The Worst Episodes of Ally McBeal

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   4.0/10(4 votes)

   #1 - The Getaway

   S4:E163/19/2001

   To escape their ruined love lives, Richard and John go for a vacation to Los Angeles. It turns into a working vacation however when John not only must get Richard out of legal trouble but also helps a woman divorcing her wealthy husband who paid someone to seduce her. Meanwhile Richard helps a struggling actress leave her agent who is in fact using her to run an escort service.

   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley
2. 

   4.6/10(5 votes)

   #2 - Happy Trails

   S2:E711/9/1998

   Ally finally shakes the pesky Wallace. Ling rescues Stefan the frog from a suicide jump only to have him served up as dinner. The gang at the firm mourns the untimely death of Judge Happy Boyle.

   Director:Jonathan Pontell

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Jonathan Pontell

   Writer:David E. Kelley
3. 

   4.8/10(5 votes)

   #3 - Buried Pleasures

   S3:E211/1/1999

   Ling's curiosity is piqued when she dreams about kissing Ally. Under the pretense of becoming better friends, Ling and Ally go on a "date". Meanwhile, John overhears Nelle talking about her fantasy, which sends him back into the depths of sexual insecurity. It seems everyone in the office is pre-occupied with the topic of sex and Billy and Renee feel they are the only people actually working. Renee defends a woman who is accused of sexual harassment by her female co-workers. The co-workers claim that she has turned the office into a sexual arena and is suing. Billy represents the company, but finds that he and Renee do not see eye to eye on the case or on the issue of a woman's sexuality in general.

   Director:Mel Damski

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Mel Damski

   Writer:David E. Kelley
4. 

   5.0/10(6 votes)

   #4 - You Never Can Tell

   S2:E911/23/1998

   The whole firm is angry at Richard for accepting another ridiculous lawsuit that Ling has come up with, but as usual, Richard has no problem telling it as he sees it. Renee inadvertently sets Ally up on a blind date from hell, and this time during the date, Ally gets herself stuck in another tight situation. John is continuously fraught over his relationship with Nelle, and things don't go well when he asks for advice or gets advice when he doesn't even ask for it.

   Director:Adam Nimoy

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Adam Nimoy

   Writer:David E. Kelley
5. 

   6.3/10(3 votes)

   #5 - Happy Birthday Baby

   S1:E194/6/1998

   Ally is in denial about her birthday but her co-workers aren't. Elaine orchestrates a party at the bar and asks Dr. Greg Butters to sing a romantic ballad dedicated to Ally. He does, and knocks the socks off everyone in the room. Renee is especially moved, and jumps up on stage to join him in a seductive duet. Meanwhile, in the courtroom, Ally is forced to take the position for a new client that his foot fetish qualifies him as temporarily insane. Renee, as the opposing district attorney, maintains that sneaking into a would-be date's apartment uninvited to tickle her feet is breaking and entering.

   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Thomas Schlamme

   Writer:David E. Kelley
6. 

   6.3/10(3 votes)

   #6 - Heat Wave

   S3:E411/15/1999

   Risa, the bride whose wedding Ally destroyed, decides to sue Ally for intentional infliction of emotional distress; Georgia expresses outrage when Billy hires a sexy twenty-year-old as his new assistant; Ling tells Fish that she has been faking in bed.

   Director:Alex Graves

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Alex Graves

   Writer:David E. Kelley
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7. 

   6.3/10(3 votes)

   #7 - In Search Of Pygmies

   S3:E122/14/2000

   Ling defends a dear old friend who is asked to leave his retirement home because the director finds his exuberant imagination disruptive for other residents. While Ling tries to decide whether her friend truly believes in his make-believe world or just pretends to, he suffers from a hallucination that has fatal results. Meanwhile, Ally spots a potential cute guy and proceeds to go after him.

   Director:Arvin Brown

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Arvin Brown

   Writer:David E. Kelley
8. 

   6.3/10(3 votes)

   #8 - Ally McBeal: The Musical... Almost

   S3:E215/22/2000

   Things go awry when Ally introduces Brian to her parents, resulting in conjuring up old pains and hurt feelings. Meanwhile, Nelle regrets her decision to leave Cage and Fish, and takes steps to rectify it. Also, it's John's birthday - emotional, entertaining, with lots of musical numbers.

   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley
9. 

   6.5/10(2 votes)

   #9 - The Blame Game

   S1:E131/19/1998

   Ally has a chance encounter with Glenn, the well-endowed artists' model, at a local Starbucks, and makes it very clear that she is irritated with him. On the legal side, John Cage takes on a wrongful death case that Fish is convinced will reap big bucks for the firm. Two adult siblings are suing an airline after their father is killed in a plane crash.

