While not an innovative subject, the subject is an interesting one that is scary in its relevance now and hits hard. Regardless of whether it's original or not, the original 'Law and Order' and the franchise in general have been known to execute them a lot less simply and with more complexity than it seems at first. Hopes were high on first watch, due to loving "Bodies" and liking very much "Bounty", which also had challenging subjects.
"Patient Zero" is not as good as those two episodes and not every aspect works, so making it an inconsistent episode. But it succeeds a lot more than it fails and when it is good (like in the legal portion) it is very good indeed. It does a good job with a scarily relevant and hard hitting subject matter and doesn't trivialise it on an atmosphere or emotional level. Although it doesn't waste the subject or story at all, far from it, there was a better and more surprising episode in there somewhere in "Patient Zero" that wasn't quite there.
The good things are many. As usual for 'Law and Order' and its spin offs, the production values are solid and the intimacy of the photography doesn't get static or too filmed play-like. The music when used is not too over-emphatic and has a melancholic edge that is quite haunting. The direction is sympathetic enough without being leaden, while never being particularly inspired.
Furthermore, the writing is thought probing and intriguing. Particularly in the second half. The story absorbs and has a lot of tension and intrigue in the second half. The subject is not easy to pull off, but it does have a harrowing edge at least and has urgency, the relevance of it is scary. The acting nearly all round is great.
Apart from cold and stiff Elisabeth Rohm.
Despite the great chemistry between Jerry Orbach and Jesse L Martin, the case starts off a bit in a standard manner to begin with but quickly becomes very engaging once things become more urgent. Do agree too that the connection between the victim and the doctor could have been made clearer, that was under-explored.
Overall, not great but good. 7/10.