A medical exam after a car accident reveals a fourth-grader's sexual assault. The perpetrator is obvious -- but not as obvious as everyone thinks.A medical exam after a car accident reveals a fourth-grader's sexual assault. The perpetrator is obvious -- but not as obvious as everyone thinks.A medical exam after a car accident reveals a fourth-grader's sexual assault. The perpetrator is obvious -- but not as obvious as everyone thinks.
- Special Agent Dr. George Huang, M.D.
- (as B.D. Wong)
- (credit only)
- Mrs. Purcell
- (as Pamela Holden Stewart)
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe episode was inspired by the Satanic Panic Abuse cases that popped up in California in the early 80's. In particular the McMartin Preschool and Kern County child abuse cases.
- Quotes
[the case of a sexually abused girl is getting on Detective Stabler's nerves]
Detective Olivia Benson: You know, running away's not gonna help.
Detective Elliot Stabler: I'm a little beat for the dime store shrink routine right now.
Detective Olivia Benson: Elliot, that little girl is counting on you. You quit on her, and you're just another man she can't trust. That's not who you are.
"Contagious" still held up on my recent rewatch. It always struck me as a wonderful episode and one that does almost everything right. It's still thought-provoking, shocking and very moving with terrific performances and it's one of those episodes that has gotten better overtime. Due to having more to appreciate and due to taking more in of what the episode has to say about a very difficult subject that it explores absolutely beautifully. Season 6 of 'Special Victims Unit' was the most consistent, certainly the least bumpy, of the Season 6s of it, the original 'Law and Order' and 'Criminal Intent' and "Contagious" is this close to being one of the best episodes.
Nearly everything works here. What really stands out is the acting. Especially from Christopher Meloni, in an intense yet also heartfelt performance, and heart-wrenching McCurdy. It was very interesting seeing Daniel Hugh Kelly playing a character that one doesn't actually hate for once and Kelly plays him very well. The case is gripping and hard-hitting emotionally, that not only shows the devastating after effects of child/sexual abuse but also having much to say about how difficult it is to prosecute when the real truth comes out and how too quickly we judge people.
Stabler's subplot is equally powerful and realistic, showing what stress can do in such a difficult job and with an increasingly difficult family situation to cope with as well without being too soap operatic or dominating too much. It was good and very tactful to see the subject told from a non-biased point of view, where everybody's remorse and pain is noted and felt deeply. Love Stabler and Olivia's chemistry and it is very clear that she cares for him.
Furthermore, "Contagious" is well made, intimately photographed and slick with no signs of under-budget or anything. The music didn't sound melodramatic or too constant and the direction is accomodating while still having pulse. The writing is beautifully balanced tonally, not over-sentimental, not cheesy and is easy to understand while having the right amount of challenge.
My one issue with "Contagious" is to do with Hendrix. Her role could easily have been filled by Huang and should have been, he would have been more sympathetic and handled the case with a little more professionalism.
Other than that, this episode is wonderful. 9/10 (was very close to getting a perfect score)
- TheLittleSongbird
- Feb 18, 2021