   Director:Sandy Smolan

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Sandy Smolan

   Writer:David E. Kelley
10. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #10 - Body Language

    S1:E142/2/1998

    Ally and Renee are bridesmaids at a friend's wedding. They both bristle at the absurdity of the rituals performed, and swear to never do it. Richard asks Ally to flirt with a wealthy new client. To Ally's chagrin, Cage offers no protest on her behalf, admitting he's undergoing smile therapy which has renewed his appreciation for behavioral reinforcement. Ally and Georgia try a case about overturning a prison warden's decision to refuse marriage for a life-term inmate.

    Director:Mel Damski

    Writers:Nicole Yorkin, Dawn Prestwich, David E. Kelley

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    Director:Mel Damski

    Writers:Nicole Yorkin, Dawn Prestwich, David E. Kelley
11. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #11 - Once In A Lifetime

    S1:E152/23/1998

    Fish brings in a client, an 80-something world famous artist, who is battling his heirs to regain control of his estate. Ally and Billy co-counsel the case, and as a result of spending several late nights together, separately conclude that the artist's love of his recently deceased wife parallels their own relationship in many ways. Meanwhile, Cage begins to sense that Ally is losing interest in the possibility of getting together when she behaves in an overtly irritable manner that is obvious to the entire office. Fish loses his patience and decides to get to the bottom of Cage's problem with Ally.

    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writers:Jeff Pinkner, David E. Kelley

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    Director:Elodie Keene

    Writers:Jeff Pinkner, David E. Kelley
12. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #12 - The Playing Field

    S1:E183/16/1998

    Ally is a passenger in a car accident with the firm's client Greg Butters, a handsome doctor to whom she finds herself attracted. She attempts to handle the doctor's case herself, but finds she just cannot. Ally confides in her "therapist" that she is attracted to the doctor and is enthusiastically encouraged her to use her sex appeal to take the initiative with him. Ally decides the therapist should meet the entire cast of characters in her life and talks her into showing up at the bar after work one night. Fish argues a case of sexual discrimination on behalf of a client who missed a promotion because she didn't sleep with her boss.

    Director:Jonathan Pontell

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Jonathan Pontell

    Writer:David E. Kelley
13. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #13 - The Inmates

    S1:E204/27/1998

    A wealthy client is brutally murdered and the wife is implicated. Her only defense when caught red-handed is that she has no recollection of what had taken place. Billy, anxious to take on bigger cases, is the lone voice advocating for the firm taking the criminal case, but Fish and Cage ultimately decide it should be farmed out. Georgia, meanwhile, takes on a case about a heterosexual waiter suing for discrimination and wrongful dismissal when he's fired from his job for not being gay. The crossover continues on The Practice S02E26 Axe Murderer (II).

    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley
14. 

    6.5/10(4 votes)

    #14 - Troubled Water

    S3:E511/22/1999

    Ally's Thanksgiving turns into a debacle when she invites her colleagues and her parents to her apartment for dinner.

    Director:Joanna Kerns

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Joanna Kerns

    Writer:David E. Kelley
15. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #15 - I Will Survive

    S3:E174/10/2000

    After the recent tragic events Ally is being stalked by disco and an imaginary Gloria Gaynor, who sings "I Will Survive." Meanwhile, Richard hires a new lawyer to replace Billy and assigns him to Billy's cases, which causes Ally to feel extremely conflicted and lash out. Also, the new guy has some interesting quirks of his own.

    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Barnet Kellman

    Writer:David E. Kelley
16. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #16 - Mr. Bo

    S4:E111/22/2001

    Melanie takes John to her tiny apartment (actually it's an old service elevator) and introduces him to Mr. Bo, a homeless man Melanie cares deeply for. Mr. Bo starts to stalk John around and he files a complaint against him. After Melanie convinces him to drop the charges, she reveals that Mr. Bo is in fact her father and John will have to wrestle him in order to go on seeing her. Meanwhile, Richard organizes a twist contest at the bar and while Elaine freaks with the possibility of losing to the babe lawyers, Nelle only enters the contest after Ling introduces her to a very hot twist instructor. And Ally takes a case of a woman who fired her secretary because she was slightly overweight and is shocked when she discovers that Cage & Fish only hire hot female lawyers.

    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley
17. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #17 - Reach Out & Touch

    S4:E132/12/2001

    Ally has hallucinations with Barry Manilow. Richard assigns Ling to work with Jackson Duper, the firm's newest lawyer. When they meet, Ling discovers that Jackson slept with her in the past under a fake name. They have to handle a double case of a man who wants his marriage annulled because his wife is a nymphomaniac and cheated on him 106 times and is suing the minister for having a torrid affair with her. Between the unisex bathroom, Elaine's vibra and Melanie's Tourette, Jackson is going crazy with his new job and questions his future in the firm. Meanwhile, John proposes to Melanie. But Melanie doesn't want to be institutionalized (even if that institution is marriage)...

    Director:Kenny Ortega

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Kenny Ortega

    Writer:David E. Kelley
18. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Boys Town

    S4:E142/19/2001

    Richard and John's relationship grows more tense than ever and so they attend couples therapy; Jackson's presence has a profound impact on Elaine; Jackson represent a woman being sued for firing all her male employees.

