ABC's Boston Legal ended in a two-hour series finale last week, taking with it scathing indictments of right-wing politics and the best bromance on the tube.
The show debuted as a spin-off of David E. Kelley's The Practice in October 2004, and garnered multiple well-deserved Emmy nominations, as well as awards for everything from its lead actors to the always excellent writing.
James Spader and William Shatner headed the star-studded cast, along with Candice Bergen and John Laroquette. Spader and Shatner developed a relationship almost never seen on series TV, a true male love affair. Non-sexual (sort of), but deep and emotional. Each episode ended with Spader's Alan Shore and Shatner's Denny Crane sipping scotch and recounting their experiences together. Each expressed their love for the other. We loved it.
Boston Legal also starred Gary Anthony Williams as a black transvestite. He was a main character for two seasons. Christian Clemenson played an attorney with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism. Meredith Eaton-Gilden played a recurring role as an attorney and love interest for Shatner for two seasons. Rev. Al Sharpton played himself in several cases involving racial discrimination.
Some dismissed BL as over-the-top dramedy. But each week, BL took on politics in America with a vengeance, both in the courtroom and out. Spader's character sued the government for wrongful death in several Iraq War cases. The death penalty was addressed on numerous occasions, as was torture. While civil liberties were being trounced and trussed by the Bush Administration, BL was taking them on in court.
Social issues were as much the purview of BL as political issues, and clarified how the two blur in the realm of the courts. Michael J. Fox had a recurring role as a character with a terminal illness. Henry Gibson had a recurring role as Judge Clark Brown, who was gay.
Alan and Denny were on opposite sides of the political spectrum, but in one of the more touching final scenes in November, Denny obliquely acknowledged having voted for Obama.
The show also never failed to take on queer and queer-related issues. But it was its consistent smack-down of the Bush Administration and all its myriad ills that was most appreciated in the darkest periods of the past eight years. BL will be missed. All five seasons are available on DVD.