# IMHO Law & Order: SVU and NCIS are worth watching again
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [February 18, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489 "2016-02-18T21:26:26Z")
**Posts on this page:** 18
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/1 "2016-02-18T21:26:26Z")
I had bailed on both of these long-running shows because of cast changes and weird plots, mostly involving the personal lives of the main characters. But the last few episodes of both these shows have been straightforward crime plots, suspensefully presented, believably resolved. I pronounce them watchable again.
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### Author:  [@purplehearingaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehearingaid)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/2 "2016-02-18T21:41:03Z")
> **[Michael Weatherly Leaving NCIS](https://tvline.com/2016/01/05/michael-weatherly-leaving-ncis-season-13/)**
>
> NCIS favorite Michael Weatherly is exiting the CBS drama after 13 seasons, TVLine can exclusively confirm.
Michael Weatherly is leaving the show and there been talks of Mark Harmon leaving too. If they both leave I really don’t see how the show can last very long .
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/3 "2016-02-18T21:54:40Z")
Yeah, I don’t think the show can survive if Tony leaves. But for now…
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### Author:  [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 10:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/4 "2016-02-18T22:38:33Z")
So SVU is no longer centered around the detectives getting pregnant, adopting or going into rehab?
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### Author:  [@chizzuk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chizzuk)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/5 "2016-02-18T22:41:18Z")
It’s really remarkable that NCIS has done as well as it has for as long as it has. That’s not very common anymore.
That being said, Michael Weatherly is not replaceable, IMO. He and Mark Harmon both need to be there or the show falls apart because their characters are perfect foils to each other. I’ve followed it for 13 seasons now but when he’s gone, I’m done.
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### Author:  [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/6 "2016-02-18T22:45:29Z")
I’ve never been into the L&O shows until recently. I caught an episode of L&O Criminal Intent and I enjoyed it so I catch episodes now when nothing else is on.
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### Author:  [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/7 "2016-02-18T22:52:53Z")
> [@chizzuk](#):
>
> It’s really remarkable that NCIS has done as well as it has for as long as it has. That’s not very common anymore.
Why so surprised? Donald Bellisario has been recycling a similar setting since the seventies.
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#):
>
> I’ve never been into the L&O shows until recently. I caught an episode of L&O Criminal Intent and I enjoyed it so I catch episodes now when nothing else is on.
Don’t start binge watching _Law & Order_; no one will see you until Thanksgiving.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 18, 2016, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/8 "2016-02-18T23:01:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#):
>
> So SVU is no longer centered around the detectives getting pregnant, adopting or going into rehab?
Correct! Thank goodness. The last couple of shows have been straight-up crime stories. Last night’s (which I watched today on Hulu) was a very satisfying nail-biter.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/9 "2016-02-19T00:07:42Z")
Also, Tucker, the Internal Affairs guy who has always been a complete asshole through all the L&O locations, is now a pretty decent guy and a straight arrow.
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### Author:  [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/10 "2016-02-19T00:26:19Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#):
>
> Why so surprised? Donald Bellisario has been recycling a similar setting since the seventies. …
I’ve long said that \*NCIS \*is just _Magnum, PI_, repacked (and minus the palm trees).
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 1:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/11 "2016-02-19T01:08:19Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#):
>
> I’ve never been into the L&O shows until recently. I caught an episode of L&O Criminal Intent and I enjoyed it so I catch episodes now when nothing else is on.
Note that show ended almost five years ago, so you’re not watching current episodes.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [February 19, 2016, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/12 "2016-02-19T01:15:40Z")
> [@Drunky\_Smurf](#):
>
> I’ve never been into the L&O shows until recently. I caught an episode of L&O Criminal Intent and I enjoyed it so I catch episodes now when nothing else is on.
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#):
>
> Note that show ended almost five years ago, so you’re not watching current episodes.
Yeah, that was my fave of the L&O shows. They were puzzles and battles of wits between the criminals and our own Bobby Goren.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/13 "2016-03-16T19:07:17Z")
The latest episode of NCIS, “Scope,” was excellent.
The ending brought tears to my eyes, especially when Taye Diggs sings with the other veterans, and when Gibbs moves back to his bedroom. I didn’t realize he had been sleeping on the sofa since his wife and daughter were killed. Loved it when Tony, Tim, Jimmy, Ducky, and Leon set off on a motorcycle road trip together.
[MusiCorps](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ppnxofjnn8)
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### Author:  [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/14 "2016-03-16T19:53:42Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#):
>
> Yeah, I don’t think the show can survive if Tony leaves. But for now…
I don’t understand how the series survived with him in it. He seems to be a major asshole and the least professional cop ever.
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### Author:  [@obfusciatrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/obfusciatrist)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/15 "2016-03-16T20:22:38Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#):
>
> I don’t understand how the series survived with him in it. He seems to be a major asshole and the least professional cop ever.
I don’t know that I agree with it. He’s very unprofessional with other cops but when actually doing the cop stuff he seems serious and skilled.
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [March 16, 2016, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/16 "2016-03-16T20:29:06Z")
[Link](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/06/arts/television/ncis-meat-and-potatoes-tv-but-still-popular.html?_r=0) to a recent article in the New York Times about NCIS reaching its 300th episode, and going into its enduring popularity. (It’s getting 20 million viewers an episode, which is rare nowadays.)
And yet, I’ve never seen a single episode.
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### Author:  [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)
#### Post date: [March 17, 2016, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/17 "2016-03-17T11:47:26Z")
Did the SVU producers ever explain this ridiculous blooper? I can’t believe they used this take. A literal hand-gun. :smack:
[https://www.facebook.com/thesoup/videos/10152804962740874/](https://www.facebook.com/thesoup/videos/10152804962740874/)
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [March 23, 2016, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/imho-law-order-svu-and-ncis-are-worth-watching-again/746489/18 "2016-03-23T22:21:52Z")
Good grief! What’s happening with this program??
This episode made me cry, too.
I had the murder figured out immediately, but the thing with Tony’s dad… my daughter-in-law died from a glioblastoma tumor four years ago, only three months after she was diagnosed-- 48 years old. ☹