'Is this because I'm a lesbian?' - Law & Order (1990) Discussion

[–] Eddysfitzboy 9 years ago

Hey lanceus, I just re-watched that episode yesterday and I'm afraid I don't think that's the best line on TV. One thing for sure though, it definitely came in from left field! 

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[–] Lady Cole 9 years ago

I think they wrote it for shock value, nothing more. And it didn't work, mainly because Elisabeth Rohm can seriously not act...

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[–] fiero-49251 9 years ago

I didn't understand the entire scenario; Arthur faulting her for finding the real criminal or firing her! It made no sense! He just wanted someone to go down I guess, didn't matter that 3 guys were being accused and possibly convicted of a crime they didn't commit! Just watched "New York Minute" and find even more fault with Jack and Arthur! They don't seem to care about the living at all; as long as they get someone convicted of a murder! Allowing a witness that risked everything to help them out to be deported really put me off! Why didn't Alexandra Borgia quit? She has family money; could have found something else to keep her busy instead of working for these arse-holes! She would still be alive! She should have realized they'd see her dead prosecuting really bad guys!

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[–] northsouth1 9 years ago

They had no power to stop the deportation. They are prosecutors in the state system. Immigration is a federal matter.

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[–] fiero-49251 9 years ago

It's called "a favor!" Arthur would only have to make a phone call more than likely! He didn't want to use it up for this witness who he labels an "illegal!" She was good enough to keep around for his case though!

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] ladybyron68 8 years ago

I agree and disagree. The line was for shock value. Agreed. Elizabeth Rohm can't act. Disagree. They obviously thought that she could act or else they never would've hired her in the first place. ;)

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[–] TIA__MA 9 years ago

While I put the blame for that lame line on the writers, I was just glad she was gone. I didn't think Elisabeth Röhm was very good. Serena Southerlyn was my least favorite ADA. She may have been morally right in some discussions with Jack and Arthur, but she always struck me as a whiner.

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[–] txbardtobe 9 years ago

I think everyone was surprised by that final scene, in terms of that line.

But for those of you who were die-hard fans, did you already know Rohm was leaving or was that a shock as well? I don't recall spoilers about it. I remember watching the first run of that episode.

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[–] fiero-49251 9 years ago

I didn't know she was leaving at the time, but the reason for her firing made no sense! I guess with Arthur, just wanted someone to go down for the crime; didn't matter that they were innocent! ;-(

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[–] OnlyRocknRoll 8 years ago

It was a shock in that there was no previous evidence of choice in the character. Okay. Then it should not have been used as a device to get rid of the character. Is that because I'm a homo? Is that because I cheat on my spouse? Is that because I'm a Buddhist?

Puh-leeze! She came out with that line because Branch got rid of her for her attitudes about certain cases.

It still wasn't a reason to fire her. In the 80's I remember that Walter Cronkite did a segment on the nightly CBS news that 90% of firings were because the person was DISLIKED, not because they did not perform their responsibilities. Where is it written, that in addition to performing your job description well that you also have to perform the hidden description?

The hidden description is: Must grovel, kowtow, suck toes or *beep* the boss or the faculty and eat 3 yards of dung on a daily basis, must multi-task in a horrendous environment (visualize a one armed paper hanger working by himself). Must work around sociopaths and pretend that they are okay.

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[–] scion777-554-857756 9 years ago

"... made no sense" - some of you say - you are not getting it - in the preceeding episodes, she was shown to be more and more not in line with the DA's philosophy - and it was making her do her job in a more functionary way instead of a zealous way - Arthur was telling Serena that, at heart, she was an advocate (aka a defense attny) - not a prosecutor - so, he let her go - he needs people to be on board with his viewpoint - that's just the same as any "boss"

He also had no idea she was a lesbian, as shown by his surprised reaction to her question.

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[–] Jade_Falcon 9 years ago

Was there any indication in previous episodes she was a lesbian, or was it suddenly randomly dropped in

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] scrabbler1 9 years ago

Besides "Girl Most Likely...," I thought the "Gov Luv" episode hinted at it too, based on Serena's reaction to Jack's trying to get the NY State Court of Appeals in Albany to nullify the same-sex marriage performed by a small town mayor so Jack to bust up spousal privilege. Serena was quite angry and said something like this to Jack: "I'm not going to be of any help to you in Albany." She could have simply been opposed to Jack's plan but her being a lesbian would certainly have made her even more angry at Jack.

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[–] dkulmer05 8 years ago

Rohm stated that she wanted to leave on a bang and not a whimper. This was just their way of giving fans something to talk about.

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[–] 8 years ago

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[–] Duncan_Idaho02 9 years ago

Is this because I am a lesbian?

was absurd. It made no sense. It was used as shock value and likely as some sort of political ploy.

She was fired because she had been becoming more and more out of line with the DA in cases. Her emotions were leading her, not the facts. And she refused to see what she was doing. Her comments about how nobody cares about her opinion showed she was not thinking like an ADA.

Her firing did not surprise me at all. In fact, I expected it when she was called into the DA office by herself, given her actions earlier. They were setting this up.

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[–] Jackal113 9 years ago

Absurd, senseless, cynical, a stunt, yes, but in hindsight a smart move by Dick Wolf since it has been endlessly discussed since the episode was broadcast.

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[–] david_weinstock 9 years ago

it was a good line, but not a great line. i am glad you highlighted it because there is not much to laugh about in law and order

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[–] david_weinstock 9 years ago

every time i see a rerun and serena is about to ask what's his name a question, i hear that question in my head. strange show. strange line, too

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] speedy1383 9 years ago

Probably one of least favorite lines on a tv show. Incredibly stupid. Wolf asked the actress how she wanted to go out and this is what they decided. Out of a left field and just so damn silly. Not sure what Wolf was going for in that line. The actress said some of her gay friends picked up on some gay vibe from her character. And that's how we got one of the worst lines in this franchise's history. Ridiculous.

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[–] aliciabrighton 9 years ago

They really should have set it up more if they wanted it to go down that way. Maybe have her get dropped off at work by a girlfriend or wife and have Branch give her a possibly disapproving look, something like that so that we can at least see where the character is coming from.

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[–] speedy1383 9 years ago

Exactly. Something.

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[–] Monknificent 8 years ago

Absolutely 100% correct. It is such a jarring, stupid line that I am just about to write an entirely new post about small details / lines that made me lose large chunks of respect for the writing on this otherwise excellent show and this is one of the headliners!
Honestly, I chortled, even on a re-watch a couple of years later! It is on a par for ridiculousness with Ali G hilariously spouting "Is it coz I is black?" at random, nonsensical "opportunities".

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[–] speedy1383 9 years ago

Well I do know that one of the posts deleted by an administrator did not deserve to be. It wasn't my post. It was right below my other post. Didn't say anything bad or anything like that. I am starting to think that some people are being idiots in what they complain to the administrators about.

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