Boston Legal is a show that is at its best when the court cases that Crane, Pool, & Schmidt win are won with legal trickery, over the top shenanigans, or a plain old good closing argument. Thus (spoiler alert) when Alan wins Shirley's case tonight because the old judge has no idea what transpired in his courtroom, we can't help but feel cheated. But, before I denigrate, I must Denny Crane.

The show starts out tonight with Denny, Alan, Alan's judge girlfriend, and Denny's flavor of the month out at dinner. After the entrees, Denny tries to get some dessert from his date back at his pied-a-terre. She however requests money from him, which he is willing to give, only in turn to get handcuffed (not in a good way) and flashed a badge. Alan's night goes no better as his judge friend, Gloria Weldon, wants Alan to get her pregnant.

The show also introduces us to a fresh face, Katie Lloyd (Tara Summers), a new associate fresh out of law school, and Carl Sack (John Larroquette), a member of the NY branch (how big is that place, because it seems like every time someone new arrives, they come from the NY branch) who is here to help Shirley manage the firm (Rene Auberjonois having gone to greener pastures). Lloyd, due to a lack of space is placed with Jerry, who apparently volunteered to share his office. This seems weird because he's, well, Jerry, but it works out really well because Sack gives Lloyd a murder for her first case and Jerry is right there to help her.

Lloyd's case, which never gets far but keeps popping up throughout the ninety minute episode, focuses on a man accused of murdering a woman. His semen was found on the body and her blood on his locker (he was a worker in the building she lived in). Lloyd, inexplicably, is the only person who can get him to talk, and even that is like pulling teeth. Practically needless to say, everyone in the firm and the whole world, including ADA Brad Chase, is convinced he did it. The presumed guilty man says that he was actually seeing the deceased but that she wanted to keep it a secret.

Speaking of keeping secrets, Denny's whole case this week, is a non-starter as it ends when Alan gets Judge Weldon to force the police to drop the charges. Weldon explains to the police that it was clearly entrapment, she wants Denny's name dropped from any investigation, and for her name to be kept out too (see, secret keeping). Alan is able to convince Weldon to pressure the police because he had some impotence problems with her the night before (due to the whole her wanting a child thing), and Alan intimates that if Weldon makes the charges go away he will be able to get his mind off of Denny.

While Alan helps out here, his real case this week is Schmidt-tastic. Shirley tells Alan that she donated 3 million dollars (it's good to be the Queen) to Stanford University for a study on greenhouse gases, however she now wishes to rescind said donation because Exxon-Mobil is donating 100 million to the same study and she feels as though this may skew the results. Stanford is, in turn, suing Shirley for breach of contract. In a "plot twist" Alan's opposing counsel is a woman whom Alan used to date and with whom he is infatuated (just like everyone that joins the firm comes from the NY Branch, all of Alan's female opposing counsels are ex-girlfriends). Despite his relationship with Weldon, Alan sleeps with opposing counsel in the elevator, twice. Apparently he has no problem living it up while going down, even if the whole baby thing has him flummoxed. And, as noted above, as the old judge could not understand half of what was said, he finds in favor of Shirley.

As if that is not enough for a single episode (remember, this was a super-sized show people), Clarence has a story-arc of his very own (though Claire is strangely missing from the show and the opening credits, did I miss her going away party?). He is in a singing contest with a friend, but dressed as Clarice. Sack thinks this shows the firm in a bad light, or at least not the conservative buttoned-up sort of light he wishes, so he tells Clarence to quit. Clarence doesn't, and Sack is, in the end, okay with that. Excuses are made by Sack as to why this is, but they do not hold water, he just backed down.

Sack's backing down is not however the real problem with tonight's episode. I completely get that the producers use Boston Legal as a soapbox for their political, social, and religious ideas and ideals. I have no problem with that, it is exactly what happened in the Shirley Schmidt case tonight, and that is just fine. The real problem is that they ought to provide some shred of a reason why the folks at Crane, Pool, & Schmidt can win the legal case for the social one they are making. Tonight they did not bother to come up with a reason, they just had the old judge say he did not understand and therefore there was no meeting of the minds and no binding contract. It was a big let down.

They were, however, able to salvage some stuff tonight, as Shirley told Denny she used to dress up as a cheerleader, just for fun, and, it is revealed in the closing moments that Shirley and Sack are an item. I imagine sparks will fly when Denny and Alan find that out, and don't you worry, I will be here to tell you all about it when that happens.

Actually, I'll also be over at The TV and Film Guy's Reviews, why don't you come up and see me some time?

