Home > Boston Legal > Season 5 « TV Series Page Boston Legal: Season 5 (2008) SEASON: Season 5 Season 1 Season 2 Season 3 Season 4 Season 5 Want to see Episode List Season 5 Boston Legal Critics Consensus Boston Legal rests its case on its own terms with a final season that celebrates both the dynamic duo of Shatner and Spader, along with the series' more earnest excesses. 83% TOMATOMETER Critic Ratings: 12 78% Audience Score User Ratings: 10 See score details Rate And Review Submit review Want to see Edit Submit review Super Reviewer Verified Super Reviewer Verified Edit Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit Continue Super Reviewer Step 2 of 2 How did you buy your ticket? Let's get your review verified. Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket. Super Reviewer Rate this season Oof, that was Rotten. Meh, it passed the time. It’s good – I’d recommend it. Awesome! So Fresh: Absolute Must See! What did you think of this tv season? (optional) Submit How did you buy your ticket? Submit By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie. Episodes 1 Smoke Signals Air date: Sep 22, 2008 Alan answers a call for help from Bethany Horowitz in a suit against a tobacco giant, but he suffers a crisis of confidence when the opposing counsel (Ally Walker) turns out to be an old girlfriend. Meanwhile, Denny is plagued by a case of performance anxiety. More 2 Guardians and Gatekeepers Air date: Sep 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. More 3 Dances With Wolves Air date: Oct 6, 2008 Denny is arrested on concealed-weapon charges after shooting a man who tried to rob him and Jerry. Meanwhile, a case gets personal for Alan when he tries to help a sex surrogate in a custody battle for her daughter. More 4 True Love Air date: Oct 13, 2008 After his old girlfriend hires Alan to help her husband beat a murder charge, he faces a moral and professional dilemma when his lingering feelings for her elicit a secret desire for a conviction. More 5 The Bad Seed Air date: Oct 20, 2008 Alan and Shirley prepare for a fight with the military on behalf of a man whose brother died under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, Jerry helps his sister (Annie Potts) in her search for the identity of the father of her son, who was conceived through an anonymous donor. More 6 Happy Trails Air date: Oct 27, 2008 Shirley defends the notorious Catherine Piper (Betty White) after she accidentally blows up her doctor. Meanwhile, Alan and Denny take a break from the office, but they are out of their element at a dude ranch in Utah. More 7 Mad Cows Air date: Nov 3, 2008 Alan and Denny sue the USDA on behalf of a cattle rancher (Valerie Bertinelli) who wants to test her entire herd for mad cow disease; Jerry's consideration to make partner hinges on an up-or-down vote by the firm's panel, which includes Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois). Julie Bowen guest stars as attorney Denise Bauer, who has been on maternity leave. More 8 Roe Air date: Nov 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. More 9 Kill, Baby, Kill Air date: Nov 17, 2008 Carl and Denny go to Virginia to defend a prison guard who shot a death-row inmate when a lethal-injection execution was botched. Meanwhile, Alan and Shirley help a woman (Cheri Oteri) who says she lost her job after voting for John McCain. More 10 Thanksgiving Air date: Nov 24, 2008 Shirley's quiet Thanksgiving with Carl becomes considerably louder when she opens her door to other members of the firm, including Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie and emotionally unstable partner Edwin Poole (Larry Miller), who brings his 6-year-old foster son. More Show More Episodes Boston Legal: Season 5 Photos View All Photos (38) Tv Season Info Genre: Drama Network: ABC Premiere Date: Sep 22, 2008 Exec. Producers: David E. Kelley, Bill D'Elia, Mike Listo, Lawrence Broch Cast James Spader as Alan Shore William Shatner as Denny Crane Candice Bergen as Shirley Schmidt John Larroquette as Carl Sack Christian Clemenson as Jerry Espenson Tara Summers as Katie Lloyd Henry