Boston Legal, season 4
Monday, 13. October 2008, 00:37:24
Carl Sack: Did they give you a reason for seceding?
Alan Shore: Yes. They want to hold some neglected truths to be self-evident. Isn't it exciting?
- Episode 4x20: Patriot Acts
In season 4, Boston Legal returns slightly to form after the overall somewhat disappointing third season. The introduction of John Larroquette as Carl Sack works splendidly as the straight man to the others eccentricities as well as a strict but loving father-figure replacing Rene Auberjonois' Paul Lewiston who only guest-stars in one episode this season. Three other new characters are introduced - this turns out to be one too many, the show can't find time for them all despite having booted out several of the regulars from earlier seasons. Especially Whitney Rome (played by Taraji P. Henson) gets no place on the show, and is edged out by Saffron Burrows' Lorraine Weller and especially Tara Summers' Katie Lloyd. The latter in particular is a very good addition to the cast, from the get-go showing a great chemistry with Christian Clemenson's Jerry Espenson who is bumped to regular this season, but Lorraine's distantly amused persona is also a welcome new dynamic.
The season goes a good bit lighter on the meta-jokes than season 3 did, especially initially, but they are in no way gone, and are phased back in as the year progresses. The politics that came closer to centre stage in season 3 than it had been before are still very much a focal point, but maybe somewhat less so. Of course, the main focus of the show remains the Shore-Crane-friendship, and it is glorious.
However, Shore is much too little of a jackass. It's really a shame how much his biting persona has been watered down since season 1. There are moments where we again see his ice-cold self come out, but they are so rare and few between it's quite sad. Still, when it for once happens it is amazing and gratifying.
The show demonstrates with this season that its still very good, and still have the potential for many years of quality left. Especially their ability to portray strong, character-focused episodes is as good as ever before, or even better than. The episode where they bring back Schmidt's Alzheimer-ridden father is quite superb, for instance.
All in all, a season that solidified my loyalty to the show with consistant levels of quality but without completely blowing me away with unexpected levels of awesome. I am looking very much forward to watching season 5 - though, sadly, I hear it might be the last this show gets. If so, at least I'm grateful for having gotten to follow the ride.
WIDGETIZE
Amrasananas # 14. October 2008, 19:56
I very much disagree with this. I just finished watching it and I have to say that it was a very disappointing season. The only really good thing about it was how they treated Jerry - which was insanely satisfying after having him titter around for so long. But beyond that... Not much to jump around and holler to the high&mighty about. True, Tara was sweet but didn't have the necessary pop at times and Saffron Burrow's character was just plain boring.
Denny's "mad cow" was overworked and too blunt, as was his consistent will to "not be over". He was also a lot less funny than he was in season 3 (which I thought was equally good). Alan was a lot less funny as well and I got more than a little tired with his incurable limpness. Not that these characters aren't still above and beyond awesome; they're just on a steady decline. Shirley and Carl Sack though, were superb. Love 'em to pieces.
I also thought the season suffered from being a bit politically dated for a viewer who wasn't watching it was airing.
Still a good show, but it's getting more than a smite away from great in my book.
Loki Aesir # 14. October 2008, 20:58
Denny's will "not to be over" felt completely true to me. It's been there for four years at that point, that it takes front and centre and that he cannot keep it bottled up longer makes perfect sense, and I did not mind anything about it.
You got tired of his limpness? Er. That's his personality. That, plus the lecherous stuff, and I suppose the snarky mean streak that disappeared after the first season. They can't really make that go away without diminishing the character further.
I did not feel the season to be dated at all, but what do I know.
(By the way, I never said it was a great season. I said it "returned slightly to form". The show as a whole is great, though.)
Loki Aesir # 14. October 2008, 21:00