Boston Legal

OK, a David E. Kelley moment must include the following:



*it is totally unexpected, yet makes perfect sense after the fact.

*It makes you laugh out loud like a hyena

*it would never work in any other show



Now the two moments that make this episode amazing:



1) Alan stretching his arm in court to "warm-up" for the accusatory point and "Did YOU kill _____"



2) The edit between the divorce story and the club singer: "This is war. This... is..." / "WAR! Huh. Good God y'all! What is it good for?..."



Freakin' genius I must say.

The Black Widow trial continues, and Alan and Brad worry that their client is too cold to be of any sympathy to the jury.



I thought the case was brilliantly written, and I loved James Spader's performance as usual. Denny's advice for his closing was brilliant- and I think it marks a change in Alan's closing- the running joke that his closings are too long comes in later! It was both a dramatic and humour case, which is what Boston Legal is all about. I still can't work out whether she done it or not, and I've these episodes so many times!



Denise's divorce didn't really interest me either, but I thought the reverand/lawyer was interestingly creeping! I think it made the newbies a bit more interesting.



Tara also gets closing with her ex- I liked the Edwin Starr case, which made me laugh so much. I really felt for Alan when he said "She's gone".



Also, Catherine Piper kills Bernie! I didn't see that coming! I loved the two characters, especially Catherine- it marks an interesting development!



Overall, an excellent episode, and an improvement on the premiere episode.

If anyone could make the media circus & obsessive intrusion around the celebrity & elite personalities of this world somewhat defendable, then it's James Spader.



But it more so, in this episode's Spader Monologe, that the human condition is further uncovered. When anyone, normal private citizen or gold digging Hollywood femme fatale can react in the same way to loss & the media.



Some temperaments & personalities can take pressure, invasion of privacy, constant questioning, camera mongerring, and accusing. Others know they are innocent & become angry, drained of emotion or ability to carry on despite inner feelings. Appearance of confidence are cured to a rock hard facade of cruelness, though they are only icicles brought on by the outside shelling on said person. In this case the defendant. No matter. Decent episode.

Personally i liked these episode very much it had allot going in it and two of my favorite phrases: DENNY: "I have the mad cow disease...i think you do two" ALAN: " i had to do something distracting it was either accuse somebody or drop my pants." These episode was very entertaining not only because of Denny and Alan's case but because of Denise and her divorce, one of my favorite sens with her was when she give her divorce case to the two new lawyers(if i can say so) and told them that it meant war.I'm curious on how will things turn up in the future.

I really liked this episode because we never really got to find out whether Aman's client actually killed her husband. Alan gave a great closing and narrowly won the case, but he still believes that she may be guilty. Also in this episode Tara begins to move further from Alan and closer to her ex so much so that Alan even notices it. Soon i think she will have to chose between them. Also Denise is trying to win the case against her ex husband but not with much luck. Shirely wasn't around much in this episode. Also Alan is gonig to jail apparently for a few day... Overall loved this episode.It was slightly better than the first episode of season 2 but it was pretty great very complelling and intresting.

I cannot get enough of this show! I love the the new addition of Rupert Everett. He brings a classy, dynamic and unpredictable element to the show. Denny and Alan are superb I love their quirky but intelligent characters!



Can anyone remember the exchange between Denny and Shirley where Shirely made a 'joke' about someone called Mark Geragos? What was the joke and the meaning?

I must state the obvious. James Spader is huge! He makes Allen Shore appear like the most intelligent man who ever lived, and that's a combination of great writing and even better acting. I mean nobody is that clever, and that’s exactly why I watch this show. Always waiting for the parts where Allen shore says something witty and unpredictable. The closing argument was one of the best monologues I ever saw on TV, second only to the one he did in front of the taxes judges in the 1st season finale.



Other thing that cracked me up in this episode is the mad cow remark Danny Crane made to the judge. I was in a puddle from that moment on.



Rupert Everett is something I would like to see more in this show (He is a funny guy), and the new bitchy lawyer I would like to see less (I don't really know why. Who is she, what is she, is she any good? Nobody told me. Is like they are forcing her and the two interns on me, and they steal screen time from the really interesting characters). Also bring me back Mr. Pool!

Put HIM instead of her so I can give you a 10, and not 9.5.

Once again, this episode truly showed Spader as the real reason this show exists. And, as for the show itself, it works better (IMO) as a drama w/elements of comedy - like tonight. I hope it doesn't just all become one big spoof. SHOCKED by the Bernard twist... liked Julie Bowen again (though Sara can go away).. Garrett can stay! Tara's case was sooooo but to see their relationship falling a part is really sad. And, by the way, Candice Bergen...... you're not needed on this show!

Had I not already been a huge fan of BL (and I'll admit the reason I started watching was b/c my roomate said "watch this now"), this episode would have made me into one. The writing was top notch, the acticg supurb, and are we sure that Spader and Shatner are not related? They play so well off of each other. Heather Locklier was awesome in this episode. I still can't say if I believe her innocence or not. She was so convincing being innocent, but really, could she have been hiding a murderous streak...I guess we will never know.



