Boston Legal Fodder

Holiday Boston Legal Shorelines

The episode finds lawyer Denise (Julie Bowen) undertaking a client who is suing God after her husband was struck by lightning. Denise recently lost her terminally ill fiancée Daniel Post (Michael J. Fox) to cancer, so senior partner Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois) has bickering duo Brad Chase (Mark Valley) and Jeffrey Coho (Craig Bierko) to ensure the ludicrous case passes summary judgment. Meanwhile, the unscrupulous Alan Shore (James Spader) entertains a titillating bet with senior partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) involving a Playboy bunny costume, so long as he wins a simple custody battle. Unfortunately for Alan, he is stuck representing a family of white supremacists. Denny Crane (William Shatner) is also tasked with convincing a waitress’ daughter of abandoning a dangerously skinny lifestyle. Also, the cross-dressing Clarice of the season’s second episode turns up again applying for a legal secretary job, and comes boasting some impressive legal skills.

It’s certainly a full episode plot wise. Brad Chase and Jeffrey Coho’s joint venture once again leads to full-out fisticuffs, with Denise stuck in the middle. Still, thanks to a quick observation from Clarice’s well-read alter ego Clarence, Chase and Coho are able to win the case – implying the duo might form quite a team despite their differences. Despite Alan’s qualms with his clients, his case goes off without a hitch, especially after his presumptive opposition attempts to categorize his clients as threats to national security, all the more raising Alan Shore’s impressive closing ire. One of the more bizarre plot points in the episode comes as Denny is insulted by his old friend Alan’s offer to critique each other’s closing arguments.

This is undoubtedly the weakest part in what is by far an all-around strong episode. Denny’s anger seems incredibly misplaced. Later, Alan is forced to intervene to save Denny’s case, perhaps confirming Denny’s suspicion that he is inferior in Alan’s eyes. Yet while this is most definitely not the case, it doesn’t matter, as this subplot receives ultimately the least attention of the bunch. I can see the reason for this: Brad and Jeffrey’s interaction is top-notch, and Clarence’s presence is a welcome change. But the Alan/Denny subplot is worse than merely ill-constructed: it puts Alan in an uncharacteristic position while sidelining Denny and his case for the rest of the episode.

The episode ends well. Shirley’s bunny outfit is thankfully not what Alan had in mind, though the Christmas party encounter does leave Alan and Denny to “finally exchange bodily fluids” – as their slobber is somehow passed around while both kissing Shirley beneath the mistletoe. Denise is mostly sidelined, but fortunately, the intriguing character of Clarence is not. The always-welcome eccentric Jerry “Hands” Espenson (Christian Clemenson) bestows a unique gift on Alan – a Mona Lisa with Alan’s features smoothly etched upon the face of a famous painting. There is a minor plot hole, as neither Shirley nor Jerry give any notice of one another, despite the fact that the latter did hold a knife to the prior’s throat a season back. But then again, Shirley was wearing a bunny costume, and probably transfixed on the eerie resemblance Alan Shore naturally possesses to the Mona Lisa. Also, Denny is once again forced to dance with his forceful old flame Bella (Delta Burke), while Bella's midget daughter Bethany (Meredith Eaton) - the one Denny really wants - sadly witnesses this development.

Still, all brilliance aside, the episode is tainted by the poorly-constructed and ill-executed subplot. We don’t really know where Alan and Denny are in their relationship as friends, and as a result, the murky ending comes with a whimper instead of a bang. The episode hits a sour note as far as both holiday and potentially last-of-the-year episodes are concerned. If you’re looking for some more good tidings, I suggest rewinding to the Christmas episodes of Season 1 for a better view of “Boston Legal” at its best.

---

Posted by Richard on December 7, 2006 12:15 PM
Permalink | Email to a Friend | Add to del.icio.us | Digg This






More Recent Stories:
• Boston Legal: Patriot Acts
• Boston Legal: The Gods Must Be Crazy
• Boston Legal Bows Out After Next Season
• Boston Legal: Indecent Proposals
• Boston Legal: The Court Supreme
• Boston Legal: The Mighty Rogues
• Boston Legal: Tabloid Nation
• Boston Legal: Rescue Me
• Boston Legal: Glow in the Dark
• Boston Legal: Roe Vs. Wade: The Musical