Law & Order: Philadelphia

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"In the city of Philadelphia, the people are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the police who investigate crime and the District Attorneys who prosecute the offenders. These are their stories." - The opening narration by Steve Zirnkilton.

LAW & ORDER: PHILADELPHIA is a police procedural and legal drama series spun off from the long-running NBC series 'Law & Order'. Created and produced by Dick Wolf, it premiered on NBC on September 24, 2014, immediately following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.

Set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the series follows a two part approach. When a crime is committed, the victims are represented by two separate yet equally important groups: the Philadelphia Police Department, who investigates the crime, and the District Attorney's Office, who conduct the people's case against the offenders in the trial. In every episode, the first half hour focuses on the investigation by the detectives and the second half the of episode focuses on the prosecution of the offenders by the assistant district attorneys.

Unlike most shows in the franchise, 'Law & Order: Philadelphia' features a revolving cast of characters, with episodes focusing on certain characters at a time. However, each season follows a broader story arc that focuses on at least one main character, which greatly affects the events of the following season(s).

In the style of the original 'Law & Order', episodes are often "ripped from the headlines" or loosely based on a real crime that received media attention.

Investigating the crimes are a team of elite detectives who all report to their ranking captain. It is their job to investigate the crime, collect evidence, interview witnesses and then, when the evidence points to a suspect or suspects, place the suspect(s) under arrest. The matter is then taken over by the prosecutors of the Philadelphia District Attorney's office. They discuss deals, prepare the witnesses and evidence and conduct the people's case in the trial.

Both teams work with the Medical Examiners Office, Crime Lab and psychiatrists from both the police department and DA's office.

Law

 * Vincent D'Onofrio as Jr. Detective Robert Goren (Season 1-present)
 * Kathryn Erbe as Sr. Detective Alexandra Eames (Season 1-present)
 * Vincent Martella as Detective Derrick Bradshaw (Season 3-present (main); Season 2 (recurring))
 * Alfred Molina as Detective Ricardo Morales (Season 1-2; Season 4-present)
 * Paris Berelc as Officer Miranda Green (Season 6-present (main); Season 2-6 (recurring))
 * Kira Kosarin as Cadet Danica Maclin (Season 7-present (main); Season 1-6 (recurring))
 * Chuck Norris as Sergeant Walker Orr  (Season 8-present (main); Season 1-7 (recurring))
 * Justin Willman as Lieutenant Chester Green (Season 8-present (main); Season 1-7 (recurring))
 * Johnathan Taylor Thomas as Chief Grant Thomas (Season 9-present)
 * Zachery Ty Bryan as Sergeant Michael Taylor (Season 9-present)
 * Taran Noah Smith as Lieutenant Noah Carpenter (Season 9-present)

Order

 * James Waterston as Executive Assistant DA Daniel McCoy (Season 1-present)
 * Alex Christian Jones as DA Investigator Michael Gordon (Season 1-present)
 * Bobby Lockwood as DA Investigator Jamey Dorn (Season 1-present)
 * Christopher Meloni as DA Investigator Elliot Stabler (Season 2-present)
 * Benjamin Salisbury as District Attorney Daniel West (Season 1-present)
 * Alyson Stoner as Jr. District Attorney Christina Ryan (Season 3-present (main); Season 2 (recurring))
 * Regina Hall as Dr. Evelyn Price (Season 1-present)
 * Tobey Maguire as DA Investigator Daniel Sheffield (Season 6-present)

Recurring

 * Megan Boone as Dr. Lauren Stanton (Season 1-present)
 * Frankie Muniz as M.E. Douglas Breen (Season 1-present)
 * Jodie Sweetin as Forensic Specialist Jessica Stoll (Season 1-present)
 * Anthony Anderson as Tech Analyst Kevin Bernard (Season 1-present)
 * Linus Roache as Assistant DA Michael Cutter (Season 1-present)
 * Hugh Laurie as Commissioner Patrick Cooney (Season 1-present)
 * Jack Griffo as Ritchie Brennan (Season 1-present)
 * Isabel Gillies as Kathy Stabler (Season 2-present)
 * David Harbour as Alan Ryan (Season 2-present)
 * Addison Timlin as Haley Ryan (Season 2-present)
 * Eric Lange as David Warren (Season 3-present)
 * Richard Schiff as Governor John Fletcher (Season 6-present)
 * Isabella Moner as Cadet Riley Scott (Season 8-present)
 * Jason Harris as Private Investigator Richard Brennan (Season 1-7, Season 8 (guest), Season 9-present (recurring))

Former Cast

 * Terrence Howard as Assistant DA Jonah 'Joe' Dekker (Season 1-2)
 * Andrew Bowen as Mayor Roy Aylesworth (Season 1-3, 7)
 * Eric Szmanda as Sergeant Bernard Howe (Season 1-4)
 * Josh Server as Sergeant Raymond King (Season 1-8)
 * Michael Imperioli as Captain Nick Falco (Season 1-8)
 * Danny Masterson as Lieutenant Matthew McArthur (Season 1-8)
 * Madeline Zima as Stella Hayworth (Season 3)

Season 1 (2014-2015)

 * Will consist of 24 episodes
 * Premiered Wednesday, September 24 @ 10/9 Central on NBC immediately following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'

1. Welcome to Philadelphia (Part 1) (Air Date: 9/24/14)

As new recruits graduate from the police academy, Goren and Eames investigate the latest in a string of serial killings throughout the state. When it's revealed that the killer is more dangerous than anyone expected, help arrives in the form of newly promoted Sergeant Richard Brennan (Jason Harris), who subdues the suspect, his old college English professor, Dr. Leonard Freeman (NBC News anchor Brian Williams). Freeman tells them as he is jailed that he his not the true killer as the episode ends.

NOTE: Inspired by the Zebra murders

2. Welcome to Philadelphia (Part 2) (Air Date: 10/1/14)

Freeman is jailed for the murders of 20 people across Pennsylvania in the span of 17 years. However, he tells police that he is not the true killer. Goren, Eames and Brennan reexamine his case and a new suspect comes up, a jihadist cell leader. It is here they meet rookie Officer Chester Green (Justin Willman) and find out his father and Brennan's uncle were killed at the same time by the same man. Goren, Eames, Brennan and Green team up to find and capture this new foe.

NOTE: First appearance of Officer Chester Green (Justin Willman)

3. Barely Legal (Air Date: 10/8/14)

Goren, Eames and Brennan investigate when a 21-year-old woman is raped and beaten in her dorm while celebrating her birthday. Goren and Eames find out that someone was trying to ruin the victim's life as an act of revenge. Meanwhile, Brennan's old college roommate, Jessica Aldon, is released from prison after serving seven years for a rape she did not commit. Aldon is actually the mother of Brennan's 16-year-old son, Ritchie (Jack Griffo). Goren and Eames find out about this, tell Brennan about this discovery, and start to worry about Ritchie as he is arrested for beating up a police officer.

NOTE: First appearance of Ritchie Brennan (Jack Griffo)

4. Rev It Up (Air Date: 10/15/14)

Goren and Eames investigate a rash of deadly hit-and-runs throughout the city. These cases hit close to Brennan's heart as he lost his best friend in a hit-and-run six years ago. More is learned about Brennan and his motivation to become an officer.

NOTE: Inspired by two different rashes of hit-and-runs in California's Sonoma and Orange Counties in July and December 2012

5. Fake-Out (Air Date: 10/22/14)

Goren and Eames look into Ritchie's recent arrest and discover he was framed by his ex-girlfriend (Kira Kosarin). When an assault case comes up at Penn State University, Brennan relieves Goren and Eames from his son's case to allow them to work the new case. Through Brennan's tireless work, Ritchie is exonerated while back at Penn State, a former football coach is charged with first-degree assault.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jerry Sandusky scandals

6. City of Brotherly Nightmares (Air Date: 10/29/14)

A Flyers game turns into a nightmare for the 20,000+ fans at Wells Fargo Center as six fans are beaten to death during the game, leading Goren and Eames to investigate the scene. Meanwhile, Brennan investigates the brutal beating of a former Philadelphia police officer at a Phillies game.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2012 NHL Winter Classic beatings

7. After Midnight (Air Date: 11/12/14)

Goren and Eames are sent in to investigate a hazing ritual gone wrong at Penn State University that left four students dead. This hits Detective Morales (Alfred Molina) hard as his eldest son goes to Penn State.

NOTE #1: First appearance of Detective Morales (Alfred Molina)

NOTE #2: Inspired by the Boland Hall fire at Seton Hall University

8. Raising the Bar (Air Date: 11/19/14)

A series of deadly bar brawls leads Goren and Eames to investigate the cause and find the source of these beatings. Meanwhile, Brennan teams up with rookie officer Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Officer Walker Orr (Chuck Norris) to investigate a dangerous drug cartel.

NOTE: First appearances of Michael Cutter (Linus Roache) and Walker Orr (Chuck Norris)

9. Manic Monday (Air Date: 11/26/14)

A nurse at CHOP (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia) is shot to death and it is up to Goren and Eames to find out why. When the shooter strikes down two more nurses, help comes in the form of rookie officer Chester Green.

NOTE: Inspired by the Richard Speck case

10. Black Friday (Air Date: 12/3/14)

Goren and Eames look into the murder of a mall employee who was presumed to be trampled to death on Black Friday. But was there more to his death than meets the eye?

NOTE: Inspired by the 2008 Walmart Black Friday killing

11. Snow Time to Lose (Air Date: 12/17/14)

A four-year-old child is kidnapped just before a major snowstorm hits the Philadelphia area, putting Goren and Eames in a race against time to stop the kidnapper and return the child to his parents before Father Winter hits.

12. A Christmas King's Ransomware (Air Date: 12/24/14)

Goren and Eames investigate a rash of ransomware attacks throughout the state and the world. To help the cause, Tech Analyst Kevin Bernard (Anthony Anderson) and Forensic Specialist (also an expert hacker) Jessica Stoll (Jodie Sweetin) are called in.

NOTE: Inspired by the CryptoLocker ransomware attack

13. Cry Wolf (Air Date: 1/7/15)

During a class at Penn University, a respected professor winds up dead, leaving it up to Goren and Eames to find the killer. Meanwhile, the case takes a shocking turn when two of his colleagues are suspected of the murder.

'''14. He Shoots, He Scores...He's Dead! '''(Air Date: 1/14/15)

A Flyers game turns into a nightmare when the head coach is killed off. As Goren and Eames investigate the murder with the help of Flyers captain Claude Giroux (guest starring as himself), Brennan continues work on his son's case.

15. Read All About It (Air Date: 2/4/15)

The PPD is put under intense pressure to solve the brutal murder of a private high school student. Their investigation leads them to two of the victim's classmates, ostracized intellectuals with a stunning obsession with murder and crime.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Cassie Jo Stoddart, and the case of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb

16. Tunnel of Love (Air Date: 2/11/15)

While celebrating his anniversary with his wife, McArthur discovers the badly-decomposing body of a murdered woman floating underneath Strawberry Mansion Bridge. The detectives are eventually led to a suspect with a horrifying fetish.

NOTE: Inspired by the Carl Tanzler case

17. Life's a Zoo (Air Date: 2/25/15)

A zoologist is murdered while tending to the animals at the Philadelphia Zoo, leading Goren and Eames to suspect foul play. However, Brennan thinks otherwise when camera footage shows Ritchie and his girlfriend (Kira Kosarin) sneaking in after hours.

18. All Work and No Play Leads to Murder One (Air Date: 3/11/15)

A teenage girl is fatally wounded in a gang-related shooting, a murder that is quickly solved. However, McCoy finds himself prosecuting a 911 dispatcher when it is revealed that she hung up on a witness who had been attempting to administer first-aid to the victim.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Jaydon Chavez-Silver in 2015

19. Slam Dunk (Air Date: 3/25/15)

After McCoy closes a slam-dunk case involving one of the hit-and-runs investigated in "Rev It Up", he is shocked when new evidence reveals the victim was actually murdered by a serial killer who evaded detection for years by killing his victims in different ways. McCoy must now struggle to exonerate both the man he prosecuted and another man framed by the serial killer, which proves to be difficult due to the ambiguity of the exculpatory evidence and the fact that they still had good motives for their respective crimes.

