The Worst Episodes of Boston Legal

Episode Rankings

1. #1 Worst Episode
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   5.5/10(4 votes)

   #1 - Roe v. Wade, The Musical

   S4:E121/22/2008

   Shirley and Alan face off in court when they're on opposite sides of a case involving stolen sperm; Jerry helps his objectophile ex-girlfriend when she loses her teaching job for inappropriate contact with a student.

   Director:Steve Robin

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Steve Robin

   Writer:David E. Kelley
2. 

   6.0/10(4 votes)

   #2 - Live Big

   S2:E162/21/2006

   Alan and Denny defend a man charged with murder after he euthanized his wife with Alzheimers. Meanwhile, long-lost family members return when Shirley's ex-husband asks her to be "best man" at his wedding and Paul tracks down his estranged daughter.

   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Bill D'Elia

   Writer:David E. Kelley
3. 

   6.8/10(4 votes)

   #3 - The Cancer Man Can

   S2:E111/10/2006

   Paul recruits Denise to help him defend a cancer patient who used his wealth to guarantee he would not get a placebo during a drug study. Meanwhile, Alan goes too far in trying to convince the senior partners to promote "Hands" to partner, and Denny finds himself falling in love with a woman he meets at a charity event.

   Director:Lou Antonio

   Writers:Michael Reisz, Janet Leahy

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   Director:Lou Antonio

   Writers:Michael Reisz, Janet Leahy
4. 

   6.8/10(5 votes)

   #4 - Whose God is It Anyway?

   S3:E510/17/2006

   The media spotlight intensifies as Coho's high-profile murder case goes to trial; Alan finds himself defending Jerry Espenson--again--but also sees another familiar face in court; and Denny's feelings for Bethany grow.

   Director:Lou Antonio

   Writer:David E. Kelley

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   Director:Lou Antonio

   Writer:David E. Kelley
5. 

   7.0/10(5 votes)

   #5 - Change of Course

   S1:E410/24/2004

   A cop killing centers on a haughty defendant, reluctantly represented by Lori and zealously by a firm veteran, who has been a patient in a mental facility. Meanwhile, Shore plays hardball with a witness in a shoplifting case involving a kleptomaniac CEO.

   Director:Ron Underwood

   Writer:Laura Wolner

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   Director:Ron Underwood

   Writer:Laura Wolner
6. 

   7.0/10(2 votes)

   #6 - Guardians and Gatekeepers

   S5:E29/29/2008

   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:Unknown

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   Director:Mike Listo

   Writer:Unknown
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7. 

   7.2/10(4 votes)

   #7 - Witches of Mass Destruction

   S2:E611/1/2005

   The firm takes on two milestone cases. First, Shirley and Denise represent Christian and Wiccan parents who are outraged by a public school's Halloween celebrations, but the case takes a turn for the worse when the clients begin arguing amongst themselves. Meanwhile, Denny and Alan's friendship is tested when Alan helps Cassie sue the US military for the loss of her brother.

   Director:James R. Bagdonas

   Writers:Michael Reisz, Andrew Kreisberg, Lawrence Broch

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   Director:James R. Bagdonas

   Writers:Michael Reisz, Andrew Kreisberg, Lawrence Broch
8. 

   7.2/10(4 votes)

   #8 - Smile

   S2:E152/14/2006

   Alan's friendly demeanor quickly turns into anger when a prestigious private school turns away a child prodigy because she lacks the face muscles to smile. Meanwhile, Shirley and Denise take on a hospital that refused to administer emergency birth control to a rape victim due to religious beliefs, and Brad is put on special assignment by Denny.

   Director:Robert Yannetti

   Writer:Corinne Brinkerhoff

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   Director:Robert Yannetti

   Writer:Corinne Brinkerhoff
9. 

   7.2/10(4 votes)

   #9 - Stick It

   S2:E193/14/2006

   Alan once again goes to bat for Melissa, this time with much less confidence, who is in serious trouble with the IRS. Meanwhile, Paul and Brad enact a plan to help Rachel get into rehab, and Denise re-enters the world of dating with disastrous results.

   Director:Adam Arkin

   Writers:David E. Kelley, Janet Leahy

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   Director:Adam Arkin

   Writers:David E. Kelley, Janet Leahy
10. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #10 - A Greater Good

    S1:E912/12/2004

    Alan and Denny defend a drug company that is being sued by a woman who states they provided false reasoning when they took her off of an experimental pill that was a possible cure for her sickness. Alan and Denny discover a shocking secret that could make or break their case and because of that, they become at odds with each other on how to proceed. Lori discovers that Tara's new information for their case would win it for them, but the way she retrieved it could cost them their case and their careers. Lori learns a secret about Brad.

    Director:Arlene Sanford

    Writer:Peter Ocko

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    Director:Arlene Sanford

    Writer:Peter Ocko
11. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #11 - The Nutcrackers

    S3:E1012/5/2006

    Alan represents a mother fighting for custody of her preteen daughters, who happen to be white-supremacist singers; a woman reaches for the heavens to blame someone for her husband's death by lightning strike; a girl wants to be emancipated from her family; and Shirley and Alan's wager becomes public at the office Christmas party.

    Director:John Terlesky

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:John Terlesky

    Writer:Unknown
12. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #12 - The Good Lawyer

    S3:E162/20/2007

    Alan tries two different cases, including the defense of a therapist who was fired for his belief in UFOs. Meanwhile, Clarence is confused by Claire's dinner invitation; and Bethany tries to bring out Denny's spiritual side.

