Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Friday, January 9, 2009
Boston Legal 5x12/5x13 'Made In China/Last Call' (Series Finale) Review
SPOILER WARNING
Sadly,one month has passed since Boston Legal ended.A little late,but i decided to post my comments on the finale,because i watched it for the first time last week.I delayed that,because i wanted to think that the show was not over,but..Anyway,i watched the episodes again today.While my initial opinion has not changed,i have to say that i liked the finale more after the second viewing.I expected a bittersweet finale.It was good,but it was also a letdown.This may sound strange,but in my opinion it's not.While i did not expect all the loose ends from all these years to be resolved (and you could argue that the loose ends of the last few episodes were resolved ),i expected that the episode would follow the general tone of the season,and i am mainly referring to the development of Alan Shore.
The first part was very good and the second had nice moments.Generally,the finale had many highlights,moving moments,funny moments,clever remarks about how ABC handled the show.The idea of the acquisition by the Chinese was good and the reaction was interesting (with some moving moments-Shirley worried about her life's work,Paul defending Denny and Alan).There was also a happy ending for Jerry and Katie and the return of Paul was welcome (although i hoped that more old cast members would appear).Another major part of the finale was the return to the Supreme Court,with nice and moving arguments(although it could be argued that it could be better,but a counter argument would be that because it was the finale and it was not the Court Supreme,the scenes at the SC served their purpose).
Another part was the marriage of Denny and Alan,which is one of the things that i didn't like.I disagree with the choice of the writers,although i have to admit that there's some logic that justifies that choice and some of the previous comments gave some answers on that subject.I can understand all the arguments that support the marriage,but in my opinion,it did not fit with all the character development throughout the season.Denny wanted to marry again before he died,they have a strong friendship,Alan didn't have any luck in his recent relationships,there's also the subject of the decisions if Denny got worse and the financial benefits but i think that it was a wrong choice,as far the writers are concerned.Alan says in the finale,when Denny mentions this idea,that it's "beyond ridiculous,even for us",Denny justifies his proposal and Alan says that they will win and Denny would get the experimental drug.They should have ended the whole thing there.
There was also the fact that Denny got worse in the episode (disorientation,confusion,etc).Boston Legal was always a bittersweet show,with its successful mix of drama and smart humor,and the finale was bittersweet but after some point it became too over-the-top.In the final balcony scene,Denny mentions the thought of Alan being his son and that has some logic.They are best friends,they have a strong emotional bond and it could be said they are also father and son,because Alan learns from Denny and Denny learns from Alan.It's an exchange of experience,an exchange of wisdom,an exchange of love.
In another scene (one of the best moments of the finale),Alan is alone looking at Denny and Shirley,Carl and the judge dancing.There's a symbolism in that scene,which fits better with development of the character.
The Wire and The Shield also ended in 2008 and you could argue that they are different shows from BL,they were in cable,they ended in different conditions.There's one more difference.After i watched the finale of these shows,i felt really satisfied.I can't say that the finale was bad,it was a decent,good finale,but it could be better.There was potential,which,to some level,was wasted.
It was a good final season (with few not so good episodes)and it would be better if it was a full one or if BL was renewed for a sixth season.I will miss one of my favourite shows...It's sad,especially when you think that there wasn't actually a reason that justifies the decision of ABC.At least,i have to watch the eighth season of the Practice (which i haven't watched yet) and of course the seasons of BL.
Farewell,Boston Legal...
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Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Boston Legal S05 E12-13 "Made In China"/"Last Call" Trailer (Series Finale)
Provided by Boston-Legal.org
Boston Legal ends (sadly) next Monday with a two-hour finale.