NOTE: Inspired by the Eric Edgar Cooke case, which involved the wrongful convictions of Darryl Beamish and John Button

20. Opening Day (Air Date: 4/8/15)

It's Phillies Opening Day, but the celebration is cut short when the Phillies' manager (guest star Larry Bowa) ends up murdered in broad daylight just before first pitch, leading Goren and Eames to investigate a possible motive. When witness accounts uncover a Persian Gulf veteran attended the game in Mets gear, the motive for murder reveals itself.

'''21. Tick, Tick, BOOM! '''(Air Date: 4/22/15)

A Philadelphia high school, Franklin High, is massacred, resulting in the death of eighteen students and five teachers. Unfortunately for Brennan, the case turns into a personal matter when his son is suspected of being the shooter.

NOTE: Inspired by the shootings at Chardon High School and Sandy Hook Elementary School

22. The Pact (Air Date: 5/6/15)

A group of students at Drexel University engage in a murder pact, killing 10 of their classmates over the course of the school year. This hits home for Brennan, a Drexel graduate, who is called in to investigate and figure out why students on the President's List would stoop as low as to enter into a murder pact.

23. Life in the Fast Lane (Air Date: 5/13/15)

Goren, Eames and Brennan are called out to investigate the stabbing death of an avid race fan at the Pocono Raceway. As Brennan investigates, he has a tense run-in with the father of one of Ritchie's victims. Dale Earnhardt Jr. guest stars.

24. School's Out (Air Date: 5/20/15)

Goren, Eames, and Brennan investigate the murder of two fifth graders, an 11-year-old boy and his girlfriend who were gunned down just as school let out for the summer. As the case progresses, more is learned about Brennan's son Ritchie, and what motivated him to commit the school shooting.

Season 2 (2015-2016)
After high ratings for the first 9 episodes of the series, NBC commissioned a 2nd season of 'Law & Order: Philadelphia', to premiere on September 23rd, 2015 at 10/9 Central, right after 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'

Notes:
 * Will consist of 24 episodes
 * Christopher Meloni will join the cast, reprising his role as Elliot Stabler, now a DA Investigator.

1. Reinforcements From New York (Air Date: 9/23/15)

Goren and Eames are back at work as a rape is investigated. When the rapist shows up and kidnaps Eames, former SVU detective Elliot Stabler (Christopher Meloni) is called in to help out the case.

2. Down and Dirty (Air Date: 9/30/15)

A Phillies coach is found beaten to death in the team clubhouse. The only leads are witness accounts from All-Star players Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, leaving Goren and Eames searching for answers when help comes from Police Commissioner Cooney (Hugh Laurie).

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of high school football coach Edward Arthur Thomas

3. AWOL (Air Date: 10/7/15)

Foul play is suspected in the murder of an Air Force captain. However, the case takes a drastic turn when a cadet from the Police Academy, Derrick Bradshaw (Vincent Martella), uses his connections with the Air Force to assist in the investigation.

NOTE #1: First Appearance of Cadet Derrick Bradshaw (Vincent Martella)

NOTE #2: Inspired by the story of Jeremy Hinzman

4. Sting (Air Date: 10/14/15)

A string of robberies near King of Prussia lead Goren and Eames to set up a sting op in the vicinity. But things take a turn for the worse when one of their own gets caught in the line of fire.

NOTE: Inspired by the North Hollywood shootout

5. Labor of Love (Air Date: 10/21/15)

Goren and Eames are back at Penn State as they deal with the rape of a female student. It soon becomes a race against time when Brennan comes in with vital information about the victim's boyfriend and how he may have been involved.

6. Return of Jack the Ripper (Air Date: 10/28/15)

The legends of Jack the Ripper come alive in Philadelphia as the murders of seven people come to the attention of Goren and Eames. It will take every resource at the Philadelphia PD's disposal to capture this mysterious killer.

NOTE: Inspired by the Derek Brown case

7. Innocent Until Proven Guilty (Air Date: 11/4/15)

Commissioner Cooney is suspected of corruption, but his fellow officers don't buy it. There's a mole in the ranks of the Philadelphia PD and it's up to Goren, Eames, Brennan and Bradshaw to find out who before Deputy DA Christina Ryan (Alyson Stoner) busts the Commissioner.

NOTE: First appearance of Deputy DA Christina Ryan (Alyson Stoner)

8. Honor (Part 1) (Air Date: 11/11/15)

It's Graduation Day for the recruits of the Police Academy. For Cadet Derrick Bradshaw (Vincent Martella), his initiation is big as he gets to work with Goren and Eames on his first case - the gruesome murder of his grandfather, a Vietnam War veteran. Little do Goren, Eames, and Bradshaw know, one of their own may be behind the killing.

9. Valor (Part 2) (Air Date: 11/18/15)

As the chase continues, Bradshaw happens upon an anonymous tip that his grandfather's killer may have had a hint of jealousy towards his unit mate. Another surprise comes when the prime suspect reveals that he was opposed to the Vietnam War.

10. Dedication (Part 3) (Air Date: 11/25/15)

The final battle between Bradshaw and his grandfather's killer rages on. However, he is not alone as Deputy DA Christina Ryan (Alyson Stoner) jumps in to take down a war criminal. All the while, Bradshaw might have a thing for the new Deputy DA.

NOTE: Inspired by the My Lai Massacre

11. Storm Warning (Air Date: 12/16/15)

Bradshaw is partnered with Brennan as he investigates the kidnapping of a child during a strong blizzard. As he narrows down the list of suspects, he is suddenly faced with a tough decision to make when the kidnapping is connected to a 15-year-old cold case.

'''12. Where's Your Holiday Spirit? '''(Air Date: 12/23/15)

It's Christmastime in Philadelphia, but joy turns to suffering as a group of schoolkids is murdered on the day their winter break starts. With Eames out for the holiday, Goren, Bradshaw and Brennan are called in to investigate. When their search for answers turns up with a beloved elementary school teacher, a dark secret about their prime suspect surfaces.

NOTE: Inspired by the West Memphis Three case

13. Mummer Mayhem (Air Date: 1/13/16)

A random attack on a gay couple by a mummer during Mummers Parade leaves one man dead and the other in a coma. Due to the convenient timing of the attack, Goren and Eames have a hard time finding any suspects, while McCoy is immediately faced with a myriad of difficulties with his prosecution.

NOTE: Inspired by the mummer phenomenon in Philadelphia, and the murder of Isaac Mercer in 1890

14. Out of the Frying Pan (Part 1) (Air Date: 2/3/16)

Philadelphia is rocked by disaster when a light aircraft crashes into a high-rise downtown apartment building, setting off a fire that engulfs the entire complex. As police and firefighters struggle to extract as many people as they can from the building, Goren and Eames, examining surveillance footage, realize that the plane crash may have been convenient timing to hide the true cause of the fire.

NOTE: Inspired by the 1986 Dupont Plaza Hotel arson, the 2006 New York City plane crash, and the 2010 Shanghai high-rise apartment fire

15. Into the Fire (Part 2) (Air Date: 2/10/16)

West is forced to handle two prosecutions related to the high-rise apartment disaster: the manufacturer of the aircraft that crashed, and the two disgruntled former tenants that helped start the fire. Though he is assisted by Connie Rubirosa (Alana de la Garza), the District Attorney's Office faces public scrutiny when it is revealed that Ryan's cousin Alan (David Harbour) is an employee of the aircraft manufacturer, and thus is at risk of losing everything if his superiors are convicted. Meanwhile, Rubirosa has a reunion with Michael Cutter.

16. Sex Scenes (Air Date: 2/24/16)

Goren and Eames, Brennan and King, and Morales and Orr each investigate a case: the rape and murder of a prostitute, a high school teacher suspected of having a sexual relationship with a student, and the suicide of a college student moonlighting as a porn actress.

NOTE: Inspired by the cases of Anthony Sowell, Mary Kay Letourneau, Belle Knox, and Rehtaeh Parsons

17. Jackpot Scandal (Air Date: 3/2/16)

Goren and Eames investigate a workplace shooting at the headquarters of the Pennsylvania Lottery. They suspect a disgruntled former employee, but later find that he may have been a patsy for a scheme to cover up a larger operation.

NOTE: Inspired by the Hot Lotto fraud scandal and the Connecticut Lottery workplace shooting

18. Know When To Hold 'Em (Part 1) (Air Date: 3/9/16)

The PPD joins a multi-agency investigation into the strangulation murders of several prostitutes in the slums of Philadelphia. Though they believe these murders are the work of a serial killer, Goren starts to suspect something larger at work when a witness suddenly dies in a car accident, but not before sending him a cryptic message.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jeff Davis 8 case

19. Know When To Fold 'Em (Part 2) (Air Date: 3/16/16)

As the investigation into the murders of prostitutes continues, the PPD finds itself facing a dangerous situation involving the Philadelphia County Sheriff's Office, which Goren suspects is actually behind the murders. As a result, Commissioner Patrick Cooney (Hugh Laurie) initiates a tense confrontation with Sheriff Damon Pallner (Ken Jenkins).

20. Give Me Liberty (Air Date: 4/6/16)

Shots are fired during a press conference hosted by Mayor Aylesworth, leaving a state senator dead. The shooter is later identified as an anti-immigration activist opposed to Aylesworth's stance on illegal immigration, and thus Aylesworth had been the true target.

NOTE: Inspired by the attempted assassinations of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945 and Henriette Reker in 2015

21. Tip-Off (Air Date: 4/13/16)

As the first anniversary of the Franklin High School shooting approaches, Brennan takes charge of an investigation into a threat to commit a school shooting. As he delves deeper into the case, he bonds with a woman with an intelligent but extremely troubled son, who she suspects is the one who made the threat but cannot prove it.

NOTE: Inspired by the Heritage High School shooting in May 1999

22. Long Arm of the Law (Air Date: 4/27/16)

An innocent bystander is killed during a drive-by shooting targeting a prosecutor-turned-defense attorney, leaving the PPD with a long list of suspects. They eventually realize that the intended victim may have been targeted for violating the Brady rule during her prosecution of a serial rapist.

NOTE: Inspired by the Darren Sharper case

23. Graduation (Part 1) (Air Date: 5/18/16)

As Green's daughter Miranda (Paris Berelc) is about to graduate from Penn State, Green tries to solve the case of a murdered car salesman as quickly as he can so he could attend her graduation in time. Things get even worse for Green when he receives a horrifying phone call.

24. Graduation (Part 2) (Air Date: 5/18/16)

With Miranda still missing, the PPD realizes her kidnapping might be connected to her amateur investigation into an unsolved 1981 double homicide in which the victims were never identified. Green takes matters into his own hands when he faces off against a brilliant criminology professor (Kiefer Sutherland).

NOTE #1: Inspired by the Gerard John Schaefer case and the murders of Kerry Graham and Francine Trimble

NOTE #2: 2-hour season finale

Season 3 (2016-2017)
On October 31, 2015, NBC renewed 'Law & Order: Philadelphia' through the 2020 season, the show's 6th. The 3rd season would premiere September 21, 2016 at 10/9 Central, following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: SVU'.

Notes:
 * Will consist of 25 episodes
 * Alfred Molina and Terrence Howard will leave the cast due to their roles on 'Penn Zero: Part Time Hero' and 'Empire', respectively.
 * Vincent Martella and Alyson Stoner will join the cast as Officer Derrick Bradshaw and Deputy DA Christina Ryan, respectively.

