Law & Order: SVU: Detective Munch’s 10 Best Moments From His Time On The Show
Detective John Munch was not only a conspiracy fanatic but one of the best Special Victims Unit detectives during his time on the show. Detective Munch was one of the original characters on Law & Order: SVU until his departure in season 15.
The role was played by actor Richard Belzer who also portrayed the role in every television rendition of Law &Order. Fans can agree that Munch was one of the most beloved characters on SVU with his witty remarks, dry comedy and caring heart.
Detective Munch’s impeccable career as a detective and overall spectacular character can be seen through these specific moments.
10 The Doctor Who Reference
It may not be surprising to learn that Munch was a fan of the highly acclaimed television series, Doctor Who. With his knack for conspiracy theories, it possible he also believed in time travel. There was one episode that had fans liking Munch even more.
In season eleven in the episode “Perverted,” Munch makes a reference to Doctor Who. This is one of Munch’s comical moments and surprising that he is such an avid fan of the British series.
9 Munch Gets Shot… In The Backside
Munch always takes everything in stride even when he got shot in his backside during a case. The team investigates a school shooting involving young children. The investigation leads to a neo-Nazi group. During the trial, gunfire starts and Munch is shot.
At the hospital, Finn goes to visit his partner. Finn asks Munch where he got shot. Munch then says the comical line, “In the ass. Wanna kiss it better?” Trust Munch to make light of a serious situation even if it has comical connotations.
8 Munch And Fin’s Son
When it comes to Munch, he has a big heart and is willing to help people in any way he can. One of his best moments is when he helps Fin’s son, Ken. Ken is scared to tell his father about his engagement and instead asks Munch for help. He wants to introduce his fiancé to Munch first before his father.
Munch is more than excited for Ken’s marriage and offers to test the waters with Fin. Munch even cracks a joke that he prefers to be called “long-time companion” in regards to being Fin’s SVU partner. In the end, he reassures Alejandro to be himself and that Fin has a kind heart.
7 Munch Babysits Noah
Munch’s time at SVU is coming to a close and he returns to the squad one last time. In season 17, episode 20, Munch made fans heartache when he offers to babysit Noah. This is the first time he meets the young boy who changed Olivia Benson’s life.
This is one of his more emotional moments as he tells Benson that he realized there’s more to life outside of SVU. All while looking content at how happy Olivia looks having a son. He even jokes that he taught Noah the big life lesson of questioning authority.
6 Tried To Help A Deaf Suspect
The SVU episode “Painless” in season five had fans tearing for Munch, but it was also one of his most resonating moments. Munch becomes personally involved in the case when they uncover a deaf suspect has tied to the victim with her suicide-advocacy website.
He becomes invested when he discovers the suspect refuses a kidney transplant and wants to die. Munch reveals that he holds deep guilt for what he said to his father before his suicide. He converses with the suspect and convinces her to live so they can work through their guilt.
5 His Departure From SVU
There is one major case that changed Munch’s outlook on the justice system that he can no longer be a part of. In “American Tragedy,” the suspect goes free after murdering a young black male in supposed self-defense. Munch is appalled at the justice system’s inability to see the truth and decides to quit the force. The show simultaneously depicts the injustices of the law system but also certain inaccuracies.
He then officially retires from SVU in “Wonderland Story” where he goes all out wearing a white tux. Cheerful and comical stories about Munch and his marriages are told. This is one of Munch’s saddest but best moments that marked the end of his run.
4 He’ll Call His Kids Munchkins
Early on in the show in SVU season two, Munch has a cute and sweet moment with a young child who is a witness. Munch interviews the young child who makes a funny comment about his name being Munch. To lighten the mood and get the kid to crack a bigger smile he says something adorable.
He tells her that if he ever had kid he’d have to call them “munchkins.” This is an adorable interaction that fans loved. Sadly, despite all the failed marriages, Munch never had any children to be able to use the nickname.
3 Munch and Cassidy’s Farewell
Munch has had a few partners over the years. One of them being Detective Cassidy in the first season. Cassidy is still new to SVU and hasn’t built up his shield to cope with what they deal with. In episode 13, Cassidy emotionally tells Cragen he can no longer work at SVU.
Cassidy couldn’t handle the victims and Munch puts on his mentor hat and reassures him of his decision. He boosts his spirit that he’ll be well suited for narcotics and will get to go undercover. They share a long and tight hug goodbye.
2 The Sexual Joke During Trial
Munch has always liked to make sarcastic and witty comments any chance he got. Even if it meant during the trial. At the very beginning of SVU, Munch made a comment that had everyone gasping and the audience laughing. In the episode “Hysteria,” Munch is on trial as a witness.
He has to describe to testify about molestation done by a doctor. He then proves the defendant lawyer wrong by stating that he is qualified to talk about hysteria as it was common before 1952. He states that common treatment was hysterical paroxysm. To which the stenographer asks how to spell that and Munch instead spells out “orgasm.”
1 Munch’s Psychological Evaluation
Many can recall one moment in Munch’s time on SVU pertaining to a psychological evaluation the squad has to go through. This occurs in the episode “Slaves” in the first season. Munch’s defense mechanism to the psychologist is comical, to say the least. It’s one of the many comical moments seen in the history of SVU
He goes on into her wanting to know if the job has affected him sexually and makes jokes about his blowup doll; he then makes a joke that the only time he had sexual difficulty occurred in the last five minutes of the interview. The doctor then asks if he always deflects personal questions with jokes. To which he responded in trademark Munch form by saying, “Do you always deflect jokes with personal questions?”
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