The Show:

It came from the mind of David E. Kelley. Boston Legal is one of the hottest shows on television with several Emmy nominations and awards under its belt. In many ways it's hard to believe that a series this prominent originated as a spin-off. Then again, considering Kelley's other successes like Alley McBeal and The Practice, I suppose it's not that far out of the realm of possibility.

If you recall, way back when The Practice was nearing its end there were some appearances by characters such as Alan Shore (James Spader), Denny Crane (William Shatner), and Sally Heep (Lake Bell). Apparently Kelley had something in mind for them because in 2004 Boston Legal aired its first season. A lot has happened since then and a great portion of the cast has come and gone but a few things have remained the same. Even into the third year of the program the wit is still sharp, the cast is perfect despite changes, and the writing has remained downright phenomenal. No matter how you slice it this is a show is a contender.

If you've missed Boston Legal or simply let it slip beneath your radar then you're probably writing it off as just another court room drama. To be quite honest when I first heard about the program I thought it was going to be just like all the rest too. However, the series is anything but.

Set in Boston (obviously) the show takes place in the offices of Crane, Poole, and Shmidt. Essentially each episode features a major case, a minor one, and some random daily life moments for the characters. It may sound boring but once you get William Shatner, James Spader, and Candace Bergen involved in a conversation about a sex doll modeled after Bergen's character Shirley Shmidt you'll begin to realize the genius behind it all. This show bends the preconceptions about what a courtroom drama can be and it's the dirty jokes, lascivious behavior, and self-referential dialogue that prompt that notion.

For argument's sake I'm going to assume that if you're reading this review for the third season of Boston Legal you have already checked out the previous years. If for any reason you haven't then you've missed out on some quality television. The nice thing about the structure for this particular show is that you don't need to be fully versed in the happenings. Sure it's nice to know what it means when Alan Shore says "We're Flamingos, Denny!" but it's not necessary to your appreciation or understanding of the fundamental workings of the show. With that being said let's take a look at what makes the third year of Boston Legal so successful.

Right off the bat the show sets things in a forward motion with an overarching storyline, new characters, and some crazy Denny Crane material. As far as the new characters are concerned in Boston Legal there are a couple new attorneys in town straight from the New York office. Jeffrey Coho (Craig Bierko) and Claire Simms (Constance Zimmer) arrive in Boston and start shaking things up. Jeffrey jumps right into the fray and starts a pissing contest of sorts with Brad Chase (Mark Valley) that erupts at various points during the season though his character doesn't last for the entire year. Claire is a little muted in terms of personality and tends to be prudish towards things not in good taste. I'm sure you can imagine how she feels about Denny and Alan skulking about the office leering at anything with legs and breasts.

Clarence Bell (Gary Anthony Williams) is another new character that appears this season and he seems to have more staying power than Jeffrey and Claire. When he first appears on the show Clarence is a client who also happens to be a cross-dresser with multiple personalities. Well, ok, I guess it's not so much multiple personalities as it is that he finds other ways to express himself. He's shy and very timid when he doesn't have a wig on but eventually he's brought on permanently as Claire's assistant and boyfriend.

Other than the new blood on the show, there are many recurring characters from the previous years. Sally Heep makes a brief return as a redhead, Michael J. Fox's character Daniel Post is still around at the beginning of the season then around in pieces later on, and Jerry Espenson (Christian Clemenson) is back with some interesting new personality quirks. Guest stars are aplenty this year as well. As you sit through these episodes you can expect to see Tom Selleck, Delta Burke, Ed Begley Jr., Betty White, and Jaleel White. To be quite honest the list goes on and one and as you watch each episode chances are you'll stop at some point and say, "Hey, isn't that...?"

As far as the main cast is concerned there is a lot that happens this season though to be fair it tends to revolve around sex. Denny starts dating a dwarf named Bethany who turns out to be the daughter of an old flame, Bella (Delta Burke). Alan loses his, ahem, partner, and goes out on the prowl looking for another mate. Denise Bauer spends some brief (and boy do I mean brief) time mourning the loss of her fiancé Daniel and she rebounds in a horny fashion. Jerry Espenson is caught with a doll in his car, seeks council with a sexual surrogate, and is taken to court multiple times. Shirley even finds herself at one point locked in the Christmas-themed basement of a burgeoning serial killer. All in all it's a very interest and "unique" season from start to finish as far as the cast is concerned.