1. Kleptomania (Air Date: 9/21/16)

A murdered woman found inside a shoe store is revealed to be a kleptomaniac, and the detectives narrow down the list of suspects to her frustrated sister, a volatile shopkeeper who had been targeted the most by the victim, and a fellow kleptomaniac. Meanwhile, Eames notices that a witness to the crime might be hiding something from the police.

2. My Wife, The Criminal (Air Date: 9/28/16)

Goren and Eames investigate the murder of a male prostitute found in a random backyard. Their investigation leads them to a pair of seemingly innocent newlyweds, though further scrutiny finds that the wife may be masking something sinister in nature. Meanwhile, Eames continues to follow a hunch she made about Stella Hayworth, the witness to last episode's crime.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Troy LaFerrara

3. Crash Landing (Part 1)  (Air Date: 10/5/16)

The entire Philadelphia Police Department is faced with one of their largest investigations yet after a transatlantic flight from France crash-lands at Philadelphia International Airport, killing many people on board. Terrorism is suspected, and the stakes are raised after a shocking discovery is made about a particular group of passengers, some of whom are missing.

NOTE: Inspired by the hijacking of United Airlines Flight 93, the crashes of Asiana Airlines Flight 214 and Germanwings Flight 9525, the manhunt for Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev, and the case of two Iranian passengers traveling aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 with stolen passports

4. Crash Landing (Part 2) (Air Date: 10/12/16)

A multi-agency manhunt is on for the suspects in the terrorist airliner crash at Philadelphia International, and Goren and Eames struggle to identify potential targets. Though the suspects are all eventually captured, the case takes a startling turn after the department realize the true perpetrator of the crash had been right under their noses the whole time.

5. Hit and Run (Air Date: 10/19/16)

A drunk driver triggers a devastating 150-car pileup, then runs over and kills another motorist while fleeing the scene of the accident. The resulting prosecution pits McCoy against the infamous "affluenza" defense. Meanwhile, Ryan is left reeling after she learns her cousin Alan and his family was among those caught in the pileup. Also, Eames starts to feel as if she is being stalked.

NOTE: Inspired by the Ethan Couch case, the 60-car pileup on I-76 in Upper Merion Township, Pennsylvania, in 2015, and the 150-car pileup on I-10 in Jefferson Couny, Texas, in 2012

6. Battery Man (Air Date: 10/26/16)

Stabler's increasingly unethical actions threaten to jeopardize the prosecution of an attorney suspected of abusing his wife and murdering two men, one of whom he thought was her lover. Meanwhile, Eames continues to deal with her mysterious stalker.

7. Armed and Dangerous (Air Date: 11/2/16)

King arrests an ex-convict for the murder of a store clerk during a robbery, but the man escapes during a vulnerable moment and embarks on a deadly rampage in order to avoid going back to prison. As the bodies continue to pile up, King, wracked with guilt, begins to make it his personal mission to stop the killer, no matter what the cost. At the end of the episode, the PPD is abruptly faced with a horrifying discovery.

NOTE: Inspired by the cases of Allan Legere and Hank Earl Carr

'''8. Who Framed Goren? (Part 1) '''(Air Date: 11/9/16)

When Goren is arrested for the murder of Stella Hayworth, who Eames had been investigating for her suspected involvement in a prostitution ring, Eames struggles to prove his innocence. However, the evidence against Goren continues to pile up, and Eames is forced to consider the possibility that her partner might in fact be a murderer. At the end of the episode, she makes a shocking discovery that she now cannot tell anyone about.

'''9. Who Framed Goren? (Part 2) '''(Air Date: 11/16/16)

With Goren's trial underway, Dorn and Stabler are tasked by West to clear up any potential inconsistencies in the case. However, as they look into what they initially assume is an innocent typo on the medical examiner's report, the two find themselves in the crosshairs of a dangerous hitman determined to remove any loose ends.

NOTE: Inspired by the case of Richard Kuklinski

10. Family Matters (Air Date: 11/23/16)

When a mother of two mysteriously disappears, the focus of the investigation immediately shifts to her husband, who had multiple affairs with other women. However, the detectives' scrutiny is extended to the suspect's father, who had developed a sexual obsession with the suspected victim. However, there is no evidence to prove any wrongdoing by either suspect. The case turns into a heated custody battle between the suspects and the woman's parents, which eventually culminates in tragedy. Meanwhile, Goren continues to deal with the aftermath of having been framed for murder.

NOTE: Inspired by the disappearance of Susan Powell and the murder of Laci Peterson

11. Hostage Crisis (Air Date: 11/30/16)

Bradshaw is faced with a personal dilemma when his brother is among those being held hostage by a disgruntled ex-coworker. Meanwhile, McCoy is forced to deal with the "black rage" defense, which is gaining a lot of traction with the public due to a recent string of controversial police shootings.

NOTE: Inspired by the 1996 Honolulu hostage crisis and the "black rage" defense used by Colin Ferguson

12. Coming of Age (Air Date: 12/7/16)

Goren and Eames investigate the brutal murder of a high school student on her 18th birthday and learn she was a manipulative, sociopathic bully who even tormented the school faculty, thus leaving them with a long list of suspects. Meanwhile, Brennan juggles between trying to celebrate Ritchie's 18th birthday and dealing with mounting harassment from the public.

13. All Aboard (Air Date: 12/14/16)

The PPD gets a lead on the person who hired the hitman who stalked Eames, framed Goren for Stella Hayworth's murder, and tried repeatedly to kill Dorn and Stabler. However, the person who provided the lead turns up dead, leaving Goren and Eames with only the victim's last words to go by. Their investigation eventually leads them to the Dukes Circle VIP, an escort service catering to the rich and powerful.

14. Christmas Break-In (Air Date: 12/21/16)

Goren and Eames investigate the horrific murders of three family members on Christmas Eve. At first, suspicion is placed on the father, the sole survivor, but further investigation leads the detectives to a pair of career criminals. With barely any forensic evidence to rely on, Ryan must make a tough decision to pursue the death penalty against both suspects, even though one of them seems more sympathetic and has made a legitimate claim that he became involved with more than what he bargained for.

NOTE: Inspired by the Cheshire, Connecticut, home invasion murders in 2007

15. Fear Factor (Air Date: 1/11/17)

A stunt/dare game show ends in tragedy when one of the contestants dies during a botched stunt. McCoy initially prosecutes the show's producers for negligence, but further investigating reveals the death may have been intentionally engineered by a former contestant who had been dejected by the loss of her fifteen minutes of fame.

NOTE: Inspired by the often-controversial stunt/dare game show Fear Factor

16. 487 (Air Date: 1/25/17)

Bradshaw and Ryan are called in to join Goren and Eames in the investigation of a string of increasingly violent carjackings in the city. To Bradshaw, the case has an eerie familiarity to him.

NOTE: Inspired by the Devin Moore case and the popular Grand Theft Auto video game series

'''17. Pimp My City! '''(Air Date: 2/8/17)

The PPD continues to crack down on the Dukes Circle VIP escort service. As the investigation progresses, they are shocked to find that Mayor Aylesworth, one of the department's biggest supporters, is among the clients.

NOTE: Inspired by the Eliot Spitzer prostitution scandal

18. Burnout (Air Date: 2/22/17)

The search for a serial arsonist uncovers a larger investigation involving healthcare fraud and money laundering by a chain of nursing and assisted living homes. Meanwhile, the city of Philadelphia continues to recover from the fallout of Mayor Aylesworth's prostitution scandal.

NOTE: Inspired by the Paul Kenneth Keller case and the Esformes Network fraud scandal

19. Take a Chance (Air Date: 3/8/17)

McArthur is left picking up the pieces when a mother he investigated for suspected child abuse kills her young daughter during a botched, twisted sex game. Meanwhile, West must decide whether to file charges against a popular classified advertisements website that the defendants used for communication.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Victoria Martens and the Craigslist adult services controversy

20. Actions Speak Louder (Air Date: 3/22/17)

Following the murders of a Muslim couple, McCoy, West, and Ryan all butt heads over whether the crime was motivated by hate or a longstanding dispute over a parking zone.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2015 Chapel Hill shooting

21. Tainted Love (Air Date: 4/12/17)

King and Bradshaw are assigned to protect an up-and-coming actress (Zendaya) from a delusional stalker whose alarming efforts to get her attention are escalating. As the search for the stalker continues, Bradshaw finds himself getting into a relationship with the actress.

NOTE: Inspired by the Robert John Bardo and John Hinckley, Jr., cases

'''22. DY-NO-MITE! '''(Air Date: 4/26/17)

Goren and Eames investigate the bombing of a genetic engineer's apartment, which they believe is the work of a politically-motivated serial bomber who had been inactive for seven years. However, after their main suspect is revealed to have died years earlier in the woods, the PPD's investigation shifts to a fellow scientist with a God complex, who had been slighted by the would-be victim.

NOTE: Inspired by the Ted Kaczynski (a.k.a. "The Unabomber") case and the death of Christopher McCandless

23. Promposal Gone Wrong (Air Date: 5/3/17)

A girl is murdered in a high school bathroom, and a fellow classmate confesses that he killed her after she turned down his request to be his junior prom date. The resulting trial becomes complicated for McCoy when the suspect's attorney argues that he has a mental defect induced by a life of loneliness and rejection.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Maren Sanchez

24. An Offer You Shouldn't Refuse (Air Date: 5/10/17)

Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, and King investigate a string of murders and uncover an Italian Mafia ring hidden in the Philadelphia criminal underworld.

NOTE: Inspired by the life of John Gotti and the Gambino crime family

25. The Law Always Wins (Air Date: 5/17/17)

The trial of Ritchie Brennan begins, and a special prosecutor is hired to handle the case. The proceedings are hampered by a series of events that test the integrity of the entire Philadelphia Police Department, including the raised possibility that Brennan may have suppressed incriminating evidence during the criminal investigation.

NOTE: Inspired by the trial of T.J. Lane

Season 4 (2017-2018)

 * Will premiere on September 27th, 2017, following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
 * A 2 part crossover with 'Special Victims Unit' is set to air as the mid-season finale
 * Will consist of 25 episodes
 * Alfred Molina will rejoin the cast

1. Trial of the Century (Air Date: 9/27/17)

Brennan uses his experiences with Ritchie and the Franklin High School shooting to his advantage when the trial against George Landman and Albert Alexiadis (the perpetrators of a murder case the PPD investigated in Season 1's "Read All About It") begins.

NOTE: Inspired by the trial of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb

2. I Pledge Allegiance (Air Date: 10/4/17)

The shooting death of a beloved high school teacher leads to a highly publicized trial revolving around the Pledge of Allegiance.

NOTE: Inspired by criticism and legal challenges towards the Pledge of Allegiance

3. Justice Never Rests (Air Date: 10/11/17)

New information on the disappearance of a young boy in 1993 leads Bradshaw and King to an autistic man who may hold the answer to the boy's fate. When the worst is finally revealed, McCoy is forced to make a decision that would betray his own moral code.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Jacob Wetterling in 1989

4. Thou Shalt Not Kill (Air Date: 10/18/17)

Goren and Eames investigate the death of a young college student and learn that he had been released early after being convicted as a juvenile for a horrific murder in Massachusetts. Their reluctant investigation leads the detectives to the congregation of a multi-site Evangelical megachurch.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jesse Pomeroy case and the LCBC multi-site megachurch in Pennsylvania

'''5. I Ain't Afraid of No Murder! '''(Air Date: 10/25/17)

The Philadelphia Police Department is on edge after a Korean-American police officer shoots an unarmed African-American man, provoking racial tensions between three different communities in the city. West is left to deal with the political fallout of his office having an unusually high conviction rate for African-American suspects.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting of Akai Gurley and the Black Lives Matter movement

6. Carry On (Air Date: 11/1/17)

With racial tensions still simmering following last episode's police shooting, and Eames off on a sick day, Goren and Bradshaw partner up to investigate the apparent drug overdose of a popular actor whose last years were extremely troubled.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Cory Monteith

7. Coordinated Assault (Air Date: 11/8/17)

A Black Lives Matter protest over the police shooting of an unarmed African-American man two episodes ago turns into tragedy when a truck plows into the crowd, killing and injuring protesters and police officers alike. The driver, a far-right activist, is arrested, but McCoy must now also try to prosecute a high-ranking police officer who had earlier made an online post aggressively advocating such an attack on the protesters.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2016 Nice truck attack, the murders of five Dallas police officers during a BLM protest, the vehicular attack at the Unite the Right rally by James Alex Fields, and two controversies of police officers advocating vehicular attacks on BLM rallies online in January and June 2016

8. Bitter Reunions (Air Date: 11/15/17)

In the aftermath of last episode's vehicular attack, the Philadelphia Police Department force is fractured over its opinions of McCoy's prosecution of one of their superiors. Goren and Eames find themselves clashing with two detectives from another precinct as they try to work together to solve a quadruple homicide.

