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The Best Episodes Written By David E. kelley

Every TV Episode Written by David E. kelley Ranked from Best to Worst by Thousands of Voters

David E. Kelley Ratings Summary

"Betrayal" is the best rated episode written by David E. Kelley. It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. It was directed by Thomas Schlamme. It aired on 9/23/1997 and is rated 0.0 points higher than their second-best episode, "The Blessing".

  • Betrayal
    10.0/101 votes

    #1 - Betrayal

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/23/1997

    The firm defends Joey Heric, a colorful client on trial for the murder of his lover. Jimmy is tried on solicitation charges by a vengeful district attorney.

    Director: Thomas Schlamme

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Blessing
    10.0/101 votes

    #2 - The Blessing

    Season 2 Episode 3 - Aired 9/27/1997

    Bobby and Gamble clash in and out of the courtroom when an emotional assisted-suicide case forces them to confront painful memories. Meanwhile, Lindsay goes head-to-head with her ex-boyfriend when she defends an elderly bookie.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Dog Bite
    10.0/101 votes

    #3 - Dog Bite

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/4/1997

    Jimmy finally gets his first case, that of a little girl bitten by a dog. A juror approaches Lindsay with inside information on a case. Eugene defends a one-legged mugger.

    Director: Steve Miner

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Hide and Seek
    10.0/101 votes

    #4 - Hide and Seek

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 11/29/1997

    Bobby and Lindsay second-chair Bobby's old mentor, Raymond Oz, when Oz fears he's losing his memory. Eugene struggles with his conscience when he defends a man on trial for raping and murdering two boys. Jimmy's fantasies come true when a childhood sex symbol seeks his legal counsel.

    Director: Steve Miner

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • In Deep
    10.0/101 votes

    #5 - In Deep

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 3/2/1998

    The Luis Moreno case finally comes to trial with Rebecca more determined than ever to testify. Ellenor rushes off to defend Cruikshank again, leaving Lindsay to defend a man being cited for using too much water in his toilet. Eugene faces his own prejudices during an altercation with a dry cleaner.

    Director: Oz Scott

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Closet Justice
    10.0/101 votes

    #6 - Closet Justice

    Season 3 Episode 19 - Aired 3/28/1999

    Judge Hiller assigns Lindsay the repugnant task of defending nun-killer Michael Kingston. Lindsay discovers that the police search that found the body was unconstitutional and, against all her morals, moves that Kingston be released. Helen delivers an impassioned argument, stating that the constitution was designed to protect the innocent, a category that doesn't include Kingston. In the end, Judge Hiller has no choice but to strike the body from evidence and dismiss the charges. Meanwhile, Jimmy and Rebecca defend a man on solicitation charges, claiming that the undercover officer aroused the man, then announced she was a prostitute. Jimmy and Judge Kittleson arrange a private meeting.

    Director: Alex Graves

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Over the Rainbow
    10.0/101 votes

    #7 - Over the Rainbow

    Season 1 Episode 2 - Aired 9/22/1994

    Jeffrey runs afoul of the trustees when a grieving husband has second thoughts after allowing him to test an artificial heart on the body of the man's newly deceased wife; Alan comes to the rescue when a patient's HMO refuses to cover Aaron's operating on her very complicated and potentially fatal brain tumor; Jeffrey visits his wife Laurie, a straitjacketed patient in a mental hospital who apologizes for drowning their son Joey; Arthur's refusal to remove his wagging finger from Jeffrey's face during an argument leaves him with a bitten digit, and enables Jeffrey to diagnose the curable medical condition that's causing Arthur's resting tremor.

    Director: Michael Dinner

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Hope and Gory
    10.0/101 votes

    #8 - Hope and Gory

    Season 4 Episode 5 - Aired 10/30/2007

    A woman asks for Alan's advice on how to kill the man who murdered her daughter but was acquitted by reason of temporary insanity; Katie and Jerry try to overturn a child-molester-registry law to save a falsely accused client; and Lorraine tries to help Alan overcome deep-rooted childhood fears that cause him to speak gibberish whenever she's around.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Part I (Pilot)
    9.3/103 votes

    #9 - Part I (Pilot)

    Season 1 Episode 1 - Aired 3/4/1997

    Bobby defends Rachel Reynolds, a young woman facing drug charges. She is not a drug dealer, but was trying to cover for her brother. Lindsay represents Emerson Ray, who is suing a tobacco company in a wrongful death suit. Lindsay's favourite law professor, Anderson Pearson, represents the defence. Eugene represents "Free Willy", a man who exposes himself in public.

