'Damaged' is an episode that consistently makes "Best Of" L&O lists and for good reason. Your primary scumbags are high school punks who sexually take advantage of a mentally handicapped person. However before we even arrive at that discovery there's a shooting by the upset sister of the victim and the wounding of an innocent teacher. Another female student acted as a "pimp" by setting this up all in the name of being popular. You'd think that'd be enough, but no. Judge Wright (Ron McLarty) who'd go on to have another memorable appearance in 'Gunshow' is here to reek havoc on any semblance of justice.
Usually this would be the time I'd outline the story going on, but I already did that. This episode works because it pulls - and pulls hard - at your emotions. With an IQ of 65, she doesn't have the ability to know what's going on is wrong. She's being used, laughed about and McCoy (Sam Waterston) has to be the voice of common sense. The young lady Valerie played by actress Lauren Ambrose deserves a lot of the acclaim this tale received. Lastly I've never hated a judge as much as Wright in the show's run. He easily goes in a top ten list of villains in the L&O universe for me.
The final kicker is the subplot revolving Det. Briscoe's (Jerry Orbach) daughter Cathy (Jennifer Estlin) who we saw earlier in the season in trouble with the law involving drugs and her boyfriend. Her turning witness leads to the usual cool, detached Lenny who usually has a deadpan quip ready to go at another low point. Maybe the lowest. 'Damaged' is a fine episode worth the glory it gets and while I never lost track I was being manipulated for entertainment - it was at least for positive reasons.