Brotherly Love

Season 3, Episode 19, Aired

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Alan recruits Denny to help him defend a man who is on trial for helping his brother kill his wife, but Denny is distracted by thoughts of Raquel Welch.

Meanwhile, Brad is furious when the firm asks him to sign a "love contract", and Claire is shocked to find Clarence with another woman.moreless
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Fan Episode Reviews (5)

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  • Brad & Denise, Claire & Clarence, and Denny & Raquel Welch.

    10
    "Perfect"
    By DonStants2, Jun 16, 2010
    I thought this episode was fantastic as a one off, and I think it probably got more negative reviews because of the ones that preceded it.

    I just loved the "brotherly love" storyline. The actor also guest starred in House, another one of my favourite series, and did a brilliant job. He had plenty of charisma and was perfectly matched against Alan's cynicalism. It also provided some great laughs with barmy, senile old judge!

    Denny was as entertaining as ever, though it was a little dissapointed that there was no mention of his trauma of the previous episode. But again, viewing it from a standalone point of view, it was very funny.

    Brad was both funny and dramatic this time. It does seem the writers ran out of ideas for him, and its a little sad to see him sidelined, but his rant over the love contract was entertaining.

    Clarence and Claire's relationship hit a bump, but it was nice to see them resolve things, and to see Clarence attempt to gain more confidence.

    Overall, a viciously entertaining episode- there are no weak links in the cast, and I wish they kept them for Season 4.moreless

  • Great episode.

    9.8
    "Superb"
    By farscapefanuk, Jun 17, 2007
    This episode was mainly about Brad. He doesm not want to sign a 'love contract' because he believes it is stupid. So Paul fires him and tells him that he can have his job back if he signs so he does but this persuades Brad to ask Denise to marry him she says yes. Meanwhile Alan tries to get a man off the charge of helping to kill his brothers wife, and finally Claire catches Clarance with another women! But its only a call girl! He is trying to build up his confidence with Claire but she tells him that she can no longer be with him unless he stops. So overall this was a great episode and i can't wait for the next one.moreless

  • Did not live up to expectations

    8.5
    "Great"
    By mc31, Apr 18, 2007
    I sat down to watch this episode thinking who on earth Frank Whaley was, then it hit me, Archie Graham from Field Of Dreams. Anyway, this episode certainly had potential as being one of the best episodes of the series so far but fell short on account of poor directorship. "Brotherly Love" could in fact have been applied not only between Frankie and Neil Cox, but also between Alan and Denny, as well as Brad and Clarence's relationship with their fellow co-workers. Instead, all four storylines did not quite interconnect as well as the title of the episode promised. Perhaps a better title would have been "Family Commitments", in reference to Clarence's relationship with Claire, Frankie's relationship with Neil and Brad's relationship with Denise.moreless

  • The show didn't live up to its previous history. The story of the brotherly love was lame and the brother character was unlikable. The unbelievable verdict sounded hollow.

    8.3
    "Great"
    By qzzzzq, Apr 14, 2007
    I didn't like this episode from beginning to end. I didn't like that Denise popped out immediately, but what could they do? They couldn't keep it hidden in dark clothes and files forever. I did like the proposal story. Brad: "My offer's on the table" was hysterically true to the numbnuts character he plays. But the Brotherly love story line was just utter crap. I wait a whole week to watch Boston Legal and I think I could have written a better story this week. Man. That guy was as guilty of obstruction of justice as thousands who did jail time -- why did he get off? Cuz his brother needed him? paleeze. That was so lame. And I think James thought it was lame too.

    I think future stories will unfold like this: Denise lied about the baby's father (they left that possibility in there because they might need an out at some point). The father will turn out to be Michael J. Fox's or Jeffrey's. Denise will stay, Brad will leave, and the show will unfortunately risk cancellation. William Shatner is 76 so David Kelly has to do some serious thinking and planning. Our evenings and his show are at stake. The show will NOT survive without Denny Crane. (Doing my Alan Shore channelling here.) The show will Not survive. It will not survive without William Shatner. If he wakes up, dead of old age, the show has died instantly.

    So, here's what David should do: He kills of Denny Crane now. Denny has never lost a case so he dies a winner. Denny then becomes a ghost like the six feet under guys.

