Munch’s 10 Finest Episodes In Regulation & Order: SVU, Ranked

This text discusses incidents involving violence, sexual assault, abuse and different matters which may be triggering or upsetting to some readers. Reader discretion is suggested.

For greater than twenty years, the late Richard Belzer portrayed Det. John Munch on a number of tv exhibits, most notably on Regulation & Order: SVU. Throughout this time, he portrayed Munch on ten totally different sequence throughout 5 totally different networks, surpassing each Cheers‘ Frasier Crane and Gunsmoke‘s Marshal Matt Dillon when it comes to character appearances, and third behind Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) because the longest-running prime time live-action character in tv historical past.

As one of the vital integral and necessary elements of SVU in its preliminary years, John Munch introduced the veteran’s contact to the now iconic program. As Regulation & Order: SVU enters its upcoming twenty seventh season, we glance again on the ten finest John Munch episodes in sequence historical past.

10

Zebras

Season 10, Episode 22

This episode, whereas most notable for considered one of Regulation & Order: SVU‘s most surprising plot twists, involving Dale Stuckey (Noel Fisher) because the perpetrator of a number of murders, SVU viewers a primary have a look at a largely unexplored Munch story thread outdoors of Murder: Life on the Avenue. Carol Kane, reprising her function as Munch’s ex-wife, Gwen, seems as a part of an investigation right into a conspiracy theorist accused of homicide.

Munch’s interplay together with his ex-wife, showing to be affected by an unnamed psychological sickness, gave context to part of his story that began within the Baltimore Police Division. Though it got here ten seasons in, we cherished studying extra about Munch, and seeing how deeply he cared for Gwen, even when these wounds have been deep.

9

Components

Season 6, Episode 22

Within the follow-up to season 5’s episode 22, “Painless”, we see the return of Amy Solwey (Marlee Matlin), a personality who helped Munch work by some guilt involving his father (extra on that beneath). Within the investigation of a black market organ ring, Solwey is revealed to be part of it, placing herself able to return to jail, in addition to inflicting Munch to take issues into his personal palms to attempt to assist her.

After the occasions of “Painless”, Munch turns into linked with Solwey and her well-being, having satisfied her to remain alive. Within the aftermath of “Components”, her future is unsure, but it surely exhibits Munch taking steps that might be thought of outdoors the legislation to assist somebody who helped him, including extra complexity to an already deeply advanced character.

8

American Tragedy

Season 15, Episode 3

In an episode of Regulation & Order: SVU that was “ripped from the headlines,” the Particular Victims Unit is concerned within the case of the homicide of an unarmed black man by a white assailant that captures the curiosity of the nation. Within the wake of the jury’s not responsible verdict at trial, the shock turns into an excessive amount of for Munch, who finds himself questioning his place in legislation enforcement.

For over twenty years, Munch stayed the course together with his work in murder and particular victims, however this case was the ultimate blow for him in a world the place he typically felt misplaced.

For over twenty years, Munch stayed the course together with his work in murder and particular victims, however this case was the ultimate blow for him in a world the place he typically felt misplaced. It is a last touchpoint for Munch, who pronounces his retirement shortly after, organising a becoming tribute for the character two episodes later.

7

Painless

Season 5, Episode 22

An episode centered solely on assisted suicide, Munch turns into concerned within the case in opposition to Amy Solwey, the principle suspect in a case the place the sufferer learns the best way to take her personal life. Munch makes a significant reveal for the primary time in Regulation & Order: SVU: the reality about his father’s dying, a suicide, one which occurred after he had a struggle with him.

Munch’s tackle the case is cathartic and private, feeling a deep guilt about his father’s suicide, and makes use of this to assist persuade Amy to remain alive. It is an emotional and private dip into Munch’s psyche and method, and among the many finest dramatic and deeply transferring performances Belzer gave within the function.

6

Manhunt

Season 2, Episode 18

The most effective totally centered John Munch episodes in Regulation & Order: SVU historical past, this season two masterpiece entails each Munch and Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) on the hunt for a serial killer from Munch’s previous. Within the seek for the killer, Munch dives deep into his personal failures in efficiently capturing him beforehand.