3 DAYS LEFT
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Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Boston Legal:Julie Bowen and Rene Auberjonois return,S05E03 Sneak Peek
by Michael Ausiello,ausiellofiles.ew.com
Julie Bowen and Rene Auberjonois will appear in this season's 10th episode -- two shy of the show's series finale. Unlike Bowen, Auberjonois never technically left Boston Legal -- or at least his character, Paul Lewiston, never did. When last seen in December '07, Paul had begun scaling back his duties to focus on raising his daughter's kid.Bowen made her last appearance in May '07 when Denise left to be a mom.
Sneak Peek #1 of Boston Legal: Dances with Wolves (S05E03)
Sneak Peek #2 of Boston Legal: Dances with Wolves
Video provided by boston-legal.org
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
David E. Kelley makes a move
After more than twenty years at 20th Century Fox TV, Emmy-winning writer-producer David E. Kelley is packing his bags.
One of the longest and most succesful collaborations in television history is coming to an end as Kelley announced that he is entering into a three-year partnership with Warner Bros. TV.
The new deal, said to be worth around eight figures, will have Kelley developing new shows for broadcast and cable as well as Warner's digital projects.
Kelley's deal with 20th Century Fox, which spawned TV hits such as Boston Legal, Ally McBeal and The Practice, expires in June, and the final series under that deal, Boston Legal, is in production for its final season 13-episode order at ABC.
Even though Kelley has been at Fox since his TV career with his job as a writer on L.A. Law in 1986, the change was prompted by Kelley's desire to deal less with administrative issues and more with creating shows.
While Fox did make an offer for a new deal with Kelley he ultimately opted to go to Warner Bros., partly because of his relationship with studio president Peter Roth, who used to work with him at Fox.
Tv Squad,28/5/2008,written by Paul Goebel
Monday, May 19, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Boston Legal renewed for season 5
The verdict is in, and “Boston Legal” will indeed be back on ABC next fall.
Show had been at the center of a tug-of-war between ABC and David E. Kelley Prods.
At issue: ABC wants to greenlight the pilot “Life on Mars,” but Kelley owns the rights to the show (an adaptation of the BBC drama of the same name).
Kelley has expressed his intention to leave “Mars” (Daily Variety, May 7) – but in order for the show to continue without him, first needed to negotiate his departure.
That’s where Kelley’s beloved “Legal” comes in. Show has a loyal, but small audience – and wasn’t a lock to return for another season.
But insiders now say that a deal has been reached between ABC, Kelley and 20th Century Fox TV, and “Legal” indeed will be back for a fifth season.
“Mars,” meanwhile, hasn’t been officially ordered to series yet – but a deal appears to be imminent. ABC did not confirm the pickup.
Critically acclaimed “Legal” stars Emmy winners James Spader and William Shatner as litigators Alan Shore and Denny Crane. Cast also includes Candice Bergen and John Larroquette. Bill D’Elia exec produces with Kelley.
Once Kelley’s departure is finalized, ABC Studios is expected to join 20th Century Fox TV as a co-producer on the drama. Also, “October Road” exec producers Josh Appelbaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg are in line to take over as showrunners.
Kelley first began developing the U.S. adaptation of “Mars” in 2006, when he obtained the rights.
At the time, ABC gave the show a put pilot commitment, with Kelley set to write the script and exec produce.
"Life on Mars," which was in contention for last year, but rolled to this development season after Kelley couldn't find a proper lead for the show.
Jason O'Mara was eventually tapped last summer to play the lead, a 21st century detective who somehow finds himself transported to the 1970s -- where he encounters a serial killer who may have something to do with the present-day abduction of his girlfriend.
Kudos Film and TV, which was behind the original, is also a producer on the U.S. version.
According to TvWeek.com,ABC has the right to cut back its episode order on Boston Legal to 13, a person familiar with the discussions said.
According to Zap2it,will return with a somewhat tighter budget. The network and 20th Century Fox TV, which produces the show wit Kelley's company, negotiated a somewhat lower license fee, which will likely mean some paring of the show's cast (Saffron Burrows, for one, has moved on to an NBC show).
sources;Variety,TvWeek,Zap2it,Boston-Legal.org