Gibson as Judge Clark Brown Roma Maffia as Judge Victoria Peyton Rene Auberjonois as Paul Lewiston Christopher Rich as Melvin Palmer Betty White as Catherine Piper Ally Walker as Phoebe Prentice James Rebhorn as Wade Mathis Chuck McCann as Judge Byron Fudd Jim Jansen as Marshall Kennedy Ming Lo as Hyung Lee Steven Anderson as Seymore Cheri Oteri as Martha Headly Larry Miller as Edwin Poole Brenda Strong as Judge Judy Beacon Julie Bowen as Denise Bauer Chihye Chung as Kim Wang Shu Lainie Kazan as Judge Paula Stern Raymond Ma as Zhu Chang Pamela Dunlap as Yellowstone Meredith Eaton as Bethany Horowitz Margo Harshman as Margie Coggins Ming-Na Wen as Ming Wang Shu Bill Smitrovich as Jack Fitzhugh Kimberly Williams-Paisley as Elisa Brooks William Daniels as Judge Milton Brody Jane Lynch as Joanna Monroe Annie Potts as Joy Espenson Kyle Secor as Dr. Robert Brooks Anne-Marie Johnson as Vivian Stewart Bess Armstrong as Penelope Kimball Jim Turner as Father Joseph Martin Grainger Hines as Jensen Pamela Adlon as Emma Path Peter Onorati as Stewart Betts Valerie Bertinelli as Carol Hober Wendy Gazelle as Maureen Rhodes Jay Thomas as Ian Hoberman Michael Holden as Rabbi Saul Levine Pat Skipper as Michael Roker Allison Miller as Marlena Hoffman Ken Howard as Judge Walter Yardley Tom Amandes as Jeremy Hollis John Thaddeus as Det. John Stephenson Philip Newby as Dr. Harvey Loper William Russ as Christopher Palmer Ned Vaughn as Joel Beavis Joey Honsa as Jenny Pratt Ron Canada as Judge Willard Reese Caroline Aaron as Phyllis Goulet Rachelle Carson as Irene Hoberman Dov Davidoff as Joe Hellman Jonathan Adams as Off. Preston Holt Chris Butler as Off. Kent Stone David Doty as Judge Ephraim Woods Chris McGarry as Mark Pinnard Paul Collins as Lance Buttram David Bowe as Jeffrey Addario Michael Strickland as Dr. Sylvan Turrette Matt Winston as Ryan Chism Michael Ensign as Judge Paul Resnick Lorin McCraley as Dwayne Willis Marianne Muellerleile as Evelyn Avery Kidd Waddell as Dan Bradford English as Michael Ryder Mongo Brownlee as Pete Andy Umberger as Morrison Paul Cassell as Dr. Frank Wessmer Cas Anvar as Dr. Paul Harris Currie Graham as Frank Ginsberg Mark Moses as George McDougal John Posey as Chief Justice Roberts Brian Howe as Martin Monroe David Sullivan as Jason Canfield Tommy Koenig as Off. Mike Carr Christopher B. Duncan as Dr. Jeremy Marley Saul Rubinek as Donald Feldcamp BJ Wallace as Henry Vito D'Ambrosio as Justice Samuel Alito Alan Ruck as Wayne Davidson Jack Shearer as Justice Antonin Scalia Robert Cesario as Dr. Lee Watson Emilee Wallace as Fiona David Gautreaux as Marshall Brickman Soren Hellerup as Xavier Sumalee Montano as Dr. Linda Corbin Nora Dunn as Cynthia Rhodes Kent Faulcon as Owen Patterson Show More Cast Episodes 1 Smoke Signals Air date: Sep 22, 2008 Alan answers a call for help from Bethany Horowitz in a suit against a tobacco giant, but he suffers a crisis of confidence when the opposing counsel (Ally Walker) turns out to be an old girlfriend. Meanwhile, Denny is plagued by a case of performance anxiety. More 2 Guardians and Gatekeepers Air date: Sep 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. More 3 Dances With Wolves Air date: Oct 6, 2008 Denny is arrested on concealed-weapon charges after shooting a man who tried to rob him and Jerry. Meanwhile, a case gets personal for Alan when he tries to help a sex surrogate in a custody battle for her daughter. More 4 True Love Air date: Oct 13, 2008 After his old girlfriend hires Alan to help her husband beat a murder charge, he faces a moral and professional dilemma when his lingering feelings for her elicit a secret desire for a conviction. More 5 The Bad Seed Air date: Oct 20, 2008 Alan and Shirley prepare for a fight with the military on behalf of a man whose brother died under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, Jerry helps his sister (Annie Potts) in her search for the identity of the father of her son, who was conceived through an anonymous donor. More 6 Happy Trails Air date: Oct 27, 2008 Shirley defends the notorious Catherine Piper (Betty White) after she accidentally