"Virtue" did impress me a lot on first watch and struck me as one of the better episodes of a solid if uneven Season 5. It was a bold topic to explore for any television show back then and, although it has been a topic explored a lot to varying success since then, it is still bold. Absolutely loved much of the writing and the guest performances, and also gripped by the storytelling. Even though the prime suspect's character writing struck me initially as over the top, that one is convinced from the get go of his guilt.
My positive thoughts of "Virtue" on first watch still hold up today, and are even better perhaps now. The best episode of the season since "White Rabbit", though all the episodes in between that and this were well done, and among the better episodes of Season 5. If not quite one of the high points of 'Law and Order'. Nearly everything is great here in "Virtue" and the weak link of the episode will probably be seen by many as something of a nit-pick.
Have always felt that somehow the character writing for Talbert could have been more subtle and not been too much of one dimension, so the truth is not really that surprising at all.
Otherwise, "Virtue" is great. All the regulars are on fine form, especially Sam Waterston (one of her finer moments being the closing argument and his disgusted reaction to the way Talbert talks about Sarah). The supporting actors are equally good, with Regina Taylor giving a courageous performance showing her character's vulnerability and steel.
Anthony Heald does creepiness adeptly and Lily Knight agreed gives a more nuanced performance than most actors on the show playing defense attorneys. Loved the chemistry between her and McCoy, beginning to show signs of what made him a great character on the show once he fully settled. The script is intelligent and remarkably layered, not easy covering such a bold topic and raising the number of difficult issues the topic has without making too much of a judgement. "Virtue" actually manages to be quite smart and insightful in what it explores and there is no bias.
It's a slickly made episode, the editing especially having come on quite a bit from when the show first started. The music is sparingly used and never seemed melodramatic, the theme tune easy to remember as usual. The direction is sympathetic enough without being too low key on the whole.
Summing up, great. 9/10