Corruption at the work of authority figures is not a novel theme to explore in detective/legal dramas and the 'Law and Order' franchise was no stranger to it. It is though a very interesting subject and is always worth addressing, likewise with many other re-visited subjects, being existent at the time and still relevant today. Season 7 was a very strong season up to this still very early stage, with three of the five episodes (and the weakest of the five "Good Girl" still being good) being outstanding.
Of which "Corruption" is one of those three. The others being "I. D." and "Survivor". On paper it sounds fairly ordinary and familiar, so not much extraordinary, but the execution is actually a lot more intricate than one would think and the episode is made even more special by the truly great performances and character interaction. Eighteen episodes later, "Corruption" still manages to be a standout of Season 7. One of its best and what 'Law and Order' at its best is all about.
What stands out here is the acting. Jerry Orbach is typically hard boiled, with some sass but also moments of poignancy, he was always wonderful throughout his long stint on 'Law and Order' but this performance is one of his best due to the embodying of a wide emotional range Briscoe undergoes in a tough situation. One where one really does root for his innocence, especially with his accuser being the very meaning of serpentine, personally had no doubt that he was but that doesn't stop the story from having a lot of tension.
Kevin Conway is the other acting revelation, of all the supporting characters of Season 7 Flynn is up there with the most loathsome. Conway is effortlessly uneasy as him and at his most snake-like (like in the church) an absolute creep and not one to be trusted by any stretch. He and Orbach scintillate together and brings chills down the spine. Benjaim Bratt's outrage is very convincingly delivered and something that is not just justified but exactly what the viewer feels. Josef Sommer is suitably arrogant.
The production values as ever have slickness and grit, with an intimacy without being claustrophobic. The music has presence when it's used but does so without being intrusive, some of it is quite haunting too. The direction is also understated but the tension never slips. The script is another truly fine one, with "Corruption" being one of the season's best written episodes. It is very intelligently crafted and has intensity and edge while handling the topic sensitively too. Complete with some blistering dialogue for and between Briscoe and Flynn. The story is never too obvious and never too convoluted either, always complex and clever and not near as ordinary as it initially sounds.
Summing up, another fantastic episode. 10/10.
