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Season 1 – Boston Legal

Play trailer Poster for Season 1 – Boston Legal 2004 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
83% Tomatometer 23 Reviews 96% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
The Boston law firm Crane, Poole and Schmidt deals in the often high-priced world of civil litigation, where smarmy Alan Shore feels at home. Loose cannon Denny Crane has the run of the place, while other members of the firm try -- with often dismal results -- to keep him in check.
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Boston Legal — Season 1

Boston Legal — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Boston Legal is bursting with wry amusement and gangbusters chemistry between stars James Spader and William Shatner, although their characters - and the series as a whole - exhibit questionable attitudes toward women.

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Critics Reviews

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Belinda Acosta Austin Chronicle Speaking of The Practice, its spin-off, Boston Legal, appears perfectly able to hold its own. The series stars the inimitable James Spader. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review AV Club Staff AV Club Early episodes have featured surprise guest stars, grim plot twists, and a generally untethered spirit. Half the time, it doesn't make any damn sense. It's a blast. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Hal Boedeker Orlando Sentinel The whole cast works well, and Shatner has a glorious time as a brilliant buffoon. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Rachel Sklar RedEye Spader sparkles, set beautifully within a gem of a supporting cast featuring Shatner, whose over-the-top blowhard is a joy to watch. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Sharon Eberson Pittsburgh Post-Gazette In hindsight, much of this first season seems like an experiment. Rated: 2.5/4 Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel Spader made a terrific first impression, and Shatner is priceless as the head of the firm. Oct 15, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Pall L The Greatest Television Show Of All Time. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/23/25 Full Review Alastair S Favourite TV drama ever ! what a show. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 05/22/25 Full Review Test T I have started watching this on DVD recently. I thought the first few episodes were very good but as I've progressed through the series darker less appealing themes have begun to surface. It's still not bad to watch, but it's not as much fun as it was at first. I'm finding some of the storylines starting to drag, and my attention starting to drift. There are also a few too many sexual references littered around in the script which are fast loosing their titillating shock factor, and begining to seem crude and unnecessary. I'm now finding that after a dip, the series is starting to improve again. I'm going to keep watching, and finish the review when I reach the end. Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars 10/13/24 Full Review Brighton G Between James Spader and William Shatner the whole show just bursts out with charisma. It's also hilarious. Would definitely recommend Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/19/24 Full Review Conrad L Witty dialogue And intelligent plots. Up there with House. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 04/17/23 Full Review David C Hadn't appreciated how strong JS is in anchoring the characters and setting the tone of the comedy and style of storytelling. Really enjoyed watching again, though mindful of how misogynistic it is Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Boston Legal — Season 1

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Cast & Crew

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James Spader

Alan Shore

Monica Potter

Lori Colson

Rhona Mitra

Tara Wilson

Lake Bell

Sally Heep

Mark Valley

Brad Chase

William Shatner

Denny Crane

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Oct 3, 2004 Head Cases On a dare, Shore takes the case of a black girl who is denied the lead role in a national touring production of "Annie"; Denny Crane is caught having an affair with the wife of the firm's biggest client. Details Episode 2 Aired Oct 10, 2004 Still Crazy After All These Years Alan Shore decides to represent an ex-lover who was institutionalized after threatening his life; Denny Crane's behavior causes concern among the partners. Details Episode 3 Aired Oct 17, 2004 Catch and Release Denny Crane's long-lost son (Freddie Prinze Jr.) resurfaces as the lawyer representing environmental interests against a shopping mall development planned by one of the firm's biggest clients. Details Episode 4 Aired Oct 24, 2004 Change of Course Lori Colson has to defend a man accused of murdering a police officer when the firm must take a criminal case unexpectedly. Details Episode 5 Aired Oct 31, 2004 An Eye for an Eye Lori and Sally defend a man who is accused of killing a man at a bar with a martial-arts punch to the throat; Shore and Tara take on the case of a hypochondriac who is suing his doctor for malpractice. Details Episode 6 Aired Nov 7, 2004 Truth Be Told Alan goes up against the new power elite in the city when trying to help mayoral candidate Jack Fleming deal with a situation that threatens his election chances. Details Episode 7 Aired Nov 21, 2004 Questionable Characters Lori argues that a bullet not be removed from her former informant, despite the fact that it could endanger his life, on the grounds that it could incriminate him. Details Episode 8 Aired Nov 28, 2004 Loose Lips Shore defends a man who was fired from his post as Santa at a local department store for being a transvestite; Lori faces an ethical dilemma when her therapist asks her for advice on one of his patients. Details Episode 9 Aired Dec 12, 2004 A Greater Good Crane and Shore disagree about how to proceed in the defense of a pharmaceutical company when startling events shed new light on the case. Details Episode 10 Aired Dec 19, 2004 Hired Guns Brad and Lori defend a woman accused of killing her husband and his mistress when she catches them in the act; Shore finds himself in danger when he helps a woman whose ex-husband kidnapped their children and took them to Peru. Details Episode 11 Aired Jan 9, 2005 Schmidt Happens Founding Crane, Poole & Schmidt partner Shirley Schmidt (Candice Bergen) returns to help bring order to the chaotic office. Details Episode 12 Aired Jan 16, 2005 From Whence We Came One member of the firm falls victim to Shirley Schmidt's mandate to clean house; Lori defends a school superintendent being sued by two teachers who were fired for refusing to teach creationism. Details Episode 13 Aired Jan 23, 2005 It Girls and Beyond Brad defends a high-profile publicist accused of hiding her heterosexuality in order to start a lesbian relationship for financial and personal gain. Details Episode 14 Aired Feb 13, 2005 'Til We Meat Again Schmidt and Crane represent a man whose steakhouse could go out of business when the mayor pushes through an ordinance banning red meat for fear of mad cow disease. Details Episode 15 Aired Feb 20, 2005 Tortured Souls Denny Crane's son, Donny (Freddie Prinze Jr.), tries to settle an old score; Alan Shore must defend a police officer accused of torture; Shore's former client Bernard Ferrion is befriended by his secretary (Betty White). Details Episode 16 Aired Mar 13, 2005 Let Sales Ring Milton Bombay (Carl Reiner), an old legal adversary of Denny Crane and Shirley Schmidt, wants to be frozen and stored in a cryonics institute. Details Episode 17 Aired Mar 20, 2005 Death Be Not Proud Shirley and Denny defend an old friend (Shelley Long) who is accused of engaging in sexual conduct for a fee. Details

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Boston Legal — Season 1

Boston Legal Boston Legal Boston Legal Boston Legal View more photos

Season Info

Director
Mel Damski, Bill D'Elia, Arlene Sanford, Dennis Smith, Allison Liddi-Brown, Hubert C. de la Bouillerie, Dan Attias, Mike Listo, Jeannot Szwarc, Charlie Haid, Matt Shakman
Executive Producer
David E. Kelley, Bill D'Elia
Screenwriter
David E. Kelley, Scott Kaufer, Kerry Ehrin, Jeff Rake, Peter Ocko, Jonathan Shapiro, Lukas Reiter
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Oct 3, 2004