Have always liked Logan, ever since as far back as when he was co-lead in the early seasons of the original 'Law and Order'. Even in his lesser episodes on 'Law and Order: Criminal Intent', most being in Season 6, he was never one of the flaws (if anything he was a consistent redeeming quality). It was great to see Wheeler back, actually like her the most of Logan's three partners on the show and that's always been the case.
The premise for "Contract" is a clever one and the episode itself is very well done. For me it's not quite the best Logan episode of 'Criminal Intent', but it is definitely up there as one of them. Not just of Season 7 but of his whole stint on the show, it is also one of the standout episodes of a wildly uneven seventh season that showed a running out of ideas feel in too many episodes. "Contract" is not quite perfect, but it's cleverly executed and always intriguing with lots to like.
Maybe it is at times on the too complicated side from a couple of twists too many, not always easy to follow even for a show that often does have complex stories and mostly does them well.
When it comes to issues though, that is pretty much it. "Contract" 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.
Script is smart and tautly structured with no extraneous fat, melodramatic soap and little confusion. Although convoluted in the latter stages at times, the story is always hugely compelling with plenty of unexpected and twisty turns which makes things continually unpredictable. One thinks they know what is happening or what's going to happen and then they're completely left by surprise. Do agree about the ending being a knockout, one of the best of a Logan-centric 'Criminal Intent' episode and one of my favourites of the season.
Logan shines like a very bright star in "Contract", especially in the aforementioned scene. The dry humour and gritty edge are still there and beautifully. Chris Noth is typically terrific for all those reasons. Julianne Nicholson is a pleasingly understated yet never dull contrast and works well with Noth. Didn't miss Falacci at all, being somebody who never cared for her or Alicia Witt's acting in the role (excepting "Senseless", another one of the better episodes of Season 7). Jeff Garlin is deliciously arrogant and unsettling as one of the latter seasons' most contemptible characters.
Concluding, very well done. 8/10.