His work within the interrogation of Darryl Kern (R.E. Rodgers) was distinctive and a reminder that at any time when the ball was given to Munch as a essential character, he ran it into the top zone. In its last compassionate scene, the place he tells Sarah Kimmel (Anna Belknap) she will lastly flip her gentle off, his talent was by no means extra prevalent than in “Manhunt”.

5

Uncooked

Season 7, Episode 6

On this caustic and oftentimes uncomfortable season seven episode of Regulation & Order: SVU, the Squad investigates a faculty capturing that left one little one useless, and two others wounded by an Aryan Nation group. Munch turns into an integral a part of the investigation after being assaulted by a member of the group, Star Morrison (Marcia Homosexual Harden), later revealed to be FBI Particular Agent Dana Lewis, who had infiltrated the group in an undercover operation.

Munch’s Jewish heritage turned entrance of thoughts in his interplay with Morrison/Lewis, and the interactions between him and the Aryan group members introduced a degree of palpable animosity to the episode. Though ending up with a bullet in his rear finish after a bloody courtroom capturing, the episode ends with a touching second between him and Tutuola, grateful he made it by.

4

Wonderland Story

Season 15, Episode 5

As Captain Don Cragen (Dann Florek) informed Olivia Benson on the finish of episode 4 of season 15, “nothing modifications, until it has to,” and a giant change got here to Regulation & Order: SVU. “Wonderland Story” was the top of an period for Detective John Munch in his last episode as a essential solid member.

“Wonderland Story” was the top of an period for Detective John Munch in his last episode as a essential solid member.

It was bookended by each Munch’s retirement get together and his final moments contained in the partitions of the Particular Victims Unit, and felt each poignant and emotional to see him go away, with clips from a really early look because the character on Murder: Life on the Avenue spliced in. All good issues should come to an finish, and this send-off could not have been any extra good and correct within the story of John Munch.

3

Uncle

Season 8, Episode 7

Hardly ever do viewers get to see two comedy legends collectively on the small display, however Regulation & Order: SVU viewers get to expertise Jerry Lewis and Richard Belzer collectively. Lewis performed Munch’s uncle Andrew, affected by dementia and exhibits up unexpectedly in New York and turns into a part of an investigation into the homicide of a mom and her daughter.

Lewis and Belzer have been dynamic collectively, shedding their comedic backgrounds for a darker story that gained Lewis a Satellite tv for pc Award nomination. Including a familial depth to Munch’s story that hadn’t beforehand been mentioned or explored, “Uncle” was amongst Belzer’s finest work in his function as a nephew deeply involved about his uncle’s well-being.

2

Legacy

Season 2, Episode 4

On this season two episode of Regulation & Order: SVU, Benson and Stabler work to unravel a case that entails a comatose seven-year-old who has been abused. When it is revealed that her mom was the one liable for the abuse, Munch shares a narrative a few lady who lived throughout the road from him who was murdered by her mom, nonetheless holding guilt for not having the ability to assist her.

The episode is a heavy one, resulting from its material and its remembrance by Munch of his adolescence, giving further context to his “why” within the pursuit of justice. The episode ends with an emotional second between Munch and the sufferer, the place he reads her a Dr. Seuss ebook, giving himself the chance to grieve his previous and repair the longer term.

1

Regret

Season 1, Episode 20

In arguably his finest efficiency on Regulation & Order: SVU, John Munch went searching for justice for a tv reporter who turns into a sexual assault sufferer within the season 1 episode titled “Regret”. After she is killed by a bomb throughout the investigation, Munch makes it his private mission to carry the perpetrator to justice.

The primary season of SVU set the tone and tenor for the remainder of the sequence, and “Regret” felt like each a reintroduction to the Munch character and a coming-out get together for many who have been unfamiliar. Munch’s sarcasm performs entrance and middle most occasions on Regulation & Order: SVU, however his depth and pursuit of justice for victims was totally current right here, and reminded viewers simply how good Richard Belzer was within the function.

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