Any episode for anything dealing with this subject always sounds interesting. The premise is not an innovative one, but it does intrigue despite having traps with how it would be executed. With the risk of it being too complicated, with too much going over the head, and with the question of whether it would hold up. Any chance to see technology this early on well before it significantly advanced (and continues to be so) also intrigued quite a lot.
"Virus" is very good and engages and interests, but after such a strong run of episodes between "Promises to Keep" and this part of me was expecting a little more than what was seen here. Far from being one of the best episodes of Season 3 but not one of the worst, it doesn't reach the disappointment level that "Helpless" did as far as the previous episodes go. So much is great here, such as a particularly great performance in a well-rounded role, but the potential traps that the premise had and can be easily fallen into are not completely avoided.
Once again, "Virus" is an episode that has very little wrong. Some of the storytelling could have done with more clarity later on, it's a quite complex case and slightly too much so going into the final third.
From cramming in a little too much. The outcome perhaps could have had longer time to unfold.
Dana Elcar however agreed is stunning, conveying his character's bitterness intensely and even at times movingly. His character is also very interesting, hardly stock. Can't fault the lead performances, always did love Michael Moriarty as Stone and even early on still Jerry Orbach perfectly shows what it was that made Briscoe so popular. The character interaction is also on point, nothing stiff or disconnected here. Especially in the legal scenes.
Rodgers also makes a nice early appearance. The script is well balanced tonally, is lean even with a lot of talk and always treats the viewer with respect. The case could have been more consistent, but is mostly gripping and at times tense and emotional in others. As said, it was very interesting to see how very early technology worked back then, though due to how much this has advanced over the years some may consider it "dated".
Summarising, very good on the whole. 8/10
"Virus" is very good and engages and interests, but after such a strong run of episodes between "Promises to Keep" and this part of me was expecting a little more than what was seen here. Far from being one of the best episodes of Season 3 but not one of the worst, it doesn't reach the disappointment level that "Helpless" did as far as the previous episodes go. So much is great here, such as a particularly great performance in a well-rounded role, but the potential traps that the premise had and can be easily fallen into are not completely avoided.
Once again, "Virus" is an episode that has very little wrong. Some of the storytelling could have done with more clarity later on, it's a quite complex case and slightly too much so going into the final third.
From cramming in a little too much. The outcome perhaps could have had longer time to unfold.
Dana Elcar however agreed is stunning, conveying his character's bitterness intensely and even at times movingly. His character is also very interesting, hardly stock. Can't fault the lead performances, always did love Michael Moriarty as Stone and even early on still Jerry Orbach perfectly shows what it was that made Briscoe so popular. The character interaction is also on point, nothing stiff or disconnected here. Especially in the legal scenes.
Rodgers also makes a nice early appearance. The script is well balanced tonally, is lean even with a lot of talk and always treats the viewer with respect. The case could have been more consistent, but is mostly gripping and at times tense and emotional in others. As said, it was very interesting to see how very early technology worked back then, though due to how much this has advanced over the years some may consider it "dated".
Summarising, very good on the whole. 8/10