NOTE: Inspired by the July 2017 Pennsylvania murders

9. Give Thanks to the Force (Air Date: 11/22/17)

McCoy prosecutes a housewife and her homeless lover for killing the former's husband. However, he meets his match in the form of the woman's attorney, who employs clever tactics that ensure her client receives a lighter sentence. Meanwhile, the PPD and the Philadelphia community at large begin the healing process following the events of the preceding four episodes.

NOTE: Ripped from the pages of The Postman Always Rings Twice and its film adaptation

10. Crime Abroad (Air Date: 11/29/17)

The Philadelphia District Attorney's Office clashes with the Chinese government over custody of a man suspected of killing his girlfriend and then assuming her online identity in an effort to cover it up.

NOTE: Inspired by the murders of Zhang Hongjie in 2004 and Shao Tong in 2014

11. Shop 'Til You Drop Dead (Air Date: 12/6/17)

A mother of three is stabbed to death in a department store while on a shopping spree, and Bradshaw and King uncover a myriad of dark secrets while investigating the victim's last 48 hours.

12. Mask (Part 1) (Air Date: 12/13/17)

While investigating the kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder of a Penn State college student, the Philadelphia Police Department connects it to a series of murders with a similar M.O. through the Mid-Atlantic states. As a result, the detectives join forces with Lieutenant Olivia Benson and Detective Amanda Rollins of NYPD's Special Victims Unit. All the while, they are forced to deal with the stonewalling of the survivor's influential father, who is more concerned about maintaining the public image of his wealthy family.

NOTE: Inspired by the crimes committed by Jesse L. Matthew, Jr.

13. Mask (Part 2) (Air Date: 12/13/17)

The PPD and SVU detectives continue their pursuit for the Mid-Atlantic Serial Killer, who is continuing to leave bodies in his wake. Their investigation leads them to a twisted motive and a shocking connection to the Pennsylvania State Senate. Meanwhile, Benson grapples with unresolved issues between her and Stabler, her old partner.

NOTE: Both parts will air as the mid-season finale

14. House of Hoarders (Air Date: 1/10/18)

The unusual death of an African-American boy in Harlem leads the detectives to a pair of brothers leading a highly bizarre lifestyle. The resulting trial and media circus leads to raised questions about the brothers' culpability in the killing.

NOTE: Inspired by the story of the Collyer brothers

15. Choices (Air Date: 1/17/18)

The shooting of a pro-life activist is initially believed to be retribution for comments he made about the assassination of a controversial physician who provided late-term abortions. However, the investigation leads the detectives to a man with a traumatic past and a purely personal motive for the killing. Amidst an intense media circus, McCoy must argue against the suspect's defense of post-traumatic stress disorder driving him to commit the murder.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Jim Pouillon and the assassination of George Tiller

16. Lurking in the Depths (Air Date: 1/24/18)

A former Army psychiatrist is shot and killed in downtown Philadelphia, and it is revealed that he survived a similar shooting at a military base in Arizona three years ago. The resulting trial brings back to the spotlight patterns of negligence on the part of the Veterans Health Administration.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting at Fort Bliss in 2015, and the Veterans Health Administration scandal of 2014

17. Trust No One (Air Date: 1/31/18)

Bradshaw and Morales tackle a particularly gruesome case involving dismembered body parts being mailed to offices of various Republican politicians. They are led to a paranoid schizophrenic who believes that a coup d'état of the country by the Republican Party is imminent. As more information is shed on the case, McCoy faces off against a prominent conspiracy theorist who was in contact with the murder suspect.

NOTE: Inspired by the Luka Magnotta case and the recent hysteria regarding fake news stories, with one character reminiscent of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones

18. Jersey Crimes (Air Date: 2/7/18)

The prime suspect in the shooting death of a well-known neurosurgeon in the Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience is connected to another high-profile murder in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey. As a result, the District Attorney's Office clashes with their Newark counterpart over who gets to prosecute the defendant first. Meanwhile, Ryan learns about her niece Haley's (Addison Timlin) plans for the future.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2016 UCLA shooting

'''19. Fly, Eagles, Fly! '''(Air Date: 2/14/18)

When a Philadelphia Eagles fan is killed by a sucker punch during a game between the Eagles and the New York Giants, Goren and Eames immediately suspect the death to be a result of the decades-long rivalry between the football teams. However, their investigation leads them to an unlikely suspect.

NOTE: Inspired by the assault of Ignacio Castillo during an Eagles vs. Cowboys game at Arlington, Texas

20. A Haunting Mystery (Air Date: 2/28/18)

Goren and Eames investigate after the cameraman of a paranormal reality TV show is murdered during shooting of a new episode. As the show's hosts use the murder as proof to the existence of ghosts, Goren learns that the victim was part of a love triangle.

NOTE: Inspired by the controversial paranormal reality TV show Ghost Hunters and the "Parachute Murder"

21. Thanks But No Thanks (Air Date: 4/18/18)

When a nine-month-old baby boy from Canada disappears from a hotel room, Brennan and Bradshaw begin to suspect the family's nanny, an illegal immigrant from Mexico, of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Ryan tries to give Haley advice on her potential career path.

NOTE: Inspired by the Louise Woodward case and the disappearance of Madeleine McCann

22. Gravedigger (Air Date: 4/25/18)

A cemetery groundskeeper is bludgeoned to death during a series of bizarre grave robberies, and Goren and Eames find themselves investigating the seemingly unconnected families of the three corpses targeted.

23. Courtroom Chaos (Air Date: 5/2/18)

A bitter custody battle in court turns deadly when the volatile husband and two fellow gang members begin shooting, leaving several casualties. They then kidnap his son and several others, including Ryan, thus making it a personal matter for Bradshaw.

NOTE: Inspired by the Tyler courthouse shooting in 2006 and the Marin County courthouse incident in 1970

24. Senior Skip Day (Air Date: 5/9/18)

A teenage boy is killed while skipping school, leaving Goren and Eames with many questions. Meanwhile, Ryan, still recovering from her kidnapping, starts to reconsider her support for Haley's plans for the future.

'''25. College Or Bust? (Part 1) '''(Air Date: 5/16/18)

Ryan juggles between supervising the prosecution of an eccentric multimillionaire for the murder of a family friend, and dealing with Haley's inevitable departure for Ohio. At the end of the episode, she receives traumatic news about Haley.

NOTE: Inspired by the Robert Durst case

Season 5 (2018-2019)

 * Will premiere on September 26th, 2018, following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
 * Will consist of 26 episodes
 * "Emotion Sickness" is a crossover with 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'

1. Our Darkest Hour (Part 2) (Air Date: 9/26/18)

With her niece Haley (Addison Timlin) hospitalized and in critical condition following an Islamist terrorist attack at her college on her first day, Ryan is determined to find the ISIS-affiliated jihadist who convinced the assailant to act. As the investigation progresses, she finds herself becoming closer to Bradshaw, which could complicate the case.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2016 Ohio State University attack and the Joshua Ryne Goldberg case

2. 100 (Air Date: 10/3/18)

In this landmark 100th episode of the series, McArthur is arrested on suspicion of raping several women. As the PPD works around the clock to prove his innocence, they realize that while McArthur might be innocent, the real rapist might still be one of their own (Eric Szmanda). Meanwhile, Bradshaw and Ryan continue their secret relationship.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jeffrey Pelo case

3. The Roof (Air Date: 10/10/18)

The apparent suicide of a struggling actress is later revealed to be murder, and Goren and Eames realize it might be connected to her involvement in the production of what is now popularly considered one of the best worst movies ever made. Meanwhile, Brennan discovers Bradshaw and Ryan's secret relationship.

NOTE: Inspired by the cult film The Room and the stories surrounding its production

4. White World (Air Date: 10/17/18)

The stabbing death of a gay Jewish man is linked to a member of an extremely dangerous neo-Nazi group. When the suspect's attorney presents a highly bizarre but credible defense, McCoy struggles to prevent it from becoming a smokescreen to the jury and redirect them back to the crime's true motive: hate.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Blaze Bernstein and the Atomwaffen Division hate group

5. Where Greatness Awaits (Air Date: 10/24/18)

The violent death of a pregnant woman and the kidnapping of her unborn child leads Goren and Eames to a strange new religious movement. However, their investigation uncovers a secret cabal within the movement that advocates violence, unlike their mainstream peers, and is planning something larger.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett, the Raëlian movement, and the Tokyo subway sarin attack

6. All Hallows' Evening (Air Date: 10/31/18)

With Eames out of town visiting a friend, Goren and King partner up to investigate the seemingly random shooting of a motorist during a prank on Halloween night. Meanwhile, Brennan reminisces about one particular Halloween night he had with Ritchie.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Karl Jackson on Halloween 1998

7. Unintended Consequences (Air Date: 11/14/18)

Bradshaw and King investigate a home invasion that left an aerial photographer dead, and find that the robbers stole certain photos. Their investigation into the stolen photos leads them to a famous singer who had been locked in a trivial lawsuit with the victim, with the intent of suppressing the aforementioned photos. Just when Bradshaw and King are about to dismiss the lawsuit as a motive for the killing, the photos are found, and a closer inspection of them uncovers a more sinister crime.

NOTE: Inspired by the original "Streisand effect" incident and the Michael Jackson sexual abuse allegations

8. Triangle (Air Date: 11/21/18)

When a teenage boy kills three armed intruders and injures a fourth during a botched home invasion, Goren and Eames realize that robbery might not have been the intruders' motive, but rather murder. As a result, they focus on the boy's parents, who have good motives for arranging the death of their significant other. Meanwhile, Haley finally wakes up from her coma.

NOTE: Inspired by the failed home invasion in Oklahoma in March 2017, the Charles Stuart case, and the Pamela Smart case

9. Trumped (Air Date: 11/28/18)

The Penn State campus is attacked during a violent protest of the federal government, prompting Bradshaw, Ryan, Goren and Eames to look into the case. When they discover that the victim was a Clinton supporter from the 2016 election, their lead could end up treading into political territory and a grudge stemming farther than just a general election. Meanwhile, Ryan continues to assist in Haley's recovery.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2017 Charlottesville riots and the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting

10. Promotion (Part 1) (Air Date: 12/5/18)

Officers Green, Orr and Bradshaw are promoted to Inspectors on the same day. Only minutes after their promotion, they take on their first case as a team when a 16-year-old girl is raped and brutally beaten. With the victim in ICU and the perpetrator still at large, the trio must team up with Bradshaw's secret girlfriend, newly promoted Jr. District Attorney Ryan, to figure out where the serial rapist will strike next.

11. Promotion (Part 2) (Air Date: 12/12/18)

The hunt for the serial rapist continues as he claims two more victims, both high school students. With the help of Brennan's son Ritchie (Jack Griffo) and his recently reformed girlfriend Danica Maclin (Kira Kosarin), they figure out that the rapist was an old classmate of theirs: Nathan Grimsley (Cory Foglemanis), who was expelled for a series of offenses. Upon Grimsley's arrest, Danica, at the request of Brennan, is enrolled at the police academy, with the hopes of joining the force.