Now, as far as the storylines go there are several shorter court cases that will leave a lasting impression. Watching Denny tackle Homeland Security to have his name stricken from the No Fly list goes down in the record books. Alan and Denny head down to New Orleans to represent a doctor in a post Katrina murder case. There are also cases involving a cannibal, aliens, someone cured of HIV, and a tortured prisoner from Gauntanamo Bay.

The longer court case here is far more interesting and really strings you along right up until the resolution. The show begins with a murder case in which a young man is accused of murdering his love. The catch here is that the woman was a judge and married to Judge Brian Hooper (Armin Shimmerman). The boy's shrink releases a video that depicts him discussing murder as an option. Throughout this storyline there are plenty of twists and many of the Crane, Poole, and Shmidt attorneys are dragged into it. The end result is quite disturbing and shocking though I'll save that little tidbit for your discovery should you watch the show. I feel it's also noteworthy to mention that in this particular story there is a scene that was a throwback to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine with Armin Shimmerman and Rene Auberjonois talking face to face. This murder trial also sets up the "peepie" neighbor of the murdered woman, Lincoln Meyer, to become prominent in a few episodes.

On the whole, the third season of Boston Legal is very strong. It's safe to say that the character drama and their personal lives are far more interesting than the actual cases they try. It's their interaction that brings the show's spark out into the open and with the new blood this year gives the writers plenty of things to mess around with. As is the case with the previous seasons though, it's James Spader, William Shatner, and Candace Bergen who really make the show come to life. Kelley and associates have found their muse in Boston Legal and it appears that all of the pieces simply fall into place on their own. It's a seemingly effortless brilliance and gives way to random bouts of lunacy, self-referential humor, and a provocative atmosphere.

The DVD:

Boston Legal season three is presented with a 1.78:1 aspect ratio just like the previous years. The transfer for this DVD set is gorgeous and it stands as a testament to the show's production. The bright colors, rich contrast, and eye-popping clarity come through marvelously. This is a vibrant looking series that jumps out at you whether you're watching it on broadcast or DVD and it is a significant step up from The Practice where it originated.

In each episode here the video quality stays rock solid and hardly ever dips below expectations. There are a few moments in between where you may notice some slight blocking in the shadows or grain in close up scenes but they are minimal at best. Boston Legal has always had a certain sheen to it and the transfer here is simply proof of that.

Boston Legal's third season once again comes with English 2.0 stereo which works fine with the dialogue, but it lacks the zing that a 5.1 channel mix could bring to the table. There isn't much in the way of a sense of immersion and basically you'll just be hearing the show as its split between the front channels. This set does maintain a certain level of quality throughout and to be honest there was never an instance where I was disappointed, despite the lack of 5.1 support. Clarity and crispness are big feathers in this DVD's cap. Once again there are also subtitles for English, French, and Spanish.

The sixth disc of this collection features the season's first bonus feature. "Out of Order?" is a six minute featurette all about the judges of the season. It's a fun look at some of what happens behind the show and with commentary by some of the actors who portray these judges this feature gains some weight. It adds some perspective into the thought process that created these kooky, senile, and sexy robed wonders and gives us a view at a section of the show that's often overlooked. Sure we get to see and hear from the lawyers and clients but the judges are too often pushed aside in courtroom dramas.

The final disc in the set is all about the characters. First up is Jerry Espenson who we receive some thoughts on by Christian Clemenson and some information about his origin. The feature goes on to last for twelve minutes and it talks about Bethany and Lincoln Meyer in the same fashion. The actors all chime in to discuss their attraction to the show and what they thought of their respective characters. It's an interesting look at the people who work on the show and it's definitely worth taking the time to sit through these features.

Final Thoughts:

In so many ways Boston Legal is powerful series. Sure it reinvents the cast frequently, yes it mostly deals with raunchy material, and ok, I admit that it's downright insane at times. However, I can't deny the simple addictive enjoyment of it all. In a single episode you may feel yourself moved to tears, bust a lunch from laughter, and writhe uncomfortably in your seat. The writing is powerful, the acting is a cut above, and the concept's straightforward presentation leaves plenty of room for growth. With its fourth season already underway, it's safe to say that this show has staying power and the third DVD set stands as proof to that testament. Highly Recommended.

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