This episode highlighted one of the many reasons I am sad that a larger audience doesn’t view “Boston Legal”. If more of mainstream America were exposed to, and influenced by, the extremely provocative, inspiring, and controversial cases that “Boston Legal” consistently addresses; I think we might see more change in this country. However, many viewers claim that the detrimental factor of “Boston Legal” is that it serves merely as a soapbox for the beyond-the-line ideas that creator David E. Kelley wants to broadcast out into the world. This is much like Aaron Sorkin with “The West Wing,” and “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip.” Call it what you will, but almost every episode of BL that addresses such radical ideas and offer even more radical proposals leaves me thinking how the world would change if this program wasn’t just fiction.
Coming off the heels of the engaging Supreme Court case episode, Alan Shore goes even further by filing a lawsuit against the Democratic Party. This case addressed the strangeness concerning how Super-delegates can overrule the popular vote by voting against their district’s choice. Given the portrayal of the obnoxious Mitchie, I sincerely wonder if there are many more delegates just like him. I violently despise the idea of my vote being overruled by some twerp who thinks they know better.
The opposing counsel argued that the Democratic Party was allowed to have such rules due to their status as a private organization. Also he claimed that this is what has kept out clearly incompetent candidates out of the race, despite the popular vote. Regardless, I believe that the American people should have more than just a suggestion in who really wins the vote. It doesn’t seem fair at all to me.
The personal confrontation between Alan and Shirley was extremely entertaining to me. Many people believe that Obama has a lack of experience among other things, but another equally valid point is that we’ve had two family dynasties running the white house for decades now, and maybe it’s time for change. Either way, I found their argument to be equally compelling on both sides and delightfully entertaining.
Concerning the subplot of cloning meat, I was completely unaware that these items were already on our food shelves. I do believe that cloned meat should be appropriately labeled as such, if not for health reasons, then for religious ones. Many religions are strongly against clones, and I think that they should be at least allowed the knowledge of what is cloned, so that they wouldn’t be hypocrites by accident and unknowingly eat the meat anyways.
Towards the end of the episode, “Boston Legal” took the time to once again reinforce the Denny-Alan relationship. I was genuinely touched by the open sincerity of the love between them. Both William Shatner and James Spader performed excellent acting. Also, I have to point out that I am highly impressed with the opposing counsel in this program. They always seem to serve equally valid points and have quite brilliant closing arguements, although not as good as Alan’s. Due the outstanding quality of this episode, I am inclined to give it a rating of 9.5/10.