NOTE: Inspired by the Tyler Kost case

12. Sitting in a Tree (Air Date: 1/16/19)

When Haley's therapist dies in a house fire, Bradshaw and King investigate when Haley informs them about a heated dispute the victim had before her death. Meanwhile, King learns about Bradshaw's secret relationship with Ryan and becomes worried about its effects on any of their cases.

13. We're Goin' Hoppin' Today (Air Date: 1/23/19)

Bradshaw and Ryan's date night is interrupted by a shooting at a high school dance. As Bradshaw investigates with Brennan, Goren, and Eames, he realizes that all of the victims were collateral damage and the gunman had been specifically targeting a person. Meanwhile, Brennan tries to bond with the mentally unbalanced shooter to get more information.

NOTE: Inspired by the Parker Middle School dance shooting and the Steubenville High School rape case

14. In Absentia (Air Date: 1/30/19)

The death of an elderly woman during a home invasion leads Goren and Brennan to a fugitive on the run for a 1983 murder, who is now a Canadian citizen. As a result, McCoy faces off against the Canadian government in a complicated extradition process. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes concerned about Haley's recent behavior and turns to Bradshaw for help.

NOTE: Inspired by the Ira Einhorn (a.k.a. "The Unicorn Killer") case and the Stanley Faulder case

15. Trespass (Air Date: 2/13/19)

An illegal immigrant from Mexico is killed in a drive-by shooting, and Goren and Eames initially suspect a white nationalist radio host. However, after their suspect provides an airtight alibi, they focus on recent unrest coming from an unlikely ethnic group.

NOTE: Inspired by the Hispanics for Trump group, and a character is reminiscent of white nationalist blogger Hal Turner

16. Unworthy of Life (Air Date: 2/20/19)

An Angel of Death commits a horrific mass shooting at a care home for disabled people, leaving dozens dead and injured. This results in a controversial trial in which McCoy must argue that no matter how mentally and physically disabled the victims were, they did not deserve to be put out of their misery. The case becomes a personal matter for both King, who has an autistic son, and Ryan, who is still assisting Haley on her long road to recovery. Meanwhile, McCoy receives a visit from the recently-retired Manhattan A.D.A. Rafael Barba (Raúl Esparza).

NOTE: Inspired by the Sagamihara stabbings in Japan

17. On the Road Again (Air Date: 2/27/19)

McCoy is faced with one of the toughest cases in his career when he prosecutes a driver for a hit-and-run involving an autonomous vehicle.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Elaine Herzberg

18. Big Bang (Air Date: 3/6/19)

The PPD finds itself working overtime when one person is killed and thousands of others are injured by the midair explosion of a small incoming meteor. Eames later realizes that the sole fatality had actually been murdered moments after the explosion.

NOTE: Inspired by the Chelyabinsk meteor explosion

19. Confessional (Air Date: 3/20/19)

McCoy challenges the confessional privilege after a teenage boy is suspected of killing his aunt and then confesses to his priest. His actions earn him the ire of Stabler, a devout Catholic.

20. Cold as Ice (Air Date: 3/27/19)

Two blindfolded bodies are found in a walk-in freezer, and Goren and Eames are led to a group that engages in "temperature play", a form of BDSM.

21. Boy in the Box (Air Date: 4/3/19)

Stabler is traumatized after discovering the body of a young boy in a cardboard box, which reminds him of a case he once investigate while he was still a detective with the NYPD's Special Victims Unit. Goren and Eames discover the boy's mother and find that she might be masking a sinister true nature.

NOTE: Inspired by the "Boy in the Box" case and the Marie Noe case

22. Vanished Valedictorian (Air Date: 4/17/19)

The valedictorian of the Franklin High class of 2019 (Devan Leos) goes missing and ends up murdered mere hours before his graduation, prompting the team to look into his life outside school. When the search turns up that he was the leader of a BDSM prostitution ring, the team turns up a possible motive for his murder: revenge.

23. Emotion Sickness (Air Date: 4/24/19)

Goren and Eames investigate the suicide of a Penn State college student and realize he made an unsuccessful attempt to seek help on a suicide prevention hotline hours before his death. They then connect a deluge of spam callers that overwhelmed the hotline at the time to a professor in New York City, who was the subject of controversy following his remarks about the death of a former governor's wife.

NOTE #1: Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T guest-star as Olivia Benson and Odafin Tutuola of SVU, respectively

NOTE #2: Inspired by Randa Jarrar's controversial remarks and actions following the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush

24. State Fair Slaughter (Air Date: 5/8/19)

The PPD receives a visit from their counterparts in the Allentown Police Department, who are investigating the bloody murder of a farmer at the Great Allentown Fair, and who believe their suspect is a Philadelphia local.

25. PDA (Part 1) (Air Date: 5/15/19)

A bride and groom are gunned down on the eve of their wedding. With Goren and Eames investigating the case of a rogue doctor (John C. McGinley) suspected of kidnapping a 17-year-old girl, Bradshaw and King are called in to handle the investigation. When these two cases intersect, and the prime suspect sends a private investigator (Joe Mantegna) after Bradshaw, Bradshaw and King's partnership will be put to the ultimate test.

NOTE: Inspired by the kidnappings of Hannah Anderson and Peggy Ann Bradnick

26. PDA (Part 2) (Air Date: 5/15/19)

The events of the previous episode come to a head as the case that Bradshaw and King were working on connects to the case that Goren and Eames were investigating. When the private investigator learns about Bradshaw and Ryan's relationship and relays the information to the prime suspect, Bradshaw becomes the subject of blackmail. As a result, he and Ryan must make a tough decision on whether to make their relationship public in order to outsmart the doctor. The season ends with a cliffhanger that leaves the fate of one of the PPD unknown.

NOTE: 2 hour season finale

Season 6 (2019-2020)
On January 1, 2019, NBC renewed 'Law & Order: Philadelphia' through the 2026-2027 season, the show's 13th.


 * Will premiere on September 18th, 2019, following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
 * Will consist of 25 episodes
 * Tobey Maguire and Paris Berelc will join the cast as DA Investigator Daniel Sheffield and Officer Miranda Green - the daughter of Officer Chester Green (Justin Willman), respectively

1. In the Spotlight (Part 3) (Air Date: 9/18/19)

As the manhunt for Dr. Lawrence Plasky (John C. McGinley) continues, Bradshaw struggles with guilt over King's shooting. Meanwhile, Ryan is subjected to an internal review headed by DA Investigator Daniel Sheffield (Tobey Maguire) over any possible biases in prosecutions due to her secret relationship with Bradshaw.

'''2. Pokemon Go-ing, Going, MURDERED! '''(Air Date: 9/25/19)

The shooting death of a Chinese exchange student playing a highly popular yet controversial mobile game leads to not only renewed criticism of the game, but also criticism about the stand-your-ground law that helped justify the shooting. With a community calling for charges to be filed, West must make a tough decision. Meanwhile, McCoy chastises Ryan for keeping her relationship with Bradshaw a secret.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting of Jiansheng Chen, and criticism of Florida's stand-your-ground law after the shooting of Trayvon Martin

'''3. Do You Want to Know a Secret? '''(Air Date: 10/2/19)

As McCoy prepares for a meeting with his estranged father Jack (Sam Waterston), he is faced with the case of a father who may have intentionally left his son to die in a car in the middle of a hot day.

NOTE: Inspired by the Justin Ross Harris case

4. Stuck in the Middle With You (Air Date: 10/9/19)

Hackers attack the electrical infrastructure of the Northeastern and Midwestern U.S., sending multiple states, including Pennsylvania, into a blackout. As the PPD deals with the chaos and tries to assist the FBI in finding the perpetrators, Bradshaw and Ryan discuss the ramifications and the future of their relationship while trapped inside an elevator.

NOTE: Inspired by the Northeast blackout of 2003

5. Snapped (Air Date: 10/16/19)

McCoy takes charge in prosecuting the suspect in a crime of passion that left a loving husband dead. During the investigation, King returns to provide some much-needed support, not just to the investigation, but to his partner Bradshaw with his relationship with Ryan.

6. A Crime to Remember (Air Date: 10/23/19)

As Danica works her way through the police academy, she's called in for the first time to investigate the brazen kidnapping of the wife of Governor John Fletcher (Richard Schiff), a strong supporter of the police. Joined by Green's daughter Miranda, they are led to his Lieutenant Governor, Randy Crystal (David James Elliott), and a possible motive of jealousy.

NOTE: Inspired by the Chandra Levy case

7. Thriller Night (Air Date: 10/30/19)

A 10-year-old dressed as Michael Jackson during Halloween night is killed in a hit-and-run, bringing Chester Green and his daughter Miranda together for the first time on a case. The investigation causes Chester to relive a nearly traumatic memory of a Halloween spent with his daughter.

8. Challenger (Air Date: 11/6/19)

Bradshaw and King investigate the shooting of a former Marine and discover the victim was a member of an underground "fight club". Due to the club's distrust of police officers, King is forced to go undercover as a new member, but finds his life in jeopardy.

NOTE: Inspired by the "fight club" phenomenon caused by the book and film of the same name

9. Lift-Off (Air Date: 11/13/19)

An astronaut is stabbed to death days before her trip to outer space, and Goren and Eames suspect a fellow astronaut who might have been having an affair with the victim. Meanwhile, King continues to recover from his gunshot wound as he tries to assist McCoy in the retrial of the murder suspect in last season's episode "Big Bang".

NOTE: Inspired by the William Oefelein/Lisa Nowak affair

10. Miracle on the Allegheny (Part 1) (Air Date: 11/20/19)

The crew heads to Pittsburgh when they receive reports that PPG Paints Arena becomes the scene of a massive bombing just before a Penguins/Flyers game. They become part of a multi-agency manhunt to find the mystery bombers before they strike again. Penguins forwards Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin guest star as themselves.

NOTE: Inspired by the November 2015 Paris attacks

11. Miracle on the Allegheny (Part 2) (Air Date: 11/27/19)

The search for the serial bombers continues as Heinz Field becomes their newest target before a Steelers/Eagles game. With all of Pennsylvania and America on edge, the bomber's true motives soon are revealed: a devastating attack on the White House. Steelers quarterback Ben Rothlisberger and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz guest star as themselves.

12. Miracle on the Allegheny (Part 3) (Air Date: 12/4/19)

As their investigation continues, the task force is tipped off to a plan to hijack a flight from Pittsburgh to Washington, D.C. They stop the lead bomber (Thomas Gibson), a disgraced sports star who became obsessed with 9/11 and joined ISIS, from finishing the intended final phase of the 9/11 attacks. After the case, it is revealed that Ryan passes her internal review, preserving her job and her relationship with Bradshaw.

NOTE: Inspired by the 1973 Rome airport attacks and hijacking incident

13. Tweet Storm (Air Date: 1/1/20)

After a trip to New York for their anniversary and New Year's, Bradshaw and Ryan are called in to help King and the Greens investigate the murder of two 16-year-old high school students. As the evidence builds, they find out that the plan for the murder may have stemmed from a Twitter tirade. Meanwhile, Commissioner Cooney and Governor Fletcher work together to help the state of Pennsylvania rebuild following the devastating Pittsburgh attacks.

14. With the Wind (Air Date: 1/22/20)

Six months after the Pittsburgh attacks, the PPD provides security for a press conference announcing a permanent memorial in Philadelphia. However, the press conference is interrupted when a single middle-aged father dies in an apparent suicide. Brennan and Morales investigate and realize that the man was moonlighting as a daredevil, and that he had a partner in his stunts who is now missing.

