I assume this was a new show.
The show started out with the usual stuff - murder discovered in the first segment, etc etc.
I watched the show with one eye and one ear.
The end of the show was Arthur Branch firing Serena. OK, I knew she was leaving mid-season. No giant surprise.
Branch says, “You’re fired.”
Serena sits there for a moment, and then asks, “This isn’t because I’m a lesbian, is it?”
“No, no,” Branch immediately replies. “No.”
Um… did I miss something?
Yep, you missed the two other threads on this exact subject.
I must admit that I didn’t watch each show religiously (hey, RENO 911 was on!) but I don’t remember her sexuality being talked about in the boards I’ve been to. And it would have been, believe me. 
I think we have two threads going on about this episode?
Actually, we have three , but who’s counting. And the general consensus is still…
WHAT THE FUCK?
Then she ripped off her rubber mask to reveal her true face …
Rosie O’Donnell!!!
I was in an AIM chat room during the episode which had their “ripped from the headlines” version of the New Paltz mayor marrying gay couples and my fellow chatters happened to be three lawyer friends who are all gay.
We all agreed that we were just waiting for Serena to come out in that episode. Her commentary was so close to the edge that it was very clear that they were trying to tell us that Serena was either a lesbian or the most queer-positive hetero ever to grace 100 Centre Street.
But this ending screams of tacked-on, abrupt, unsubtle and I have no idea who thought it was a good idea. Cripes. Out of left field, much?
Mr.TeaElle wondered aloud if it was a setup for either a Branch or McCoy exit at season’s end based upon the settlement of an off-screen lawsuit from Ms. Southerland.
I note that there are three threads on this topic. I am therefore closing this one and directing everyone to the first one to be opened, namely, Law and Order (Jan 12) Surprise – (Open spoilers)
I would also like to congratulate Bricker for being the only poster starting a thread who did NOT put spoilers in the title. You win the “good manners” award for the morning, and can park in the “Considerate Member” parking spot for the day.