attractive and whose expensive tastes leads her to be equally manipulative.

The episode was rated 7.59 from 81 votes.

It's a race against time as the detectives go on the hunt for a sniper whose victims are shot in broad daylight.

The episode was rated 7.61 from 94 votes.

A dead teenager's father and a vigilante priest are suspects in the killing of a drug dealer.

The episode was rated 7.63 from 78 votes.

The murder of a female high school English teacher uncovers a love triangle that includes a female student and a male teacher, both of whom become suspects. The prosecutors have to deal with the student's multiple identities and refusal to live past adolescence.

The episode was rated 7.69 from 108 votes.

A defense attorney who had just acquitted a cop killer is gunned down outside a Manhattan restaurant. The detectives start with police officers in the precinct of the injured officer, then to his brother, before they are led to a white supremacist who is part of a national network. McCoy is faced with the unlikely prospect that the defendant's attorney, his friend of 20 years and a friend of the slain lawyer, played a part in the murder of a Florida district attorney following the defendant's arrest. McCoy is able to make a deal that perserves the integrity of his adversary, but not without a cost.

The episode was rated 7.73 from 91 votes.

In this gripping episode of Law & Order titled "Couples," Detectives Briscoe and Green find themselves in the midst of a whirlwind of crime. In a single day, they stumble upon not one, but four murders and a kidnapping. Talk about a busy day on the job! But what makes this episode truly unique is that in each case, the detectives are handed confessions. Yes, you read that right. Confessions in every single case.

Now, if you're a fan of Law & Order, you know that it's a show known for its formulaic approach to storytelling. But "Couples" breaks the mold and delivers a refreshing change of pace. It's one of those rare episodes that deviates from the norm and presents a more unconventional narrative. And let me tell you, it's about time! With over 450 episodes in the series, it's a pleasant surprise to see the creators take some risks and keep us on our toes.

But fear not, loyal viewers, because while "Couples" may be different, it still lives up to the high standards we've come to expect from Law & Order. This show has been consistently good over the years, and this episode is no exception. So grab your popcorn, settle in, and get ready for a thrilling ride as Briscoe and Green navigate the twists and turns of these interconnected crimes. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

The episode was rated 7.80 from 86 votes.