Show cover for Boston Legal

The Best Episodes of Boston Legal Season 5

Every episode of Boston Legal Season 5 ranked from best to worst. Discover the Best Episodes of Boston Legal Season 5!

Alan Shore and Denny Crane lead a brigade of high-priced civil litigators in an upscale Boston law firm in a series focusing on the professional and personal lives of brilliant but often emotionally challenged attorneys. A spin-off of long-running series The Practice.

Genres:ComedyDrama
Network:ABC

Season 5 Ratings Summary

The best episode of "Boston Legal" season 5 is "Smoke Signals", rated 7.8/10 from 335 user votes. It was directed by Bill D'Elia and written by David E. Kelley. "Smoke Signals" aired on 9/22/2008 and is rated 0.2 point(s) higher than the second highest rated, "Guardians and Gatekeepers".

  • Smoke Signals
    7.8/10 335 votes

    #1 - Smoke Signals

    Season 5 Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2008

    Alan answers a call for help from Bethany Horowitz in a suit against a tobacco giant, but he suffers a crisis of confidence when the opposing counsel turns out to be an old girlfriend. Meanwhile, Denny is plagued by a case of performance anxiety.

    Director: Bill D'Elia

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Guardians and Gatekeepers
    8.0/10 309 votes

    #2 - Guardians and Gatekeepers

    Season 5 Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2008

    A close call for Denny involving prescription drugs inspires Alan to go after a pharmaceutical company for its unscrupulous advertising tactics. Meanwhile, Carl defends Shirley's 17-year-old granddaughter after she's caught voting illegally, and Jerry and Katie help a girl who was sexually assaulted in a private detention facility.

    Director: Mike Listo

    Writer: N/A

  • Dances with Wolves
    7.9/10 326 votes

    #3 - Dances with Wolves

    Season 5 Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2008

    Denny is arrested on concealed-weapon charges after shooting a man who tried to rob him and Jerry. Meanwhile, a case gets personal for Alan when he tries to help a sex surrogate in a custody battle for her daughter.

    Director: James R. Bagdonas

    Writer: N/A

  • True Love
    8.4/10 355 votes

    #4 - True Love

    Season 5 Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2008

    After an old girlfriend hires Alan to help her husband beat a murder charge, he faces a moral and professional dilemma when his lingering feelings for her elicit a secret desire for a conviction.

    Director: Steve Robin

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Bad Seed
    8.1/10 301 votes

    #5 - The Bad Seed

    Season 5 Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2008

    Alan and Shirley prepare for a fight with the military on behalf of a man whose brother died under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, Jerry helps his sister in her search for the identity of the father of her son, who was conceived through an anonymous donor.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Happy Trails
    7.6/10 302 votes

    #6 - Happy Trails

    Season 5 Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/2008

    Shirley defends the notorious Catherine Piper after she accidentally blows up her doctor. Meanwhile, Alan and Denny take a break from the office, but they are out of their element at a dude ranch in Utah.

    Director: Mike Listo

    Writer: N/A

  • Mad Cows
    8.1/10 342 votes

    #7 - Mad Cows

    Season 5 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2008

    Alan and Denny sue the USDA on behalf of a cattle rancher who wants to test her entire herd for mad cow disease; Jerry's consideration to make partner hinges on an up-or-down vote by the firm's panel, which includes Paul Lewiston.

    Director: Steve Robin

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Roe
    7.8/10 295 votes

    #8 - Roe

    Season 5 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/2008

    Alan and Shirley help a minor in a legal battle over her pregnancy, and Jerry takes up his own defense when he faces aggravated-assault charges after an encounter with a bully.

    Director: Bill D'Elia

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Kill, Baby, Kill
    7.6/10 274 votes

    #9 - Kill, Baby, Kill

    Season 5 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/2008

    Carl and Denny go to Virginia to defend a prison guard who shot a death-row inmate when a lethal-injection execution was botched. Meanwhile, Alan and Shirley help a woman who says she lost her job after voting for John McCain.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: N/A

  • Thanksgiving
    8.4/10 343 votes

    #10 - Thanksgiving

    Season 5 Episode 10 - Aired 11/24/2008

    Shirley's quiet Thanksgiving with Carl becomes considerably louder when she opens her door to other members of the firm, including Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie and emotionally unstable partner Edwin Poole, who brings his 6-year-old foster son.

    Director: Mike Listo

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Juiced
    8.0/10 306 votes

    #11 - Juiced

    Season 5 Episode 11 - Aired 12/1/2008

    When Denny receives bad news about the state of his Alzheimer's, Alan goes before the Massachusetts Supreme Court to plead for access to an experimental drug that could help his condition. Meanwhile, Jerry and Katie try to help a girl get into Harvard after her SAT scores arouse suspicion, and Catherine Piper returns.

    Director: Michael Lehmann

    Writer: N/A

  • Made In China (1)
    8.5/10 324 votes

    #12 - Made In China (1)

    Season 5 Episode 12 - Aired 12/8/2008

    Financial problems may force Crane, Poole & Schmidt to be put up for sale. Meanwhile, Alan petitions the Supreme Court for Denny's access to a non-FDA approved medicine; and Shirley and Carl plan their wedding.

    Director: Bill D'Elia

    Writer: N/A

  • Last Call (2)
    9.1/10 573 votes

    #13 - Last Call (2)

    Season 5 Episode 13 - Aired 12/8/2008

    Financial problems may force Crane Poole & Schmidt to be put up for sale in the series finale, which also finds Alan petitioning the Supreme Court for Denny's access to a non-FDA approved medicine, and Shirley and Carl planning their wedding.

    Director: Bill D'Elia

    Writer: N/A