Here's Claire Kincaid's shocking exit from Law & Order explained. The original series of Law & Order arrived in 1990 and would spawn a robust franchise that runs to this day. The show is a procedural with a unique structure, with the first half of a typical episode following detectives investigating a case and arresting a suspect. The second half then follows efforts by the District Attorney's office to prosecute said suspects for their crimes.
Law & Order came to end in 2010 after 20 seasons and a staggering 456 episodes. Of course, that's far from the end of the series. Its spinoff Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit began in 1999 and has lasted for 22 seasons and counting, and Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson has been with the show from the very beginning. Aside from Law & Order: Special Victim's Unit the franchise has further series with Criminal Intent, LA - the latter of which only lasted for a season - and UK. The latest addition is Law & Order: Organized Crime, which is fronted by Christopher Meloni's Elliot Stabler, who has been much missed since his SVU's departure.
Jill Hennessy joined Law & Order as Assistant District Attorney Claire Kincaid during the fourth season. Kincaid first worked under Ben Stone, before working - and often clashing - with Jack McCoy. Hennessy made an impression during her three seasons, and her character also made a guest appearance on an episode of NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street; the latter appearance caused her to be doubled by her twin sister Jacqueline Hennessy during the filming of a Law & Order episode. After three years Jill Hennessy decided it was time to move on, which led to her Kincaid being killed off in season 6 finale "Aftershock."
This episode is notable for featuring Jennifer Garner's Law & Order guest appearance, which was an early role for the then unknown actress and for breaking with the show's formula. "Aftershock" focuses on several main characters taking a day off following the execution of a man they all helped convict, with Detective Lennie Briscoe attempting to reconnect with his estranged daughter, while Kincaid questions her future with the DA's office. It's a powerful episode that puts a focus on fleshing out the show's major characters, and the ending sees Briscoe, a recovering alcoholic, getting drunk after a bad meeting with his daughter.
Law & Order's "Aftershock" ends with Kincaid discovering the drunken Briscoe and driving him home, but after an emotional heart-to-heart, their car is struck by a drunk driver. Kincaid was killed in the crash, but Jill Hennessy later revealed this wasn't the original plan. Law & Order was supposed to reveal Claire Kincaid survived the crash but was left paralyzed, and she left the DA's office in the aftermath. For whatever reason, this plan was changed, with the character's death coming as a major surprise to both the characters on the show - with Briscoe in particular feeling personally responsible - and viewers.