The Drowned and the Saved (Law & Order)

"The Drowned and the Saved" is the 22nd and final episode in the nineteenth season of the long-running American legal drama television series Law & Order, and the 433rd episode of the show overall. According to Nielsen ratings, the episode was watched by 7.99 million viewers in its original American broadcast, on May 3, 2009, on NBC.

Development
Inspired by the corruption charges against Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, the episode concludes the storyline begun in "Excalibur."

Plot
The murder of a prominent charity executive leads Detectives Lupo and Bernard down a twisted path of political intrigue. The detectives discover a connection between the murdered executive's secretary, her ex-boyfriend and a top politician's wife. The investigation takes a turn when claims of stalking and blackmail surface, revealing a secret desire for a newly vacated seat in the US Senate. The outcome results in interim (appointed) Manhattan District Attorney Jack McCoy to win election into that office.

Reception
David Hinckley writes that the "subtly titled 'The Drowned and the Saved,' feels at times self-indulgent. The drama itself, by 'L&O' standards, gets a little heavy-handed and clunky."