Boston Legal backdrop
ComedyDrama

The Worst Episodes of Boston Legal

Every episode of Boston Legal ranked from worst to best. Explore the Worst Episodes of Boston Legal!

Binge this in 3d 0hPeaking at 9.0/10

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.

Airs on

Seasons5

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Worst Episode
    Click to reveal
    Boston Legal Season 4 Episode 12 - Roe v. Wade, The Musical
    5.5/10(4 votes)

    #1 - Roe v. Wade, The Musical

    S4:E12

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  2. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 16 - Live Big
    6.0/10(4 votes)

    #2 - Live Big

    S2:E16

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  3. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 11 - The Cancer Man Can
    6.8/10(4 votes)

    #3 - The Cancer Man Can

    S2:E11

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  4. Boston Legal Season 3 Episode 5 - Whose God is It Anyway?
    6.8/10(5 votes)

    #4 - Whose God is It Anyway?

    S3:E5

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  5. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 4 - Change of Course
    7.0/10(5 votes)

    #5 - Change of Course

    S1:E4

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  6. Boston Legal Season 5 Episode 2 - Guardians and Gatekeepers
    7.0/10(2 votes)

    #6 - Guardians and Gatekeepers

    S5:E2

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  7. Trending NowTRENDING NOW

    The 20 BEST Episodes of Boston Legal

    READ
  8. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 6 - Witches of Mass Destruction
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #7 - Witches of Mass Destruction

    S2:E6

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  9. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 15 - Smile
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #8 - Smile

    S2:E15

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  10. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 19 - Stick It
    7.2/10(4 votes)

    #9 - Stick It

    S2:E19

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  11. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 9 - A Greater Good
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #10 - A Greater Good

    S1:E9

    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.

    Writer:Peter Ocko

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  12. Boston Legal Season 3 Episode 10 - The Nutcrackers
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #11 - The Nutcrackers

    S3:E10

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  13. Boston Legal Season 3 Episode 16 - The Good Lawyer
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #12 - The Good Lawyer

    S3:E16

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  14. Boston Legal Season 3 Episode 19 - Brotherly Love
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #13 - Brotherly Love

    S3:E19

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  15. Boston Legal Season 4 Episode 7 - Attack of the Xenophobes
    7.3/10(3 votes)

    #14 - Attack of the Xenophobes

    S4:E7

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  16. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 5 - Men to Boys
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #15 - Men to Boys

    S2:E5

    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."

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  17. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 7 - Truly, Madly, Deeply
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #16 - Truly, Madly, Deeply

    S2:E7

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  18. Boston Legal Season 2 Episode 8 - The Ass Fat Jungle
    7.5/10(4 votes)

    #17 - The Ass Fat Jungle

    S2:E8

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  19. Boston Legal Season 3 Episode 15 - Fat Burner
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #18 - Fat Burner

    S3:E15

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  20. Boston Legal Season 5 Episode 8 - Roe
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #19 - Roe

    S5:E8

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  21. Boston Legal Season 5 Episode 11 - Juiced
    7.5/10(2 votes)

    #20 - Juiced

    S5:E11

    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.

    Writer:Unknown

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  22. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 10 - Hired Guns
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #21 - Hired Guns

    S1:E10

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  23. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 11 - Schmidt Happens
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #22 - Schmidt Happens

    S1:E11

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  24. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 12 - From Whence We Came
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #23 - From Whence We Came

    S1:E12

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  25. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 13 - It Girls and Beyond
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #24 - It Girls and Beyond

    S1:E13

    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

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

  26. Boston Legal Season 1 Episode 14 - Til We Meat Again
    7.7/10(3 votes)

    #25 - Til We Meat Again

    S1:E14

    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.

    Be the first to start the conversation for this episode

Worst Episodes Summary

"Roe v. Wade, The Musical" is the worst rated episode of "Boston Legal". It scored 5.5/10 based on 4 votes. Directed by Steve Robin and written by David E. Kelley, it aired on 1/22/2008. This episode scored 0.5 points lower than the second lowest rated, "Live Big".