NOTE: Inspired by the Ontheroofs project by Vitaliy Raskalov and Vadim Makhorov, and the death of Wu Yongning

15. Facebook Official (Air Date: 1/29/20)

The PPD embarks on a manhunt for a man who committed a murder and posted a video of it on Facebook. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes a little concerned when her niece Haley (Addison Timlin) chooses to start a vlog.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting of Robert Godwin

'''16. Can't Have Just One Killer! '''(Air Date: 2/5/20)

The PPD works double-time to apprehend two independent serial killers terrorizing the streets of Philadelphia. Meanwhile, McCoy faces off against an old nemesis (Dennis Boutsikaris) of his father's.

NOTE: Inspired by the Baseline Killer and Serial Shooter cases in Phoenix in 2005 and 2006

17. Minority Report (Air Date: 2/12/20)

Racial tensions are reignited after the arrests of two African-American men in a popular fast-food restaurant. As the PPD tries to keep the protests under control, Goren and Eames investigate the nearby murder of a prominent Black Lives Matter protester and aspiring politician.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2018 Philadelphia Starbucks arrests and the 2016 murder of Darren Seals

'''18. Don't Stop... (Part 1)''' (Air Date: 2/26/20)

Bradshaw has an awkward reunion with Mandy Seeger (Zendaya), the actress he protected from a stalker in Season 3, when she comes forward with claims that her costar (Jon Wellner) on a new sitcom is sexually harassing her and another costar (Cote de Pablo), and may have raped the other costar. Assisted by Goren, Eames, and King, Bradshaw tries to prove Mandy is telling the truth, but it may be difficult. Meanwhile, Ryan becomes jealous of Bradshaw's attention to Mandy.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jeremy Piven sexual misconduct allegations

19. ...Thinking About Tomorrow (Part 2) (Air Date: 3/4/20)

With the trial of Zachary Gibbs now underway, Bradshaw must try to prove to the jury that his old fling with Mandy was not an influencing factor in his investigation. Meanwhile, Brennan and King continue to look into Gibbs' past. By the end of the episode, Bradshaw receives a surprise visit from Ryan.

20. Halftime Break-in (Air Date: 3/18/20)

A janitor is murdered during the theft of Nick Foles' (guest-starring as himself) jersey, following a Philadelphia Eagles victory against the Washington Redskins. Goren and Eames investigate the strange case and are led to an eccentric sports memorabilia collector (Brad William Henke). Meanwhile, Bradshaw notices Ryan avoiding him following their one-night stand.

NOTE: Inspired by the theft of Tom Brady's jersey following Super Bowl LI

21. Acidic (Air Date: 4/1/20)

A pregnant woman survives an acid attack, and Bradshaw and King are led to her husband, a corporate attorney. Though the victim is willing to testify against her husband, things take a strange turn when the couple start to make amends, leaving McCoy confused about the integrity of his prosecution. Meanwhile, Bradshaw and Ryan arrange their first date since their one-night stand.

NOTE: Inspired by the Burt Pugach case and the related Crazy Love documentary

'''22. Nerd Alert! '''(Air Date: 4/15/20)

A popular jock is shot and stabbed to death on a trail near his high school football field, while his girlfriend is left alive with a concussion. As the PPD scours the school for suspects, Goren takes notice of a circle of outsiders who all have a good motive for committing the attack. However, just when they believe they have their suspect in custody, the detectives are met with a last-minute twist that changes their perspective of the entire investigation. Meanwhile, Brennan reflects on the time he once gave Ritchie poor advice on how to deal with a bully in elementary school.

NOTE: Ripped from the pages of Nineteen Minutes

23. Pressed by the President (Air Date: 4/29/20)

As the PPD deals with criticism and harassment from the right-wing following a derogatory tweet from President Donald Trump, Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, and Brennan investigate the death of the president of an up-and-coming local business.

24. The Campaign (Part 1) (Air Date: 5/13/20)

With Governor Fletcher up for reelection, Commissioner Cooney joins the Democratic gubernatorial primaries due to his frustrations with some of Fletcher's policies over the years. However, the campaign grinds to a standstill when an opponent of Cooney's issues a series of death threats and attempts to blackmail him if he continues his campaign.

25. May Surprise (Part 2) (Air Date: 5/20/20)

The search for Cooney's blackmailer continues as Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, and King scan the vast reaches of cyberspace for the tiniest of clues. They eventually find that Cooney's opponent is none other than his predecessor, David Warren (Eric Lange), who is also running in the Democratic primary against Cooney. Upon being confronted, Warren reveals that he dug up dirt on an email scandal involving Cooney, and threatens to release the 40,000 deleted emails if he doesn't drop out. The season ends on a cliffhanger when Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, King, and McCoy begin a battle of wits with Warren, just as Ryan finds out she is pregnant.

NOTE: Inspired by the Podesta emails

Season 7 (2020-2021)
Notes:
 * Will premiere on September 16, 2020 with a 2 hour premiere at 9/8 Central, following the season premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'
 * Will consist of 26 episodes
 * Kira Kosarin (Danica Maclin) is promoted to series regular as of this season, representing 'Law'.

1. The Primary (Part 1) (Air Date: 9/16/20)

As the night of the gubernatorial primary approaches, Cooney struggles to keep his campaign going without provoking Warren. As the showdown with Warren continues, Goren is contacted an old unlikely friend (Mark Linn-Baker) who claims the Pennsylvania Democratic Party leadership is covertly working with Warren to sabotage Cooney's campaign. Meanwhile, Bradshaw loses focus as he thinks about the ramifications of his tryst with Ryan (shown in the previous season's two-parter 'Don't Stop...Thinking About Tomorrow').

NOTE: Inspired by the details of the 2016 Democratic National Committee email leak

2. The Primary (Part 2) (Air Date: 9/16/20)

As the election returns begin to come in, the detectives and McCoy continue to work hard to dig up dirt on Warren while Cooney begins to feel the pressure of being blackmailed. By the end of the episode, the stunning Democratic primary results are revealed.

NOTE: 2-hour season premiere

3. Too Close to Call (Air Date: 9/23/20)

With Warren winning the Democratic Party nomination for the gubernatorial election, McCoy, suspecting voter fraud, shifts his focus to the ballots. In the meantime, the detectives decide to take a small breather and try to solve the murder of a far-left activist who supported a third-party politician in the gubernatorial election. Also, Cooney braces himself for the heightening possibility of his emails getting leaked.

NOTE: A character is reminiscent of Kshama Sawant of the Socialist Alternative political party

4. Discovery (Air Date: 9/30/20)

As McCoy digs deeper into potential voter fraud from Commissioner Cooney's stunning Democratic primary loss to David Warren, an employee of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party is murdered, leading Cooney to suspect Warren and call Goren and Eames into action. Meanwhile, Ryan informs Bradshaw that she is pregnant with their child.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Seth Rich

5. Ride-Along (Air Date: 10/7/20)

Left with no other leads on last episode's case, Cooney decides to consult with disgraced Mayor Roy Aylesworth (Andrew Bowen) about the political underworld. Meanwhile, Brennan becomes host to Cadet Danica Maclin (Kira Kosarin) on a ride-along, and both wind up catching a case involving a drug dealer killed in an extremely unusual way.

6. I Want It That Way (Air Date: 10/14/20)

Bradshaw, still reeling from Ryan's revelation of her pregnancy, goes in with King to investigate a double homicide that took place just outside of Lincoln Financial Field, right after an Ariana Grande concert. During the investigation, Bradshaw struggles with his relationship with Ryan, causing him to lose focus; but with the help of Grande (guest-starring as herself), Bradshaw is able to conquer his fears and help King take down the culprit. At the end of the episode, Bradshaw proposes to Ryan.

7. Major Fraud (Air Date: 10/21/20)

McCoy's suspicions reign true as he finally gathers enough evidence to bring Warren in before a grand jury on charges of fraud in the Democratic primary election. Warren doesn't bite and starts leaking the emails he had against Cooney, leading Bradshaw to go in alone against Cooney's predecessor, worrying Ryan. Ultimately, the case doesn't go as anyone expected.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2000 United States presidential election recount in Florida and the Podesta emails

8. On the Rocks (Air Date: 10/28/20)

With Cooney now the de facto Democratic nomination for governor, his campaign must face an uphill battle against Governor Fletcher, Warren's loyalists in the Pennsylvania Democratic Party, and the outraged voters of Pennsylvania. To make matters worse, word gets out about his private investigation into the murder of Dale Oakes, the victim in 'Discovery', and conspiracy theorists start to link his campaign to the case.

NOTE: Inspired by right-wing conspiracy theories surrounding the murder of Seth Rich

9. Storming the Castle (Air Date: 11/4/20)

Cooney's embattled campaign receives another setback when conspiracy theorists also accuse him of being connected to an alleged sex trafficking ring headquartered at a Greek restaurant. When one conspiracy theorist takes his beliefs too far, McCoy struggles against the worsening political climate in order to prosecute him for murder.

NOTE: Inspired by the Pizzagate conspiracy theory and the subsequent shooting committed by Edgar Maddison Welch

10. Veteran's Day (Air Date: 11/11/20)

In the wake of the email leaks and recent conspiracy theories targeting his campaign, Cooney attempts to restore his public image by holding a press conference on Veteran's Day. However, he is met by violent protesters, and then the press conference ends in tragedy when another conspiracy theorist opens fire, injuring him and killing several attendants. West finds himself succumbing to the toxicity of the political climate when he appoints a special counselor for the case.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2016 Donald Trump Chicago rally protest, and the Tucson mass shooting committed by Jared Lee Loughner

11. Black and Blue (Air Date: 11/18/20)

Bradshaw and Ryan announce their engagement, but the big announcement is interrupted when Green is shot while on patrol, making it a personal matter for his daughter Miranda. Meanwhile, Cooney finds himself stooping to his lowest point when he uses Green's shooting in an attempt to bolster his embattled campaign.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting of Brian Moore

12. No More Recounts (Air Date: 11/25/20)

After Warren's request for a final recount is blocked by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, a black supremacist group starts intimidating members of Cooney's base in escalating situations. Once more, Bradshaw goes in alone against Warren while the others look to connect Warren to the group and the intimidation incidents before someone dies.

NOTE: Inspired by the New Black Panther Party voter intimidation case

13. Cooney's Debate (Air Date: 12/2/20)

Cooney's debate against Governor Fletcher doesn't go as planned as an assassination attempt is made against him, leading Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, and King to hunt down the man. During the investigation, they find out that the perpetrator was a Warren supporter out for revenge against the Police Commissioner. Meanwhile, Ryan's pregnancy starts to affect her work.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2016 U.S. presidential debate at Hofstra University, and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump

14. Election Night (Part 1) (Air Date: 12/9/20)

On the night of the general election, Cooney is shocked to see his lead slipping even more over the incumbent Governor Fletcher. To add insult to injury, Warren's back leaking more e-mails about Cooney's past, this time exposing an affair with a porn star seven years prior.

NOTE: Inspired by the Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump affair scandal

15. Election Night (Part 2) (Air Date: 1/14/21)

As the election returns come in, the final showdown with Warren begins, pitting Bradshaw, King, Goren, and Eames against a corrupt political and criminal mastermind who has done everything in his power to try and sabotage Cooney's campaign. At the end of the episode, a winner is announced, shocking everyone.

NOTE: Inspired by Donald Trump's surprise victory in the 2016 U.S. presidential election

16. Commissioner in Trouble (Air Date: 1/21/21)

With Cooney now the next Governor of Pennsylvania, the PPD is forced to help provide security detail for him as protests erupt from both Fletcher and Warren supporters. With the PPD's ranks occupied with Cooney, Eames and King tackle the case of a dead housewife alone.

NOTE: Inspired by the anti-Donald Trump protests following his surprise presidential election victory

17. Inauguration Day (Air Date: 2/5/21)

Commissioner Cooney is sworn in as Governor of Pennsylvania, but his inauguration doesn't go off without a hitch. Meanwhile, Goren and Eames search for an African-American suspect who is attacking Sikh men in the middle of the day for unknown reasons. Also, Ryan is forced to make a tough decision about Coomey's Lieutenant Governor: her cousin Alan.