    On the first episode after Denny dies, Alan goes out onto the deck and "talks" to the empty chair about life and death and emptiness. Denny answers. Alan doesn't look at the chair. Alan replies with a smirk and a tug on the cigar. He gets animated. Denny appears animated in his chair. They laugh, they cry. Denny fades out. Shirley Schmidt comes in from behind and hugs Alan from behind as the scene fades.

    In subsequent episodes, Alan continues to have his moments with Denny - as real as ever - sleep overs included. Only the ghost fades and Alan is talking to space and he is desperately alone as he is underneath it all. Denny haunts Crane Poole and Schmidt and even goes to court with them. Helps them win, just as he has in the past.

    David E. Kelly can put scenes in the can of Denny bedding a dozen after-life hookers, boozing it up as always, giving great soliloqueys and short one liners. Then if something should happen to William Shatner - early death or stroke or something horrid - we can at least have the show while it is regrouping.

    How to regroup? Keep the ghost scenes in, bring Freddie Prinze back in to take over the "Crane" partnership part, and develop the characters better, taking into account that the audience remembers.moreless

  • Coming off the high from the classic Denny Crane episode, the show takes a little dip...

    9.0
    "Superb"
    By shotime1979, Apr 11, 2007
    Last weeks episode would have been really hard to beat, and while they continue their amazing streak of episodes, it does take a little drop off. Frank Whaley guest starred on this episode and he was great, as the lawyer who tried to help his brother to cover up a murder. The Brad and Denise storyline is getting taken to the next level, as I guess they're going to get married, but I see complications getting in the way of that. And, what a way to kill the steam of Denny Crane after the last episode, they have him thinking about Raquel Welch, thinking that if he thinks about her long enough, she'll come...I wasn't too crazy about that...Although the payoff was very funny. Plus, stop making Clarence turn into Clarice, it was different the first couple times, now it's tiring though...Just let the two act, Constance Zimmer is to talented to let her be wasted like that.moreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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  • TRIVIA (1)

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    • The first time the murder is shown, Lynnie Cox lands on the ground face-down. However, in the second flashback, she is laying face-up.

  • QUOTES (10)

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    • Judge Sanders: This would be a good place for a bowel movement. Er, I mean lunch. Lunch! Shall we say 2pm. Alan: Shall we say 2:30 and make time for both. Judge Sanders: Silence! Silence! I won't stand for any of your... your... Alan: Poop?

    • Alan: Objection! Judge Sanders: Over-ruled. Alan: I could be wrong, judge, but when a witness says, "probably," that's usually a sign that speculation is in play. Judge Sanders: I know that! You don't have to object to every little thing that's objectionable. I know what to ignore! Alan: I see. And not to be a nuisance, but, how would the jury know to ignore it? Judge Sanders: Sustained. Alan: There we go.

    • Alan: If I ever killed somebody, would you help me get away with it? Denny: I might. Who you got in mind?

    • Denny: Go with the secret. Alan: I don't think Raquel Welch is coming to our rescue.

    • Alan: World War II? Denny: I was in a bunker. She jumped me from behind. Alan: Law of attraction. I guess. Denny: I'm going to sue those people.

    • Denny: You're never alone on my balcony. Alan: I know that, Denny.... Sleepover tonight? Denny: Oh, damn it! Alan: Just asking. Denny: And you wonder why I resist these tender moments. Alan: Just forget it. Denny: Oh, fine. Now I'm the bad guy! Alan: I said "forget it," can you do that? Denny: We could've just ended it with "You're never alone on my balcony"—but no, you always have to push it. Alan: (laughs) Shut up.

    • Brad: Passion carried the day. Denise: Well, then, you're 2-for-2. Brad: What do you mean? Denise: The answer is "yes."

    • Brad: (after proposing to Denise) You don't have to respond right away. I just want you to know that the offer is on the table. And that's a love contract I will sign.

    • Alan: Care to join me? Denny: Is he guilty? Alan: 100%. Denny: Count me in! But if Raquel Welch shows up.... Alan: You have an out.

    • Paul: You're fired. Brad: (chuckling) I'm a partner! Paul: You're fired...partner.

  • NOTES (1)

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  • ALLUSIONS (1)

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    • Alan: It's brotherly love. Full-speed ahead. This is a reference to the original Star Trek series of television and film, in which William Shatner's Captain James T. Kirk frequently uttered this phrase from the bridge of the Enterprise.

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