    Director:David Grossman

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:David Grossman

    Writer:David E. Kelley
19. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Falling Up

    S4:E152/26/2001

    Jackson and Renee's one night stand turns into something more; Ally visits several therapists to get over her hallucinations of Larry, who eventually appears in the flesh; John represents a man who wants to annul his marriage after his wife decides she doesn't want to have kids, a case that carries over into John's relationship with Melanie.

    Director:Oz Scott

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Oz Scott

    Writer:David E. Kelley
20. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - The Pursuit Of Unhappiness

    S4:E173/26/2001

    Elaine cheated on Mark and now she's trying by all means to find a way for him to forgive her. She even takes advice from Richard! But in the end she has a serious talk with Mark and she tells him she cheated because he never fully trusted her. They break up. Meanwhile, Jackson is assigned to do the pre-nup for a rich, fat and bald man. Ally puts Larry to defend to soon-to-be wife's interests, which leads into a more personal dissension between Larry and Jackson. And Ling takes the case of a man who's being sued by his own son because a blood clot has left him perpetually happy which is ruining the family business.

    Director:Kenny Ortega

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Kenny Ortega

    Writer:David E. Kelley
21. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #21 - The Obstacle Course

    S4:E184/16/2001

    Cassandra surprises John when she suddenly shows up at the office. She wants to continue the relationship they started in LA, but John doesn't want to go on seeing her, because they're 3.000 miles away and he's not completely over Melanie yet. Ally takes the case of a man who's being sued because he didn't reveal to his internet date that he was a dwarf. Larry is representing the woman suing, and the case ends up reflecting on their own relationship as Ally questions Larry if they would be together if she was 3 feet tall. Ling and Jackson take a case of a woman who's suing her old boyfriend for interrupting her wedding ceremony. Jackson reveals his true feelings towards Ling, who is confused and torn between him and Richard. Caught in the middle of this is Renee, who feels used by Jackson.

    Director:Joanna Kerns

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Joanna Kerns

    Writer:David E. Kelley
22. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #22 - Queen Bee

    S4:E215/7/2001

    Sydney Gale hires Cage & Fish to represent her in court. She's been sued for wrongful termination, and Richard and John take the case. An employee is suing Sydney because he doesn't want to 'serve' her anymore. In her firm, she only hires men who desire her, and thus make the company a lot like a beehive and Sydney their queen. John and Richard are driven crazy with lust, but they win the case. Meanwhile, Reverend Mark Newman is once again having problems concerning Lisa Knowles's performance at church. Now she's musically attacking Rev. Mark's new girlfriend, who's also a member of the choir. After Jackson's strategy fails, it's in Nelle's hand to fix the situation.

    Director:Bethany Rooney

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Bethany Rooney

    Writer:David E. Kelley
23. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #23 - Home Again

    S4:E225/14/2001

    Ally becomes extremely jealous over Larry's easy friendship with his ex-wife; Richard tries to stop a magazine from publishing photos of his LA friend, Jane.

    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Michael Schultz

    Writer:David E. Kelley
24. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #24 - Judge Ling

    S5:E211/5/2001

    Jenny insists that Ally should go out with Glenn, and Ally insists she doesn't have a crush on him. The three are assigned to chair the telemarketing case. They have a very hard time with the main plaintiff, Claire Otoms, a purple-haired, flashy-looking lady who lives in a 'colonial house'. Raymond, knowing that if the judge listens to her he'll rule in his favor, takes the deposition to the court. Claire keeps drifting from the questions, for Ally's desperation. But what appeared to have gone so bad turned out good. Coretta convinces John that he must look good to cause a good impression, and John ends up dressing a fake muscle suit to try to get rid of his weird-women magnetism. Ling and Nelle 'compliment' twin babies on the street. The mother of the babies - the Massachusetts governor - is so flattered by the compliments that she offers Ling a judge position. Overwhelmed, Ling makes a purple robe and starts to give more-than-quick sentences.

    Director:Oz Scott

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Oz Scott

    Writer:David E. Kelley
25. 

    6.5/10(2 votes)

    #25 - Neutral Corners

    S5:E311/12/2001

    Ally has a dream about Raymond and Glenn. She thinks it's a sign they'll lose the phone company case, and Glenn sees it as a secret attraction of Ally for him. After Raymond makes a 125,000 dollars offer for the phone company case, Ally decides to make an infomercial using Ling's TV show crew and Claire Otoms as the announcer. They threat to run the infomercial nationwide on primetime, and the threat of losing hundreds of millions of dollars scares Raymond's client. Cage & Fish settle for 15 million dollars, the biggest settlement ever, which makes Richard cry of happiness. Meanwhile, Ally is still divided with her feelings for Glenn and if she should date him or not. Glenn says he's not interested in her, and Raymond asks Glenn if he should date Ally. To make things even better, John decides to confess his feelings for Ally and is very disappointed when she says they will never be more than just very good friends.

    Director:Arvin Brown

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Arvin Brown

    Writer:David E. Kelley