18. College XXX (Air Date: 2/26/21)

The porn star who hid her affair with Cooney resurfaces with a tell-all book that mentions the same college student who committed suicide in season 2's 'Sex Scenes'. Bradshaw and King are called in to investigate whether these two cases have some connection.

NOTE: Inspired by the Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump affair scandal

19. LGGL (Air Date: 3/5/21)

As Cooney's first 100 days as Governor continues, he is met with another scandal. His Lieutenant Governor, Alan Ryan (David Harbour), is suspected of grand larceny when $200,000 is found missing from the state budget. Ryan must now make the decision of her career about her uncle and the only person she can turn to is her fiancée.

20. Dragged (Air Date: 3/12/21)

A gay man is dragged to death by a car, prompting the PPD to launch one of its largest investigations ever. Meanwhile, Cooney uses the murder as a rallying cry for his proposed legislation on toughening hate-crime laws.

NOTE: Inspired by the murders of Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr.

21. Wedding Crashers (Air Date: 3/26/21)

While investigating the murder of a waiter during a high-profile wedding ceremony, Goren and Eames realize there were two uninvited guests at the event. Though the party crashers are ultimately exonerated, McCoy is still forced to prosecute them after their involvement in another murder is uncovered.

NOTE: Inspired by the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the 2009 U.S. state dinner security breaches by Michaele and Tareq Salahi, and the murders of Byrd and Melanie Billings

22. The Orange and the Black (Air Date: 4/2/21)

A state representative is found beaten to death, and the PPD focuses their suspicion on the staff of the victim's political rival. Meanwhile, Cooney becomes the target of criticism when an activist points out the unfortunate implications of his last name in regards to race.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of William Telek committed by Bernard Williams

23. Dressed to Die (Air Date: 4/30/21)

The body of a woman is discovered in an abandoned mental asylum, and Bradshaw and King initially believe her to be the latest victim of a serial killer. However, as they dig deeper, they find that the manner of her death was meant to be a distraction, and they focus on the victim's husband, a disgraced horror movie director.

NOTE: Inspired by the Frankford Slasher case, the murder of Randi Trimble, and the troubled production of the horror movie Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

24. Father and Son (Air Date: 5/7/21)

The PPD is hot on the trail of the perpetrators of a series of increasingly violent home invasions, but finds that the case may be tougher to swallow than expected. Meanwhile, Bradshaw receives a visit from his father (Brad Dourif), and Ryan learns about their troubled relationship.

NOTE: Inspired by the Joseph Kallinger case

25. Ritchie (Part 1) (Air Date: 5/14/21)

Eight criminals from the PPD's past make a daring escape from prison: Brennan's son Ritchie; Sergeant Bernard Howe; Dr. Lawrence Plasky; the killer from Season 2's "Where's Your Holiday Spirit?"; one of the killers from Season 3's "Christmas Break-In"; MASK from Season 4's "Mask" two-parter; one of the serial killers from Season 5's "Can't Have Just One Killer!"; and the killer from the earlier episode "Ride-Along". When bodies of all sorts begin to pile up, Brennan finds himself coming to a tragic conclusion.

NOTE: Inspired by the Texas Seven case; the Clovis, New Mexico jailbreak in 2008; the Florence State Prison jailbreak and subsequent killing spree; the Allen Correctional Institution jailbreak involving T.J. Lane; the prison escape of Ted Bundy; and the manhunt for Dzhokhar and Tamerlan Tsarnaev

26. Brennan (Part 2) (Air Date: 5/21/21)

As Brennan deals with a personal crisis, and McArthur continues to worry for the safety of his family, the rest of the PPD tries to track down the remaining escapees as they continue killing all across Philadelphia. By the end of the episode, Brennan announces his retirement from the PPD, while six of the escapees still remain at large.

NOTE: Last appearance of Sergeant Richard Brennan (Jason Harris) as a main character

Season 8 (2021-2022)

 * Will consist of 26 episodes
 * Premiered Wednesday, September 15 @ 9/8 Central on NBC with a 2 hour premiere before moving to its regular 10/9 Central slot after the 2 hour premiere of 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.
 * Justin Willman (Chester Green) and Chuck Norris (Walker Orr) are moved to series regulars as of this season, replacing Jason Harris. Replacing them in a recurring role will be former Nickelodeon star Isabella Moner as Cadet Riley Scott.

1. New Blue (Part 1) (Air Date: 9/15/21)

The manhunt for the remaining escapees continues, but it proves harder than Goren and Eames thought, so Green suggests they call in a recent graduate of the police academy known for her bloodhound-like senses, Riley Scott (Isabella Moner), to assist in the hunt.

2. New Blue (Part 2) (Air Date: 9/15/21)

With four escapees still at large, the hunt grinds to a halt when reports of a mass shooter circulate through the city, prompting Cadet Scott to be paired with Bradshaw for her first ever case. Meanwhile, at the Philadelphia Penitentiary, Ritchie tells his father that he is ready to redeem himself.

NOTE #1: 2-hour season premiere

NOTE #2: Inspired by the Nashville Waffle House shooting

3. Surrogate Smack-Down (Air Date: 9/22/21)

The gruesome murder of a pregnant woman calls the newly promoted Lieutenant Bradshaw into action as the case hits him on a personal level. With Ryan closing in on her due date, Bradshaw takes it upon himself to find the killer and take him off the streets to protect his fiancée.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Bobbie Jo Stinnett

4. We the People (Air Date: 9/29/21)

Members of a grassroots, left-wing secessionist movement take over Independence Hall, calling for the secession of Philadelphia County from the rest of the state. As unrest grows between Democratic and Republican voters nationwide over the occupation, the PPD must now work to safely defuse an escalating situation.

NOTE: Inspired by the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, the related death of LaVoy Finicum, and the "Yes California" secessionist campaign

5. Preamble (Air Date: 10/6/21)

Now a prison confidential informant, Ritchie alerts Goren and Eames to the possibility of a killer among the PPD's ranks. Their investigation leads the reopening of a cold case involving one of Philadelphia's most notorious serial rapists/killers. Meanwhile, Cooney tries to guide Philadelphia through the fallout of the Independence Hall takeover.

NOTE: Inspired by the Golden State Killer case

6. The Army Goes Rolling Along (Air Date: 10/13/21)

When a man is killed trying to thwart the brazen kidnapping of two former U.S. Army soldiers, Bradshaw and King go on the hunt for the people responsible. As they deal with the possibility of a new form of terrorism, their investigation sheds light on a possible Army cover-up of a horrifying incident that occurred in Iraq during the war there.

NOTE: Inspired by the March 2006 massacre of the al-Janabi family involving the gang-rape of the daughter Abeer, and the subsequent abduction of U.S. soldiers in Iraq in June 2006

7. Firework (Air Date: 10/20/21)

The explosion of an unlicensed fireworks factory leaves multiple people dead and injured, placing the PPD on a manhunt for the man who founded the factory.

NOTE: Inspired by the Benton fireworks disaster, the West Fertilizer Company explosion, the 2015 Tianjin explosions, and the manhunt for Yoo Byung-eun following the MV Sewol ferry disaster

8. Eye of the Tiger (Air Date: 10/27/21)

When a zookeeper is violently mauled to death by a tiger, Goren and Eames investigate and realize that someone intentionally locked the victim with the predator. They are eventually led to a prominent zoologist who may be hiding a startling secret.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Rosa King at the Hamerton Zoo Park, and the Jean-Claude Romand case

9. Gonna Fly Now (Air Date: 11/3/21)

McCoy struggles to try and prove murder when a prominent plastic surgeon is suspected of being behind the disappearance of his wife. Things become even more complicated when a reformed white supremacist claims responsibility for the crime.

NOTE: Inspired by the Robert Bierenbaum case and the story of reformed white supremacist Christian Picciolini

10. The Chase (Air Date: 11/10/21)

McArthur's career is put on the line when he resorts to unethical tactics during the PPD's final confrontation with former sergeant Bernard Howe, one of two remaining prison escapees.

11. Artistic License (Air Date: 11/17/21)

The headquarters of a satirical online weekly magazine is firebombed, leaving a prominent journalist dead, and further attacks are threatened. When a suspect is apprehended, McCoy is faced with the difficult task of upholding the First Amendment in his prosecution while simultaneously placating an outraged community.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy, the 2011 firebombing of Charlie Hebdo headquarters, and the 2015 Charlie Hebdo shooting

12. Downward Spiral (Air Date: 11/24/21)

With the two-year anniversary of the Pittsburgh attacks upon Pennsylvania, and the events of the last episode still fresh on everyone's minds, the PPD has all hands on deck when an Islamic extremist begins targeting their own.

NOTE: Inspired by the shooting of Jesse James Hartnett, the January 2016 Paris police station attack, the attacks on the Champs-Élysées in April and June 2017, and the 2016 Magnanville stabbing

13. One Last Escapee (Part 1) (Air Date: 12/15/21)

There's only one escapee remaining - MASK - and it'll take every resource at the PPD's disposal to catch him. As the manhunt rages on, Bradshaw's concern for Ryan causes him to lose focus once more, knowing that she is close to delivering their twins. At the end of the episode, Ryan goes into labor.

14. One Last Escapee (Part 2) (Air Date: 12/15/21)

MASK is still at large with Goren, Eames, Bradshaw, and King hot on the trail. But how much longer can Bradshaw keep up the chase for MASK when he gets the call from McCoy that Ryan's in labor?

15. Aftermath (Air Date: 1/5/22)

As Bradshaw and Ryan go on leave in order to raise their newborn children, King teams up with Eames to investigate a fatal hit-and-run, and they are led into the world of hip-hop rap. Ice Cube guest-stars as himself.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2015 hit-and-run incident committed by Marion "Suge" Knight

16. New Additions (Air Date: 1/19/22)

Green and Orr work together to solve the shooting of an electrician in a bad neighborhood. They initially believe the shooting to be gang-related until they uncover a connection with several other unsolved shootings.

NOTE: Inspired by the Juan Covington case

17. Trauma Level One (Air Date: 2/2/22)

While interviewing a rape victim at a hospital, Orr and several others are taken hostage by a distraught mother who claims a physician working there was responsible for molesting her late son. Now, Goren, Eames, and Green must race against the clock to find evidence supporting her claims before the situation escalates.

NOTE: Inspired by the Earl Bradley case

18. Hearts Afire (Air Date: 2/9/22)

Bradshaw and Ryan return to their jobs just in time for the PPD to begin handling the case of a serial arsonist targeting an heiress and her social circle.

19. Innocent Lives (Air Date: 2/16/22)

Ryan clashes with Dorn over their views of abortion after an abortion provider is charged with killing a woman and several newborn babies during horribly botched abortion procedures.

NOTE: Inspired by the Kermit Gosnell case

'''20. A Picture... (Part 1) '''(Air Date: 2/23/22)

The countdown to Bradshaw and Ryan's wedding continues, but preparations are put to a halt as a prominent wedding photographer ends up beaten on Market Street, leading Bradshaw to investigate with King. As they dig deeper, they find a rivalry pushed to extremes.

21. ...Is Worth a Thousand Words (Part 2) (Air Date: 3/2/22)

Bradshaw strains as he juggles between preparing for his wedding with Ryan and solving the beating of the wedding photographer, a case that is escalating as the victim and the prime suspect continue to point fingers at one another. Things become even worse when his father (Brad Dourif) arrives unannounced.

22. Holding Pattern (Air Date: 4/13/22)

The apparent suicides of two state representatives less than one month apart, following separate sexual abuse allegations, leads Goren and Eames to a private humanitarian organization that could be a front for a sex trafficking ring.

NOTE: Inspired by the sexual abuse allegations and suicides of Idaho and Kentucky State Representatives Brandon Hixon and Dan Johnson in 2017 and 2018, the NXIVM controversies involving Allison Mack, and the T.J. Miller sexual misconduct allegations

23. Calm Before the Storm (Air Date: 4/20/22)

A world-renowned guitarist from Denmark is found dead in her hotel room, and the recently married Ryan struggles to work with McCoy to convict the prime suspect, the victim's domineering husband and manager.

