# Tonight's (Jan 12) L&O ending ... WTF \[ unblocked spoilers \] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 13, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496 "2005-01-13T03:51:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/1 "2005-01-13T03:51:13Z")
On what previous L&O (original flavor) was it made clear that she (the female asst. DA) played for the other team? ---
**Author:** ![mdf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dbc845/32.png) [@mdf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mdf)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/2 "2005-01-13T03:59:08Z")
My wife and I were discussing this and we don’t recall it at all. The line just seemed so out-of-place or artificial - I smell setup for a spin-off, or maybe they plan on doing something with the newest existing L&O, since Orbach has died. -mdf ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/3 "2005-01-13T04:04:03Z")
Heh. Reminds me of Sophomore year Biology class. We happened to have a lot of Asian students in the class, and every time the teacher told one of them to stop clowning around, they would say, “It’s because I’m Asian, right?” Eventually even the non-Asian students started saying it… ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Crunchy\_Crunch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Captain\_Crunchy\_Crunch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Crunchy_Crunch)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/4 "2005-01-13T04:11:41Z")
Damn, the one L&O episode I miss, and this happens! Figures. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Zap\_Rowsdower](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3da27b/32.png) [@Zap\_Rowsdower](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zap_Rowsdower)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/5 "2005-01-13T04:25:51Z")
I had the same reaction. AFAIK, this had never even been hinted at during the show. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/6 "2005-01-13T04:27:01Z")
Who? Serena? No wonder McCoy’s charms were useless against her ice queen exterior! I actually really like her and am disappointed that she’s leaving- she’s a real firecracker, she is. And it’s refreshing to have a change from the waify brunette assistant DAs (a waify blonde). In what context did she spout that line? Was she asked to fix or install something in the office, possibly using power tools? ---
**Author:** ![Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Bambi\_Hassenpfeffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bambi_Hassenpfeffer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/7 "2005-01-13T04:45:16Z")
> [@astro](#): > > On what previous L&O (original flavor) was it made clear that she (the female asst. DA) played for the other team? BTW, thanks for the open spoiler in the thread title. Good thing I hadn’t intended to watch it on my TiVo without knowing the ending, cause then I woulda been disappointed. :mad: :mad: :mad: ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/8 "2005-01-13T04:47:50Z")
> [@Cat Fight](#): > > Who? Serena? No wonder McCoy’s charms were useless against her ice queen exterior! I actually really like her and am disappointed that she’s leaving- she’s a real firecracker, she is. And it’s refreshing to have a change from the waify brunette assistant DAs (a waify blonde). In what context did she spout that line? Was she asked to fix or install something in the office, possibly using power tools? [There are now apparently 3 threads on this issue. Bricker’s thread gives the context](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=296640). > [@](#): > > 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? ---
**Author:** ![Indyellen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/indyellen/32/4176_2.png) [@Indyellen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indyellen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/9 "2005-01-13T04:53:05Z")
Himself & I were discussing it; he didn’t remember anything about it, and while he’s not quite as rabid a fan as I am, he’s pretty into it. There was NO POINT to it at all. Why would they throw something like this into her last episode? Every interview I’ve seen/read with Rohm makes it plain that she’s NOT planning on being back, so it can’t be for lawsuits…of course, Carey Lowell said she wouldn’t be back, either, IIRC, and she’s been on a number of episodes. What is TV coming to these days, anyway? Gratuitous lesbianism, and my gaydar isn’t set off? I’m disappointed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/10 "2005-01-13T05:01:12Z")
There was an episode based on the New Paltz mayor giving out marriage licenses to gay couples last year, and Serena was so obviously pro-mayor that it might make you go ‘hmmmm’ if you think about it, but no, I do not recall any episode where her sexuality, or pretty much anything else about her, was discussed. I think she didn’t know how to process the perfectly reasonable info Arthur was giving her so she went right away into the personal issue. And again I don’t think Arthur knew, and if Jack did he honestly would be shocked for a second and then not think about it anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Evil\_Captor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f17d59/32.png) [@Evil\_Captor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Captor)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/11 "2005-01-13T05:10:12Z")
Did it strike anybody else that they didn’t exactly have … CAUSE for firing her? She was too warm-hearted? Yeah, that’d go over big-time with an arbitration hearing. I have a feeling some future guest appearances are being set up. As for the lesbianism, well it WOULD explain the poor quality of the blowjobs she give McCoy in the secret premium cable version of Law & Order. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/12 "2005-01-13T05:15:51Z")
Well, it’s not like they belong to a union or anything. Arthur can pretty much hire and fire at will I should think, unless it’s for one of the forbidden reasons like race, sex, or orientation. But Serena had been clashing with him and Jack more and more as the season went on. I think the whole rapper thing was just the last straw. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/13 "2005-01-13T05:18:35Z")
So what was the in-show reason for the firing? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/14 "2005-01-13T05:31:55Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > So what was the in-show reason for the firing? I don’t think they need a “reason” at this point. Female asst DA’s on L&O (original) have a moderate, but limited shelf life (like Sipowicz’s partners on NYPD Blue). I think she simply reached her expiration date, or maybe… just maybe, it’s because _she’s a lesbian!_ ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 5:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/15 "2005-01-13T05:35:23Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > So what was the in-show reason for the firing? Sorry didn’t see the “in” part. Purportedly “in show” she’s too much of warm hearted advocate to be a good stone cold DA so she got fired. A bit weak, but there you have it. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/16 "2005-01-13T06:34:08Z")
astro, thanks for the spoiler-free title! ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 6:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/17 "2005-01-13T06:52:27Z")
Yeah, what’s the big idea ruining the surprise ending with the thread title? ---
**Author:** ![Barqalounger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee7513/32.png) [@Barqalounger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barqalounger)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/18 "2005-01-13T07:30:35Z")
> [@Snooooopy](#): > > Yeah, what’s the big idea ruining the surprise ending with the thread title? This L&O ending was ripped from the headlines. You know, all those articles in the media about how the actress was leaving the show? Not a big shock. ---
**Author:** ![Vaioman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/ecccb3/32.png) [@Vaioman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vaioman)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/19 "2005-01-13T07:42:06Z")
I don’t typically watch the new episodes because I always forget, but I happened to catch this one tonight and it got a huge /boggle from me for a few minutes. I watch the reruns on TNT A LOT and never heard this, so it was pretty weird. I also noticed Jesse Martin doesn’t have top billing, what’s with that? ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2005, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496/20 "2005-01-13T07:45:57Z")
> [@Barqalounger](#): > > This L&O ending was ripped from the headlines. You know, all those articles in the media about how the actress was leaving the show? Not a big shock. You misunderstand … I meant the revelation about her being a lesbian. I was as aware as anyone else that Rohm was leaving the show. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tonights-jan-12-l-o-ending-wtf-unblocked-spoilers/284496.md?page=2)