Boston Legal - Season 3 [DVD]

Alan Shore (played by Emmy award-winner James Spader) is the primary star of Boston Legal and he is a monumental presence. In season 2, we were shown much more of his humanity, and we came to see how deeply caring and empathetic he is. Season 3 continues in that vein... a couple of minor quibbles, and I'll broach them now so as to get to the good, more important, stuff: David Kelley seems to be using Alan's wonderful closing arguments to extensively wax lyrical on political issues he wants to address. I quite concede that it's his show to do with as he pleases, but the lengthy soliloquies can become a little taxing.

Next, Jerry Espenson is a wonderful character: a gentle, shy giant who suffers terribly from Asperger's, and his friendship with Alan is genuinely touching. But in season 3, they've turned him into a Jekyll and Hyde character, depending on whether he's got a wooden cigarette in his mouth or not. It sounds daft, and unfortunately it's just as daft in the watching. That being said, having Jerry around more is a treat and the cigarette-thing doesn't make it all the way through the season.

Final complaint is regarding a new character called Clarence. He's a painfully shy man who masquerades as his "sister" Clarice when he can't cope with the pressure or stress of a situation. Clarice, like Hyde doesn't last the entire season, but *neither* character brings very much to the show, and I find their respective scenes less enjoyable than everything else. However, Boston Legal at its very worst is still better than 99% of the dross on tv these days.

Those are my only complaints, and none of them are serious enough to turn this season into a 4-star one.

Onto the good stuff: in season 2, we met Judge Jibberjabber (the amazing Shelley Berman, who should be made king), who doesn't tolerate jibberjabber and poopycock in his courtroom. I fell in love with him within 30 seconds, and in season 3 we are spoiled, as his appearances are far more substantial. In episode 16, Alan is defending a pre-eminent psychiatrist fired for his insistence that he's seen aliens, and Jibberjabber's questions and comments alone are worth the price of the box-set. Just glorious. He's in another 6 episodes besides that one: all as hand-clappingly fantastic as the last.

In season 3, Denny Crane becomes increasingly absurd and wonderful. The interaction between he and Alan is beautiful beautiful television, and it's fascinating to watch. As he slides further into quintessential Republican stereotype, Alan swings the other way, becoming increasingly liberal, and yet their relationship only improves and they become more and more like an old married couple who are still desperately in love. They make each other laugh, and they'll make you laugh, too.

It's astonishing that 3 years in the writing is still as fresh as the first season. It continues to break the fourth wall, too, in that wonderful Boston Legal way. In episode 2, we are introduced to Claire and Jeff Coho and the conversation goes as following:
Coho: "We're the new guys."
Crane: "Oh, please. If there were new guys they'd have shown up in the season premiere." He then proceeds to proposition Claire appallingly, fondle her dreadfully and welcome them to Boston Legal before glancing at the camera and saying "Cue the music..." Genius!

Those moments are a part of what makes Boston Legal so special. Add to that Denny, Alan and Shirley Schmidt, along with the entire host of loveable grotesques that pass through those famous doors, this show is just absolutely unbeatable in every way. From the opening scene of every episode, you know you'll laugh out loud at least 3 times; as soon as that awesome 70s-style wowow guitar theme music kicks in, you tap your toes and settle in for 45-odd minutes of near-heaven.

Boston Legal season 3 isn't quite as good as season 2 (which trumps absolutely everything that has ever come before it - except, perhaps with the exception of Ed, but that's for another review if and when the Powers That Be decide to release it on DVD) but it is still wonderful and deserving of more superlatives than you can shake a stick at.

BOSTON LEGAL SEASON 3

The first four episodes of Boston Legal Season three are very weak and provide a shaky start to this Classic American television series. Thankfully the following episodes soar in quality and the series returns to its confident and often brilliant best. The standout episodes are "Lincoln" and "On the Ledge".

The problems with series three are simple. Poor casting is solely responsible for the weaker points in the show. The casting of Craig Bierko and Gary Anthony Williams are serious own goals. Craig Bierko is a comedy actor of sorts and it shows. His scenes have a lack of authenticity about them, as if he knows he is being funny. This actor does not have enough charm or talent to pull off the part of an intelligent and wisecracking lawyer. His underwritten part is not sure whether to be another Alan Shore or Brad Chase when really we need neither. Luckily he is conspicuously absent from all the latter episodes.

Gary Anthony Williams is also a poor piece of casting. The actor is completely unconvincing and overplays his part ridiculously. He never listens to the other actors and continues to mug or make stupid facial expressions, which are distracting especially when he is not the focus of the scene. I think the theatrical term is "upstaging". The love interest he has with the Constance Zimmer is completely unconvincing because there is no chemistry between the two actors.

That said the confirmed magic between Shatner and Spader is ever present. It is simply a joy to watch these brilliant actors at work. Candice Bergen is as riveting as ever. She is a wonderful Actor. Mark Valley is constantly underused but when he is lucky enough appear in an episode and show us how good he can be as an actor it often proves to be a highlight of the series.

Constance Zimmer is very good addition to the cast but her part is woefully underwritten. I would like to see her become an honorary man in the eyes of Danny and Shore.

Christian Clemenson delivers a perfectly pitched performance. Julie Bowen as always is perfect. Anthony Heald and the superb Henry Gibson need to be mentioned for their hugely enjoyable performances. All the other cast members are excellent but I would like to see the return of Christopher Rich.

I feel the loss of Parker Posey from the cast roster was a shame as she portrayed a very compelling character that could have caused greater conflict within the Law Firm. I still feel the show misses Tara significantly.

As a whole Season 3 keeps getting better and better because the writers realise that concentrating on the main relationships of the series makes for better episodes.

The comings & goings at the law firm of Crane,Poole & Schmidt continue to provide the main plots for the 3rd season of Boston legal. The cases themselves are as varied as ever, unusually a case of a young man having an affair with a judge he has been accused of killing lasts over several episodes,(and ends with a shocking conclusion),. Within this case is a superb performance by David Dean Bottrell as an unhinged peeping tom.
Jerry Espensen seems to get himself into court quicker than Allan can save him & a variety of other cases including racism, religion & a man hiding behind his female alter-ego.
As interesting as the cases are its the characters who work in & around the law firm who are the mainstay here as always with 2 new faces coming to work, a feisty Claire & the oily Jefferey Cohoe. Denny finds himself falling for diminutive lawyer Bethany from another firm but of course is unable to keep his mouth & libido in check. Allen has a crisis in confidence & Shirley finds unwanted attention from a major witness from the season's big case.
The foundation on which it's all built continues to be Allan & Denny. William Shatner continues to excel himself as the cigar chomping, bull-in-a-chinashop super lawyer Denny Crane while James Spader deservedly picked up an Emmy for his performance as the precise & uncompromising deviant with a heart Allan Shore. It's the antics of these two & their continuing friendship,(each episode still concludes with them downing whiskey & smoking cigars on a balcony), that holds this unusual, funny & fearless series together.
Series 3 is of the same quality as the 2 before, there are never any fillers, no punches are pulled and every single actor involved gives 100% to the thoughtful & hilarious scripts. This is a series like no other and anyone who has enjoyed the previous 2 will savour this no less while I guarantee a real treat for those new to Boston legal. Now I'll put the clothes pegs on my ears if you'd like to get the maple syrup...