Boston Legal ran for five seasons on ABC, from October 3, 2004, to December 8, 2008. It is a spin-off of The Practice, following several characters who moved from that show’s eighth season to this one. The central pairing belongs to Alan Shore and Denny Crane, played by James Spader and William Shatner, respectively.
Trailer, via FoxLife Serbia.
Shore and Crane
Alan Shore is wry and wily, middle-aged and sharp. Denny Crane is mid-70s, flamboyant, eccentric, and suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease. He is also obsessed with the reputation of his name, which he repeats often. Shore often uses questionable methods to win cases. Despite being political opposites, the two are best friends.
Their balcony scenes define the show. They relax, smoke cigars, drink scotch whisky, and muse together on the firm’s balcony at the end of most episodes. That ritual carries the emotional weight of a series built on professional drama and personal conflict.
The Firm and Its Cast
The series is set at the fictional law offices of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, a high-end litigation firm in Boston. They handle both civil and criminal law cases. The other main players include:
- Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt
- John Larroquette as Carl Sack
- Tara Summers as Katie Lloyd
- Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson
Critical Reception
The show was never a Nielsen ratings smash hit. But it was critically acclaimed. It received 26 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, including for Outstanding Drama Series in 2007 and 2008. It also won a Peabody Award in 2005.
The show’s appeal rests on its balance of comedy and drama. It treats its lawyers as brilliant but emotionally challenged, which means the jokes land alongside genuine tension. The series also plays on the chemistry between Shore and Crane, whose friendship withstands repeated strain.
What Works Best
Here is a quick ranking of the show’s strongest elements, in order of impact:
- The Shore-Crane relationship
- The balcony scenes
- The courtroom drama
- The ensemble cast
Each element supports the others. Without the friendship, there is no balcony scene. Without the balcony scene, there is no emotional anchor for the cases. And without the cases, there is no reason for the characters to exist.
Final Word
Boston Legal is a tight, character-driven series that rewards attention. It is not a perfect show, but it knows exactly what it wants to be: a comedy-drama about smart people doing hard work. The writing is sharp, the performances are committed, and the central relationship between Shore and Crane holds the whole enterprise together.
It is a worthy spin-off and a strong entry in its own right. We rate it 7.9 out of 10.
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