7.8/10337 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
8.0/10311 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
7.9/10328 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
8.4/10357 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
8.1/10303 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
7.6/10304 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
8.1/10344 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
7.8/10298 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
7.6/10277 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
8.4/10345 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
8.0/10309 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
8.5/10326 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
9.1/10578 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
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...
Genres:ComedyDrama
Network:ABC
Season 5 Ratings Summary
"Smoke Signals" is the best rated episode of "Boston Legal" season 5. It scored 7.8/10 based on 337 votes. Directed by Bill D'Elia and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on 9/22/2008. This episode is rated 0.2 points higher than the second-best, "Guardians and Gatekeepers".