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Law & Order: Special Victims Unit S04E18, DesperateS04E18

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit · Season 4

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 4 episode 18: Desperate

Aired 14 March 200343 minRated TV-14

6.2TMDB · 13 votesMark watched

Where to watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4 in Australia

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit season 4 is streaming in Australia on Prime Video (subscription), Foxtel Now (subscription) and Disney+ (subscription, listed for the whole show), and free on 7plus. You can also buy it on Apple TV from $17.99 and Prime Video Store from $19.99.

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Free

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Availability checked 16 November 2026.

What happens in “Desperate”

After a young boy witnesses the brutal sexual assault and murder of his stepmother, he is too terrified to tell the detectives who attacked her.

Episode summary: TMDB.

Before you watch

  • It is episode 18 of 25 of season 4, so watch episodes 1 to 17 first.
  • It runs about 43 minutes.
  • Directed by David Platt, written by Amanda Green.
  • TMDB users rate it 6.2 out of 10 (13 votes).

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit trailer

The official trailer for the series (no preview of this episode has been published).

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit trailerPlay video: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit trailer

Cast and crew of this episode

Director
David Platt
Writer
Amanda Green
Guest stars
Tamara Tunie as Melinda WarnerHaviland Morris as Dawn TrentSigny Coleman as Kim HoffmanRob Estes as Dan HoffmanSandra Bernhard as Defense Attorney Priscilla ChaneyKate Goehring as Dr. Sally IversStephen Mailer as Mr. McGuireAdam LeFevre as Rye Police Chief

Credits: TMDB.

More from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Season 4

Previous · S04E17Privilege21 February 2003Next · S04E19Appearances28 March 2003
  1. E01
  2. E02
  3. E03
  4. E04
  5. E05
  6. E06
  7. E07
  8. E08
  9. E09
  10. E10
  11. E11
  12. E12
  13. E13
  14. E14
  15. E15
  16. E16
  17. E17
  18. E18
  19. E19
  20. E20
  21. E21
  22. E22
  23. E23
  24. E24
  25. E25

Every episode of Season 4Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode guide

Episode names, air dates, runtimes, stills and ratings: TMDB. Air dates are the first broadcast anywhere; where it streams is our daily Australian check.