"Boston Legal" Finale: Hand That Man an Emmy

It was obvious that Monday was a very special episode of “Boston Legal” because Alan Shore (James Spader) gave not one, not two, but three passionate speeches.

First, Alan railed against the government legislating marriage in an attempt to stop an injunction to keep him and Denny from getting married (He, of course, won.). Second, he railed against the Chinese corporation that tried to fire the entire Crane, Poole and Schmidt litigation department (He won that one too—for now.). And third, he argued that a dying man had the right to an experimental drug if it would extend his life.

And it was after that third one, that I actually said aloud, “Hand that man an Emmy.”

And since giving Spader an Emmy would mean not giving Kiefer Sutherland an Emmy, I think you’ll agree that coming from me, that’s high praise indeed…

I know that a lot of people don’t like Spader’s performance because of Alan’s over-the-top political rants and quite frankly I’m not a huge fan of those rants either. That’s why his final speech of the series was so memorable. Although he started out with his cocky, sarcastic attitude (in front of the US Supreme Court, no less), he eventually became an emotional man desperate to hang on to his best friend. It was so beautiful and moving that it even made Alan’s opposing counsel (Kimberly Williams-Paisley in a fantastic guest spot) cry, although I’m proud to say that I kept it together—but just barely.

As Alan told the court that if he could, he would take Denny’s Alzheimer’s away because he loved him, it was hard to keep it together. But more than that it managed to make Alan and Denny getting married all the more plausible…

As Alan said, it was like “jumping the shark,” but somehow it wasn’t as it was completely believable to think that Alan would marry his dear friend to help him get through his final years.

We also got to see Carl and Shirley get married (in a double ceremony with Alan and Denny presided over by Justice Scalia, no less) and Jerry and Katie kiss for the first time; but let’s face it. We were tuning in to see the final balcony scene with Alan and Denny.

And as the camera panned out to the Boston skyline, we watched Alan and Denny dance their first dance as a married couple as Alan argued with Denny about who got to lead. It was actually a pretty satisfying finish…

Because only “Boston Legal” could make two heterosexual men getting married seem sweet…

When “BL” was good, it was very, very good and when it was bad, it was horrid. So it’s great to see that it went out on a high.

Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie, Shirley and Carl. You will be missed…

You can see the final scene for yourself here…




You can watch the entire episode at ABC.com…

Photo Credits: Vivian Zink/ABC & Craig Sjodin/ABC