    Director: Mick Jackson

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Dirty Joke
    9.0/102 votes

    #10 - The Dirty Joke

    Season 1 Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/1997

    The attorney, Caroline Poop, who represented Elaine in her short lived suit against Fish and Cage regarding the constant gawking directed at a beautiful delivery woman, returns. This time she is representing the beautiful delivery women, Jennifer, who now serves Fish and Cage with her own lawsuit for same-sex sexual harassment. Meanwhile, Ally makes a bet with Renee that she can tell a dirty joke and get more laughs. The duel is set for the bar downstairs in her office building.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • These Are The Days
    9.0/101 votes

    #11 - These Are The Days

    Season 1 Episode 23 - Aired 5/18/1998

    Cage must represent his second cousin, a harmless but eccentric man with a Cupid Complex. His cousin was brought up on assault charges for swatting couples in the head with a paddle to goose them into realizing they're in love. On the way out of the courthouse, the client swats Ally and Bobby Donnell, who have grown considerably closer over a case they are co-counseling. The matter entails two men who want the court to order/force a hospital to perform a heart-swap surgery. The judge turns the tables on the lawyers and asks Ally to role-play by pretending she's the judge who must render the ruling. Billy and Georgia realize their relationship is in a rut. They resolve to be less predictable, and spontaneously decide to have sex in the conference room. Ally who always seems to be at the wrong place at the wrong time inadvertently walks in on Georgia and Billy.

    Director: Jonathan Pontell

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • They Eat Horses Don't They?
    9.0/101 votes

    #12 - They Eat Horses Don't They?

    Season 2 Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1998

    Ally is feeling increasingly antipathetic towards Nelle Porter. She thinks Nelle brings out the darker side of the firm. Nelle represents a First Amendment case about a popular radio talk show host, ala Howard Stern, who is accused of inciting a hostile work atmosphere through his vulgar discourse. Nelle triumphs by implying that the talk show host has certain sexual dysfunctions, then promptly drops the case as a legal tactic. Ally becomes disgusted. Cage takes on the case of a restaurant owner being sued by a man claiming intentional infliction of emotional distress for serving horse meat to patrons. During the course of the case, Cage finds it increasingly difficult to do his job due to a preponderance of empathy for the horse in question.

    Director: Mel Damski

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • It's My Party
    9.0/101 votes

    #13 - It's My Party

    Season 2 Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/1998

    Elaine refers a client, George Madison, to the firm who is suing a prominent feminist magazine for wrongful dismissal. The new editor in chief decided to disqualify him for the job because of his religion's views on women. George is confident in the firm and retains the services of Cage. Ally finds herself unmistakably moved by and attracted to their new client. Elaine lets Ally believe she and George are 'involved' and Ally tries to back off accordingly. Ally tries to keep her fantasies about George under control until she and Renee throw a dinner party and Elaine shows up with George as her date.

    Director: Jace Alexander

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Civil War
    9.0/101 votes

    #14 - Civil War

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 4/5/1999

    Word that Billy and Ally came perilously close to an adulterous affair is spreading through the law firm. What is most uncomfortable are the icy stares and cold shoulders Georgia is throwing Ally's way. But who can blame her? The adversarial relationship between the two women is played out in a most unusual way.

    Director: Billy Dickson

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Only The Lonely
    9.0/102 votes

    #15 - Only The Lonely

    Season 2 Episode 20 - Aired 5/3/1999

    In a land where everyone has the opportunity to make a fortune, it seems that now it's Elaine's turn - it appears that her invention, the "Face Bra", might be a hit. Unfortunately, Elaine's family sues her for royalties claiming that Elaine stole the idea from her cousin Martha just before Martha's untimely death. Ally agrees to represent Elaine but when depositions appear to nail Elaine, Georgia is the first to suggest they settle. Elaine is crushed: first her family turns on her, now her colleagues are ready to abandon her. Billy and Ling are defending a computer software firm on sexual harassment charges emanating from the company's "Day at the Beach" casual days at the office. Even though participation is voluntary, Vicky Sharpe, a slightly overweight employee felt she had no choice but to participate or risk being singled out as a non-participant. John Cage remains a man transformed by his thirty-fifth birthday.