NOTE: Inspired by the Natalia Strelchenko case

24. 199 Shots (Part 1) (Air Date: 4/27/22)

The deadly attack on a family of seven, with only one survivor, leads the PPD to a mentally unstable former Marine (Robert Kazinsky) targeting his ex-wife and her entire family, who has kidnapped his three children and is willing to kill anyone who stands in his way. Bradshaw begins to take the case seriously due to his status as a new father.

NOTE: Inspired by the Jerry Williams Jones case; the 2014 Harris County, Texas, shooting; the 2014 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, shooting spree; the 2017 Plano, Texas, shooting; and the 2010 Cumbria shooting spree

25. The 200th Shot (Part 2) (Air Date: 5/11/22)

The manhunt for William Thomas Harding expands beyond Philadelphia, as he continues to leave bodies in his wake. At the end of the episode, when it appears the PPD has cornered Harding, the department is hit with a horrifying twist.

NOTE: Inspired by the 2014 Moncton shootings, the 2010 Northumbria Police manhunt, and the Lovelle Mixon case

26. 2:01 A.M. (Part 3) (Air Date: 5/18/22)

With one of their own dead and another's life hanging in the balance after a botched raid, the PPD is left to deal with the fallout. Meanwhile, a vengeful Goren and Bradshaw go after Harding themselves, leading to a final confrontation that puts more lives at stake, as well as the careers of PPD's best on the line.

NOTE #1: Inspired by the Dawson College shooting

NOTE #2: Last appearances of Sergeant Raymond King (Josh Server), Captain Nick Falco (Michael Imperioli), and Lieutenant Matthew McArthur (Danny Masterson)

Season 9 (2022-2023)

 * Will consist of 24 episodes
 * Premiered Wednesday, September 21 @ 10/9 Central on NBC, following 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.
 * Zachery Ty Bryan, Taran Noah Smith and Johnathan Taylor Thomas join the cast as Sergeant Michael Taylor, Lieutenant Noah Carpenter and Chief Grant Thomas, respectively.
 * Jason Harris rejoins the cast in a recurring role as Private Investigator Richard Brennan.
 * The episode "From One City to Another" is a crossover with Chicago P.D.

1. A Penny Saved (Air Date: 9/21/22)

As the PPD continues to reel from the loss of King, the near-death of Eames, and the transfers of Falco and McArthur, Bradshaw, Morales, and Green investigate the brutal death of an insurance agent who may have been living a double life. All the while, they deal with two newcomers to the PPD: Sergeant Michael Taylor (Zachery Ty Bryan) and Lieutenant Noah Carpenter (Taran Noah Smith).

NOTE: First appearances of Sergeant Michael Taylor (Zachery Ty Bryan) and Lieutenant Noah Carpenter (Taran Noah Smith)

2. The Vulture (Air Date: 9/28/22)

Under the watchful eye of the new Chief of Police, Grant Thomas (Johnathan Taylor Thomas), the PPD must sift through a long list of suspects after a reporter notorious for her ruthless and borderline-unethical methods is found strangled to death in a park.

NOTE #1: First appearance of Chief Grant Thomas (Johnathan Taylor Thomas)

NOTE #2: Inspired by Melinda Duckett's suicide after an interview with Nancy Grace

3. Third-Generation Criminal (Air Date: 10/5/22)

McCoy prosecutes a man who committed a random drive-by shooting, who claims that the impulse to kill is in his family blood. Meanwhile, Morales learns more about Taylor and his lineage.

4. Fairmount Park (Air Date: 10/12/22)

Taylor joins Bradshaw and Morales as they investigate the discovery of a mass grave in Fairmount Park. The eventual outcome of the case teaches Taylor a lesson about the true world of gray that is the American justice system.

NOTE: Inspired by the Bear Brook murders

5. Agony (Air Date: 10/19/22)

Morales and Taylor go on the hunt for a man suspected of beating his ex-girlfriend to death. Meanwhile, Goren turns to Ryan for advice on Eames's recovery.

NOTE: Inspired by the George Junior Porter case

6. Infamy (Air Date: 11/2/22)

Bradshaw and Orr reluctantly investigate the brutal murder of a known pedophile and his live-in girlfriend, and find themselves casting their suspicions on a former NYPD detective, Nina Cassidy (Milena Govich). Meanwhile, Taylor receives a cryptic, anonymous letter.

NOTE: Special guest appearance by Milena Govich as Detective Nina Cassidy

7. A Stable Mind (Air Date: 11/9/22)

Stabler and Ryan butt heads over their difference of opinions during the prosecution of a woman who killed her drug-dealing boyfriend and two teenagers in a meth lab explosion due to fears that her boyfriend's lifestyle is endangering her son's physical and mental health.

8. The Most Dangerous Game (Air Date: 11/16/22)

With Eames still in recovery, Goren teams up with Taylor to find a sniper shooting at pedestrians with a crossbow. As they continue their investigation, Goren discovers the sniper is following a very peculiar pattern.

9. Blown Away (Air Date: 11/30/22)

The murder of a random motorist with a shotgun leads the PPD to a paranoid schizophrenic who escaped from a mental hospital in Indiana and went on a multi-state killing spree.

NOTE: Inspired by the Michael Wayne Jackson case

10. .44 Magnum (Part 1) (Air Date: 12/7/22)

As Eames returns to active duty, Ryan and her niece Haley (Addison Timlin) are both kidnapped, and the PPD initially believes a registered sex offender (Spencer Treat Clark) that Ryan recently helped put away is responsible. Unbeknownst to them, Ryan is being forced to play the true kidnapper's (Zelda Williams) sadistic game, which puts the lives of Haley and six complete strangers on the line.

11. .44 Magnum (Part 2) (Air Date: 12/14/22)

As the PPD continues to follow the clues and close in on Ryan and Haley's kidnapper, Ryan must choose between killing Haley or six complete strangers. At the end of the episode, Taylor receives an anonymous letter that leads him to the bodies of a known pedophile and a woman, both killed the same way as the victims in the earlier episode "Infamy".

12. From One City to Another (Air Date: 1/11/23)

The PPD teams up with Chicago P.D. Detectives Erin Lindsay (Sophia Bush) and Jay Halstead (Jesse Lee Soffer) to investigate the murder of a serial rapist on the run from Chicago. Meanwhile, Ryan continues to cope with her kidnapping experience. Also, Taylor investigates the letter that led him to two bodies at the end of the last episode.

NOTE: The episode is a crossover with Chicago P.D.

13. Blurred Lines (Air Date: 1/18/23)

McCoy is thrust into a national debate over the limits of the First Amendment when he prosecutes a comic book collector for possession of child pornography. The case becomes even more complicated when it turns out all of the paraphernalia in question was hand-drawn and depicted cartoon characters, while brain scans indicated the defendant is not sexually attracted to actual children.

NOTE: Inspired by the United States v. Handley case and other U.S. cases regarding the legal status of drawn pornography depicting minors

14. Savage (Air Date: 1/25/23)

Carpenter finds himself confronting his childhood fear of dogs while leading the investigation into the fatal mauling of an ice hockey coach by a dog. The case takes a shocking turn when the PPD is led to a dog-fighting ring headed by a famous retired football player, and then a Colombian drug cartel using a veterinary clinic as a cover. The resulting prosecution puts McCoy, Ryan, and West's lives at stake.

NOTE: Inspired by the death of Diane Whipple, the Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting scandal involving Michael Vick, the suicide of Junior Seau, and the Andres Lopez Elorza case

15. External Crisis (Air Date: 2/8/23)

The investigation into the murder of a beloved high-school trigonometry teacher leads Goren to uncover an unrelated scandal at the school. The discovery leads to hostilities between two families that leads to tragedy.

NOTE: Inspired by the Mary Kay Letourneau and Rachael DelTondo cases

16. Starting All Over Again (Air Date: 2/15/23)

While investigating an altercation between a motorist and a motorcycle gang, Eames is hit with a setback in her recovery when she is shot by the suspects. At the end of the episode, Taylor, still investigating the bodies he found in ".44 Magnum (Part 2)", links them to a murder identical to the one the PPD investigated in "The Vulture".

NOTE: Inspired by the Hollywood Stuntz gang assault and the murder of Russel Timoshenko

17. Kiss (Part 1) (Air Date: 3/1/23)

A bride is murdered after supposedly leaving her groom at the altar on their wedding day, prompting Taylor, Carpenter, Bradshaw and Orr to investigate. After some digging into the matter, they find that the groom had run off with the bride's sister, prompting fears from Bradshaw that something bad might happen between him and Ryan. When the team corners their suspect (Matt Bennett), they find that he's more dangerous than they were expecting and that to take him down, help may have to come from an old friend.

18. Make-Up (Part 2) (Air Date: 3/8/23)

The search for the killer groom continues and as their murder spree rages on, the team calls on Brennan and Ritchie for help. It is revealed that the suspect is another former classmate of Ritchie's, Robert Walker, an honor student with a steady girlfriend who he intended to marry on the day of the murder. When a potential motive surfaces, it is up to the PPD to bring him down before he kills again. By the end of the episode, Taylor receives a disturbing phone call.

19. For Whom the Liberty Bell Tolls (Air Date: 3/22/23)

As the PPD searches for the copycat serial killer stalking Taylor, McCoy discovers a possible way of identifying the criminal, but it using it could constitute a massive breach of trust between a corporation and its paying customers worldwide. When the PPD and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office clashes over the security risks and ethical ramifications, McCoy turns to a grey hat hacker group for help, only to find his morals at stake.

NOTE: Inspired by the FBI–Apple encryption dispute following the 2015 San Bernardino attack, and the Goatse Security grey hat hacker group

20. Zoom Zoom (Air Date: 4/5/23)

As the PPD continues it search for the copycat serial killer, Bradshaw and Morales tackle the case of a local businessman killed in a hit-and-run. They initially focus on the victim's wife, but the suspect pool expands alarmingly after Bradshaw and Morales learn that the victim had HIV but still had unprotected sex with multiple women.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of David Lynn Harris and the Philippe Padieu case

21. Explosion (Air Date: 4/12/23)

A string of bombings rocks Philadelphia, and the PPD races to find the perpetrator and a motive before a large-scale incident occurs. Meanwhile, Taylor becomes obsessed with finding his stalker.

NOTE: Inspired by the Austin serial bombings in March 2018

22. Paradise City (Air Date: 4/19/23)

A teenage boy is brutally killed by a mob for cross-dressing during a private dance party, and Goren and Eames deal with a homophobic culture as they search for suspects. Meanwhile, Taylor is put in the hot seat by Chief Thomas for his efforts to hunt the copycat serial killer.

NOTE: Inspired by the murder of Dwayne Jones

23. Down the Bunny Trail (Air Date: 4/26/23)

Goren and Eames are called in to investigate an illegal brothel that has set up shop in downtown Philadelphia when one of the girls that worked there is under suspicion of murdering the owner. Meanwhile, Ryan gets some shocking news about her cousin. Also, Taylor gets a lead on his stalker.

24. A Penny Earned (Air Date: 5/3/23)

The PPD and the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office enters into a final showdown with the copycat serial killer that had been stalking Taylor for the entirety of the season. As the killer continues to outsmart the detectives and target their families and friends, Carpenter puts his career on the line to ensure justice is served. Meanwhile, Taylor finally discovers the killer's motive, which horrifies him and leaves him questioning his life's choices.

Season 10 (2023-2024)

 * Will consist of 25 episodes
 * Premiered Wednesday, September 20 @ 10/9 Central on NBC, following 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'.
 * Zac Efron joins the cast as DA Investigator Chandler Gordon

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Music
'Law & Order: Philadelphia' will use the theme song from 'Law & Order: Trial By Jury' and 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' for its opening and closing theme music.