blows up her doctor. Meanwhile, Alan and Denny take a break from the office, but they are out of their element at a dude ranch in Utah. More 7 Mad Cows Air date: Nov 3, 2008 Alan and Denny sue the USDA on behalf of a cattle rancher (Valerie Bertinelli) who wants to test her entire herd for mad cow disease; Jerry's consideration to make partner hinges on an up-or-down vote by the firm's panel, which includes Paul Lewiston (Rene Auberjonois). Julie Bowen guest stars as attorney Denise Bauer, who has been on maternity leave. More 8 Roe Air date: Nov 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. More 9 Kill, Baby, Kill Air date: Nov 17, 2008 Carl and Denny go to Virginia to defend a prison guard who shot a death-row inmate when a lethal-injection execution was botched. Meanwhile, Alan and Shirley help a woman (Cheri Oteri) who says she lost her job after voting for John McCain. More 10 Thanksgiving Air date: Nov 24, 2008 Shirley's quiet Thanksgiving with Carl becomes considerably louder when she opens her door to other members of the firm, including Alan, Denny, Jerry, Katie and emotionally unstable partner Edwin Poole (Larry Miller), who brings his 6-year-old foster son. More Show More Episodes Critic Reviews for Boston Legal Season 5 All Critics (12) | Top Critics (5) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (2) Fortunately, the final image will endure: Alan and Denny on the balcony, as always, this time arm in arm, dancing. Mar 2, 2018 | Full Review… Matthew Gilbert Boston Globe Top Critic As I was watching most of tonight's episode, I was reminded of all the reasons I've grown to loathe it. Mar 2, 2018 | Full Review… Alan Sepinwall Newark Star-Ledger Top Critic Kelley did it the way he always has, by blending real-life headlines and issues into fictional drama that was simultaneous complex, troubling, reflective, absurd and amusing. Feb 26, 2018 | Full Review… David Hinckley New York Daily News Top Critic It was a lot of insanity and lecturing to wedge into a strange yet occasionally moving two hours. Mar 2, 2018 | Full Review… Mary McNamara Los Angeles Times Top Critic That was the most satisfying series finale I've seen in years. Mar 2, 2018 | Full Review… Mandi Bierly Entertainment Weekly Top Critic The show wasn't interested in defending itself, or a character, in some rigid declaration of purpose; within its stories, and as a TV show as a whole, it was interested in defending and depicting the virtue of change. Oct 15, 2019 | Full Review… Monika Bartyzel The Week I'm sad to see the show in one aspect -- its willingness to confront contemporary social issues and its ease in criticizing missteps by the Bush administration are rare in prime time -- but as a TV show, I can't help that the show is out of juice. Oct 15, 2019 | Full Review… Rob Owen Pittsburgh Post-Gazette I love this show. I find it sophisticated, funny and zany. Oct 15, 2019 | Full Review… Tom Jicha South Florida Sun-Sentinel You have to give ABC credit. It allowed writer-producer David E. Kelley to take several shots at the direction broadcast television is heading. Oct 15, 2019 | Full Review… Alan Pergament Buffalo News I am not sure this series had soul, but [Spader and Shatner] certainly formed the heart of it. In so doing, they became one of the more intelligent, engaging, off-beat and enduring professional couples on TV. Oct 15, 2019 | Rating: 3/4 | Full Review… David Zurawik Baltimore Sun Just when we were wondering how they could possibly keep the naughtiness of Boston Legal fresh, series creator David Kelley came up with the perfect foil: the new, straight, ultra-conservative managing partner. Mar 6, 2018 | Full Review… Jane Clifton Stuff.co.nz Despite Season Four of "Boston Legal" having a vague vibe of impending staleness, creator/writer David E. Kelley came roaring back with a vengeance for the abbreviated fifth season. Mar 2, 2018 | Rating: 5/5 | Full Review… Ross Ruediger Bullz-Eye.com View All Critic Reviews (12) Audience Reviews for Boston Legal: Season 5 There are no featured audience reviews yet. 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