Comments

This was a slow start to the season but the new cast members began to show their relevance by the end of the episode. I will miss Claire and Paul a lot. I'm not sure that Katie is worth losing Claire but we'll have to see.

One thing I absolutely loved about this episode (and show in general) is how the continue to have Alan and Denny idolize Shirley. There are so few 'older' (Shirley's words, not mine) and strong female sex objects on TV. It is great to see them showcase Shirley as the one who sets the bar.

Lost_Fan | Sep 26, 2007 6:09:27 AM | #

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I wish I had a balcony that I could end my nights on with a good friend (not sure if I could pull off wearing a wig and dress with high heals).

Will miss Claire, Paul and Denise this year.

Brad as the DA, when did that happen?

Excellent show no matter what people think.

John | Sep 26, 2007 7:07:23 AM | #

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I was dissapointed that they made no mention of Paul. Claire, I can understand. Even though I liked her, she was only around one season. Paul has been there from the start as the firm's managing partner. How do you just forget someone who has been there 3 seasons (and in the fictional years, much longer?)

I like how they said Denise was on 'maternity leave'. IN BL terms, that was the last we will hear of her, too, I am sure.

Michael | Sep 26, 2007 8:16:14 AM | #

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So surprised and thrilled to see a Boston Legal recap here! Hats off! I was perfectly fine with the episode (the bar has been set pretty high the last couple of seasons) but I do agree with the cop out on the Schmidt case. They need to lose that judge. He's incompetent and not funny. I'd love them to bring in some judges we saw on The Practice and Ally McBeal. They are all set in Boston. I'm sure Crane, Poole and Schmidt would run into some of the same judges. It would be fun to see. Even better? Have opposing council be someone from The Practice or Ally McBeal. It would be fun and seems like something David E. Kelley would do. Love the recap. See you next week!

Jeff | Sep 26, 2007 8:23:28 AM | #

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Lose Shelly Berman

He's a cartoon character of a Judge

Gerry B | Sep 26, 2007 9:52:48 AM | #

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Wow, what a lousy episode! I *used* to be a fan but if they keep this up I'm gone. Beam 'em up, lose the constant Candace Bergen sex chatter, and kill off all the new characters.

Joe Duck | Sep 26, 2007 10:11:49 AM | #

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"Alan sleeps with opposing counsel in the elevator, twice." Surely you could have found a more elevator-likely euphemism?

Jon88 | Sep 26, 2007 10:14:54 AM | #

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Can't wait to see how the John Laroquette character develops - loved him on Night Court. Think they'll work that into the character's history?

Julie | Sep 26, 2007 10:30:17 AM | #

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Jon88 - I did use "Love in an Elevator" lyrics.

Julie - I have to imagine they'll make jokes about Night Court and his character in it, but I don't imagine that they see him as Dan Fielding.

Josh Lasser | Sep 26, 2007 4:14:54 PM | #

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Bit of a disappointing return... the friendship between Denny and Alan is being portrayed a bit too ridiculously (checking each other's flow?), the Stanford case was a huge copout, and the "guy who everybody thinks is guilty" plotline has been handled much better in The Practice and elsewhere. BTW Josh, much better effort than the HIMYM blog.

AC | Sep 26, 2007 7:13:18 PM | #

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I did like the episode last night. Got to get used to that new Carl Sack character. I bet he's going to stir up some trouble. I do miss Denise and Paul. I am not familiar with the two new women, so it will be interesting to see what they do for this season.

One disturbing thing was when Denny and Alan went to the bathroom, and Denny is checking Alan's flow?? Creepy. At least they didn't go in the stalls and try to make hand signals and foot tapping. At least they are lawyers, not senators.

Can't wait for next week's episode.

shaun | Sep 27, 2007 12:01:39 AM | #

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Looooooooved the reveal that Shirley and Sackhead are an item.

laura | Sep 27, 2007 2:02:58 AM | #

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Getting better with the recaps, however I don't like the way he refers to some of the people by their last name- Lloyd and Weldon doesn't sound very nice......why not call them Katie and Gloria, since that is what they are called on the show.

I love Alan Shore's arguments, he can turn anything around to make it sound plausible........you just know that his trysts in the elevator are going to come up, there are survalance cameras in the corner.

Kathie | Oct 1, 2007 8:09:11 AM | #

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I have to laugh at anyone that thinks that Shirley and Carl are in a serious relationship. I think I paid more attention to the episode than anyone else. He's doing it as a way to get to Denny and piss him off. He knows that Shirley is Denny's "One and Only".

ekkostar | Oct 4, 2007 7:02:32 AM | #

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