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"Law and Order", a half-investigation, half-trial crime drama that began in 1990, has officially become a television behemoth, spinning off two series, overcoming numerous cast changes, and consistently placing in the Nielsen top tens. "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit" was the first spinoff. It hit the airwaves in 1999 and is still running today. "The First Year", not surprisingly, collects the first season of this program. ***

"Special Victims Unit" follows the investigation/trial format of its predecessor, yet does so while dealing with seedier crimes: those of a sexual variety. Heading the cast are Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay as Detectives Stabler and Benson, with Richard Belzer reprising his role as Det. John Munch from the late, lamented "Homicide: Life on the Street". Dann Florek also reprises a role, that of Captain Donald Cragen, whom he played on the first three seasons of the original "Law and Order". ***

"Special Victims Unit" may be a "Law and Order" spinoff, but it is a solid show in its own right, delving into deeper, darker crimes, and involving itself more in the personal lives of its characters than its parent show does with its characters. "The First Year" provides the beginnings and backgrounds of the series with its first 20 episodes. Whether this is of something of interest to you depends on a) whether you like this series or the "Law and Order" family as a whole, or b) how you feel about the dark nature of the show's content. If you are a "Special Victims Unit" fan, there's a lot here to tear through.

The show comes in its original full screen broadcast format, and looks much like any show transferred to DVD: pleasant, but unsurprising. ***

The sound is also routine for a television broadcast on DVD, with a Dolby Surround track that confines itself mostly to the front channels. French and Spanish 2.0 tracks are also included. --