Spader's closing statement is reminisent of A Few Good Men, it its power and ability to get everyone, jury, prosecution, judge and viewers to question what exactly is going on.



There is only one way to go from here...and that is up!

Boston Legal went on an unscheduled hiatus last spring. Grey's Anatomy was supposed to take its time slot on a temporary basis, but the ratings were so high that ABC decided to postpone the remainder of Boston Legal's 1st season until the fall. It's obvious to see the damage caused by this decision. The actresses Rhona Mitra (Tara Wilson) and Monica Potter (Lori Colson) are now leaving the show. During the 1st season, Tara became involved with Alan Shore (played by James Spader). Lori was attracted to Shore but suppressed her feelings. Brad Chase (Mark Valley) longed for Lori but realized that she liked Alan. Now, all of a sudden, this tangled web has been blown away by the imminent departure of Tara and Lori. Tara is falling for a new British attorney. Alan Shore confides to Denny Crane (William Shatner) that he has already lost Tara. This doesn't ring true since Shore is not one to roll over so easily.



Three new characters are abruptly introduced. Two new associates are recruited to work on the divorce case of a senior associate, Denise Bauer (Julie Bowen). None of the three stood out or came across as particularly appealing, but there's plenty of time to develop their characters.



The episode also included the case of a singer who wants to sing the anti-war 60s song "War (What is it good for?)" in a private nightclub. In a scene reminiscent of Ally McBeal, the judge asks to hear the song performed in her courtroom. As the singer performs, the backup singers begin to sing "Over There," a more patriotic, pro-military song. This storyline wasn't explored in depth. It would have been better left on the cutting room floor. Either that or expanded and included in a later episode. It's possible that David E. Kelley used the clash of the two songs to blunt any criticism that he tends to exhibit a liberal political bias on the show. Regardless, there wasn't enough room in the episode for this secondary story.



The real heart of the episode was Shore's defense of Kelly Nolan (played by Heather Locklear), who was accused of poisoning her elderly husband and causing his death. She was an unfaithful wife, openly carrying on affairs with other men. Her demeanor while reporting her husband's death was calm and emotionless. Shore's case seemed to be sinking fast. He asked for Denny Crane's advice. Crane tells him to keep going in his closing statement until he has created reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors. Shore proceeds to deliver one of the best speeches of the entire series. He argues that Nolan's lack of emotion was the result of shock. He argues that Nolan's obstinance on the witness stand arises from the defiance she feels toward the prosecutors and the press, who are already declaring her guilty of a crime she didn't commit. Shore describes the feelings of the press and other onlookers as "schadenfreude," the pleasure derived from the misfortunes of others. He cites a scientific study that reveals the very real chemical and biological nature of this feeling. He asks the jury not to give in to their feelings. They should weigh the evidence and move beyond their distaste of Nolan's lifestyle and morals. Denny Crane finally acknowledges to Shore that he has said enough and Shore stops.



The jury comes back with a verdict of not guilty. Shore is surprised and relieved. In the elevator, however, he gets second thoughts. He asks Nolan whether she really committed the crime. She cannot be tried again and any statement she makes would be protected by the attorney-client privilege, so he asks her to tell the truth. She pauses, then says she didn't kill her husband. Shore doesn't seem entirely convinced.



Shore and Crane discuss the case on the balcony while smoking cigars. Crane says that he likes murder cases. They should find another one. Shore agrees. He is keeping his eyes peeled.



Meanwhile, we see the "little man" who murdered his mother and a witness last season. He is now in a relationship with Catherine Piper (Betty White), Shore's secretary. Piper becomes concerned that her new friend has developed a taste for murder. After agonizing over what to do about it, she takes matters into her own hands. . . .



The writers wisely focus on Alan Shore, as he is the driving force behind the show. They will have to tie up several loose ends as they wrap up the affairs (both personal and professional) of Tara Wilson and Lori Colson. Both of those characters will be sorely missed. We can only hope that their replacements will develop into vital parts of a solid ensemble cast. Most importantly, James Spader and William Shatner are still here. The two have won Emmy Awards two years in a row for their characters and not just due to luck. (They debuted in the roles on The Practice and continue their Emmy-winning performances on Boston Legal.) It's a long overdue return of the show. There seems to be a bit of a mess with all of the departing characters and the new faces, but Spader and Shatner remain. As long as those two are on the show, it will remain an excellent legal comedic drama series. As evidence, I point you, dear readers, to the episode aired tonight (Oct. 4). It's great to have the team back, in the courtroom and on the air!

Shanter-freuden!



This is definitely a great show. The fact that they put at at 10 eludes me, but that's that.



Not sure I'm liking the newest lawyer. Representing herself then turnign things over to the interns for half a million? I know I wouldn't have done that.



Shatner and Spader did not dissappoint. Valley is also a big reason to watch. His fast talk and smooth demeanor rocks. The British chick is in big trouble. Thought she matched up well with Spader's character - so did Spader's character though.



The combination of humor, law and the occasional grandiose statement for the good of mankind will keep me a fan for a long time.