    Director:Michael Pressman

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Michael Pressman

    Writer:David E. Kelley
13. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #13 - Brotherly Love

    S3:E194/10/2007

    Alan and Denny defend an unscrupulous lawyer accused of obstructing justice on behalf of his brother. Meanwhile, interoffice couples Brad and Denise and Claire and Clarence each deal with major relationship revelations; and Denny practices the positive-thinking philosophy known as "the secret" in order to wish Raquel Welch into his life.

    Director:Unknown

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Unknown

    Writer:David E. Kelley
14. 

    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #14 - Attack of the Xenophobes

    S4:E711/13/2007

    Denny needs Alan's help after using an employee's weight as a reason for dismissal; Clarence is upset by an Internet posting of him as Clarice; Katie and Whitney work on a murder case involving racism and the police; and Jerry is anxious about taking a relationship to the next level.

    Director:John Terlesky

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:John Terlesky

    Writer:David E. Kelley
15. 

    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #15 - Men to Boys

    S2:E510/25/2005

    Denise finds herself in a difficult position when an auto-injury case she neglected for three years comes up for trial and she is unprepared. While Garrett researches, he meets Cassie, a young paralegal whose strange sexual tendencies hide a painful past. Meanwhile Denny learns he must apologize to Lori or face a sexual harrassment suit, and Alan takes Sara out for dinner and a "show."

    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:David E. Kelley
16. 

    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #16 - Truly, Madly, Deeply

    S2:E711/8/2005

    Denny is called to defend a man who raped and killed a 13-year-old girl, but decides he'd rather go to jail than spend his days defending murderers. Meanwhile, Alan must face his fear of clowns and Shirley dumps a bizarre bestiality case on Denise.

    Director:Stephen Cragg

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Stephen Cragg

    Writer:David E. Kelley
17. 

    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #17 - The Ass Fat Jungle

    S2:E811/15/2005

    Denise finds herself wanting to sue her own client when Boston's most celebrated plastic surgeon is under fire for unorthodox techniques. Shirley takes on a difficult case involving an Alzheimer's patient which touches her personally. Meanwhile, Alan and Denny fight their own demons as Alan asks his new secretary to protect him from night terrors and Denny undergoes an MRI.

    Director:Ron Underwood

    Writers:Phoef Sutton, Janet Leahy

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    Director:Ron Underwood

    Writers:Phoef Sutton, Janet Leahy
18. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Fat Burner

    S3:E152/13/2007

    Denny is arrested for illegally exporting human fat to be used as a fuel source; Clarence tries his first case--a homicide--with the help of Bethany and Paul; and a member of the firm leaves.

    Director:Steve Robin

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Steve Robin

    Writer:Unknown
19. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Roe

    S5:E811/10/2008

    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

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    Director:Bill D'Elia

    Writer:David E. Kelley
20. 

    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Juiced

    S5:E1112/1/2008

    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:Unknown

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    Director:Michael Lehmann

    Writer:Unknown
21. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #21 - Hired Guns

    S1:E1012/19/2004

    Lori and Brad defend a woman who is accused of murdering her husband and his mistress while they were in bed together. Alan's life is endangered when he helps a woman whose ex-husband plans to kidnap their children.

    Director:Dennis Smith

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Dennis Smith

    Writer:David E. Kelley
22. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Schmidt Happens

    S1:E111/9/2005

    A Sudanese native wants to sue the U.S. government for the lack of action taken against the mayhem happening in his country and Paul looks to Lori to take the case. Founding partner Shirley Schmidt arrives with a mission to bring order to the firm. While making herself known, she has to deal with Denny who does not wanting her there, help with Lori's extremely high profile case, and learns that she has to keep her eye on Alan. Alan ends up defending a man who killed his mother in a fit of rage but by accident.

    Director:Allison Liddi-Brown

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Allison Liddi-Brown

    Writer:David E. Kelley
23. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #23 - From Whence We Came

    S1:E121/16/2005

    Lori, along with Denny and Shirley, defends a school superintendent who fired two science teachers because they refused to teach creationism and is now being sued by them. Alan learns his assistant has expressed concern about their work relationship. While dealing with that issue, Alan discovers that his client Bernard Ferrion, who killed his mother, needs legal help again. One of the members of the firm is fired and learns that a close associate is not too keen on lending a supportive hand.

    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:David E. Kelley
24. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #24 - It Girls and Beyond

    S1:E131/23/2005

    Brad becomes attracted to his client who being sued for having a relationship with her boss merely for financial purposes. To make matters more difficult, Brad convinces himself that she is lying about her being a lesbian. Alan is asked to second chair on Denny's trial case where a doctor is being sued for prescribing a drug that has not been FDA approved. While working on that, Denny is on a personal mission to prove that he is a competent attorney. Meanwhile, the staff tries to deal with Alan's out-spoken new assistant, Catherine Piper.

    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:Unknown

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    Director:Mike Listo

    Writer:Unknown
25. 

    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #25 - Til We Meat Again

    S1:E142/13/2005

    While out with Tara, Alan ends up causing a bar room brawl and as a result, becomes arrested for conspiracy to commit assault and battery. Shirley and Denny represent a man whose steakhouse is being put out of business because the public wants to ban red meat for fear of Mad Cow disease.

    Director:Bill D'Elia

    Writer:David E. Kelley

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    Director:Bill D'Elia

    Writer:David E. Kelley