    Director: Vincent Misiano

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Love's Illusions
    9.0/102 votes

    #16 - Love's Illusions

    Season 2 Episode 22 - Aired 5/17/1999

    Ally is having weird dreams about moments from her childhood, some good, some painful. But each compels her to wrestle with the question of true love. Can it be real or must it inevitably be just an illusion? Ally's latest case is calling the issue into question as she and John Cage are representing a woman charged in Criminal Court with fraud. Barry Philbrick has testified that his wife, Kelly Philbrick married him solely for his money. He claims that at the time of their marriage, she wasn't in love with him, that her wedding vow was a lie and that she admitted it in a letter to a close friend that Barry found. Kelly readily admits to her lack of feelings for Barry: she loved him but she was never in love with him. On the stand Kelly admitted that she had been writing to an imaginary friend: the man of her dreams, who then became the standard by which every real man in her life had to measure up too.

    Director: Allan Arkush

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Court Supreme
    9.0/101 votes

    #17 - The Court Supreme

    Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 4/22/2008

    It's a lawyer's dream come true for Alan when he presents an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case involving a mentally challenged man who was convicted of statutory rape. Meanwhile, Lorraine shares startling news with Katie about Jerry's girlfriend.

    Director: N/A

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Head Games
    9.0/101 votes

    #18 - Head Games

    Season 2 Episode 9 - Aired 11/30/2011

    When a high school football game turns deadly Harry and Adam team up to represent angry parents while Tommy must defend a struggling single mother.

    Director: Stephen Cragg

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Attitude
    8.7/103 votes

    #19 - The Attitude

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/1997

    Ally represents a Jewish woman who needs her Rabbi to grant her a spiritual release from her marriage to her comatose husband. Ally goes personally to the Rabbi's office to find out why he is being so rigid. Meanwhile, Georgia is the target of a senior partner's wife's insecurities.

    Director: Michael Schultz

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Citizens United
    8.7/109 votes

    #20 - Citizens United

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 10/13/2016

    The trial concludes as former partners and old friends have their final showdown in court.

    Director: Lawrence Trilling

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Beauty and the Beast
    8.6/109 votes

    #21 - Beauty and the Beast

    Season 1 Episode 7 - Aired 10/13/2016

    With danger mounting around every corner, Billy has to decide whether to head directly to trial or take his chances with a continuance.

    Director: Lawrence Trilling

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Drawing The Lines
    8.5/102 votes

    #22 - Drawing The Lines

    Season 1 Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/1997

    Billy and Georgia are faced with a crisis of confidence in their marriage. Elaine threatens to sue the firm for sexual harassment if Fish and Cage don't meet her demands for improved working conditions. Ally, Georgia, and Cage take on a lucrative divorce case. Fish uses some tactics, which causes a debate between the two parties as to which side is the most amoral.

    Director: Mel Damski

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • The Green Monster
    8.5/102 votes

    #23 - The Green Monster

    Season 2 Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/1999

    Fish and Cage find themselves representing the soon to be ex-wife of a philanderer who is suing not just for divorce but for property damages as well. The case has loser written all over it and Cage is insisting they settle while Fish is convinced they can win it. Since Ally's indiscretion with Billy, Greg has been ignoring Ally's phone calls and spending more time in the company of other women. Ally feels terrible that a great guy seems to be getting away. Billy does not like the attention that Georgia is enjoying form the other men in the office since she changed her wardrobe appearance.

    Director: Michael Schultz

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • I Know Him By Heart
    8.5/102 votes

    #24 - I Know Him By Heart

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 5/24/1999

    Ally's heart is broken and not by Billy or Greg. It's just one big stress fracture. She's come to the realization that there isn't anyone out there for her. She has her image of the perfect man, but is beginning to believe that he does not exist. Surprisingly, a pep talk from Fish leads Ally to become more proactive about her love life. Working on the, "you have to kiss a lot of frogs before finding Prince Charming theory", Ally decides to go on a dating frenzy. She also decides to go for a total hair and fashion makeover. Nelle is starting to become annoyed with John Cage because he seems to be the only one in the firm who understands Ally's imaginary love life. Nelle is worried that John and Ally feed off each other and now that she and John are a couple, she would really prefer her man to face life head on.

    Director: Jonathan Pontell

    Writer: David E. Kelley

  • Boy Next Door
    8.5/102 votes

    #25 - Boy Next Door

    Season 3 Episode 16 - Aired 3/27/2000

    Billy represents a woman in an annulment action case, who's deeply religious husband wants out of the marriage due to the fact that she has surgically modified her body. Meanwhile, as John gets trapped in an elevator, Nelle pulls another sleazy stunt.

    Director: Jack Bender

    Writer: David E. Kelley