The BEST episodes of Boston Legal season 5

Every episode of Boston Legal season 5, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Boston Legal season 5!

Boston Legal tells the professional and personal stories of a group of brilliant but often emotionally-challenged attorneys. James Spader and William Shatner play Alan Shore and Denny Crane, unlikely kindred spirits among the brigade of high-priced litigators at Crane, Poole & Schmidt. In addition, Shirley Schmidt, a founding partner of the firm, continues to help bring order to the chaotic office. She keeps a vigilant eye on all, particularly Denny Crane, with whom she shares a checkered past. Fast-paced and wildly comedic, the series confronts social and moral issues, while its characters continually stretch the boundaries of the law.

Last Updated: 11/5/2024Network: ABC (US)Status: Ended
True Love
star
7.75
978 votes

#1 - True Love

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/13/2008

Alan Shore is called upon by ex-flame Phoebe Prentice to prove her husband's innocence in the murder of a nurse. But deep down, Alan's unrequited love for Phoebe makes him hope that her husband is guilty so that they can rekindle their relationship.

Directors: Steve Robin
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Dances with Wolves
star
7.68
999 votes

#2 - Dances with Wolves

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/6/2008

Denny Crane is arrested yet again for carrying a concealed firearm after he shoots a man in self defense who's attempting to mug him and Jerry Espenson. Meanwhile, Alan Shore fights for a sex surrogate's right to joint custody of her daughter -- while grappling with the fact that he was a former client of hers

Directors: Jim Bagdonas
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Made in China (1)
star
7.64
894 votes

#3 - Made in China (1)

Season 5 - Episode 12 - Aired 12/8/2008

Part 1 of the series finale. Shirley seeks an injunction to prevent a Chinese company from buying out Crane, Poole & Schmidt. Denny gets arrested for breaking into a neighbor's home.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
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Happy Trails
star
7.59
824 votes

#4 - Happy Trails

Season 5 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/27/2008

Alan Shore and Denny Crane take a breather from the office and saddle up at a Dude Ranch in Utah. But the two city slickers soon find themselves at odds with their fellow horse enthusiasts and may need to call on the always irritating attorney Melvin Palmer - who also happens to be at the ranch. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt defends the murderous Catherine Piper (Betty White) when she unintentionally blows up her doctor after setting his office on fire for prescribing medication that almost killed her.

Directors: Mike Listo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Smoke Signals
star
7.58
1043 votes

#5 - Smoke Signals

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/22/2008

Bethany Horowitz asks Alan Shore to help her out with a case against a large tobacco company. But when it turns out that the defense attorney is Phoebe Prentice, an old flame of Alan's, he finds himself distracted and fears that he won't be able to perform in court. Meanwhile, Denny is distraught over his own personal lack of performance in the bedroom.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
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The Bad Seed
star
7.58
817 votes

#6 - The Bad Seed

Season 5 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/20/2008

Alan Shore and Shirley Schmidt take on the armed forces when a man's brother dies in a local military hospital due to malpractice. But a friendly wager Denny Crane makes with Alan regarding the outcome of the case could cost Alan his job. Meanwhile, Jerry Espenson's sister, Joy - whose son was conceived through an anonymous donor - - asks him to get a ruling which would allow her to find out who the father is to determine if her son and his girlfriend are related

Directors: Bob Yannetti
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Kill, Baby, Kill
star
7.55
830 votes

#7 - Kill, Baby, Kill

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/17/2008

Alan and Shirley defend a woman who claims she was fired for voting for McCain while Carl and Denny defend a prison guard who, when an execution goes horribly awry and the prisoner is convulsing in agony, shoots him in the head to put him out of his misery.

Directors: Bob Yannetti
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Last Call (2)
star
7.54
387 votes

#8 - Last Call (2)

Season 5 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/8/2008

Part 2 of the series finale. Shirley's dream of a church wedding doesn't turn out as she planned. Instead, she and Carl say their "I do's" on a dock at Nimmo Bay, along with another couple in a very special double ceremony.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Guardians and Gatekeepers
star
7.49
1141 votes

#9 - Guardians and Gatekeepers

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/29/2008

After Denny Crane almost dies from toxic shock due to his unintended misuse of an arsenal of prescription drugs, Alan Shore takes on a pharmaceutical company for employing deceptive advertising to scare people into using their products. Meanwhile, Shirley Schmidt asks Carl Sack to defend her cheeky 17-year-old granddaughter who's been arrested for voting in the primary with falsified records, and Jerry Espenson and Katie Lloyd sue a private detention facility after a 15-year-old girl is raped by a guard.

Directors: Mike Listo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Juiced
star
7.47
867 votes

#10 - Juiced

Season 5 - Episode 11 - Aired 12/1/2008

After Denny learns some disturbing news about the progression of his Alzheimer's disease and that an experimental drug might help, Alan tries to convince the Massachusetts Supreme Court to let his best friend have access to it. Meanwhile the murderous Catherine Piper returns, and Jerry and Katie take on the case of an ambitious student accused of cheating on her SATs.

Directors: Michael Lohmann
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Roe
star
7.43
896 votes

#11 - Roe

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/10/2008

Jerry Espenson insists on defending himself in court when he's accused of aggravated assault after a run-in with a bully. Meanwhile, Alan Shore and Shirley Schmidt try to help an underaged pregnant girl obtain a judicial by-pass for an abortion.

Directors: Bill D'Elia
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Thanksgiving
star
7.42
903 votes

#12 - Thanksgiving

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/24/2008

Shirley hosts an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner for Carl, Denny, Alan, Katie and Jerry, joined by alumna Edwin Poole and his foster son and, surprisingly, Melvin Palmer (he's a hoot!). As expected, the conversation is smart and lively, fights ensue and a few secrets are revealed.

Directors: Mike Listo
Watch Now:AmazonApple TV
Mad Cows
star
7.41
873 votes

#13 - Mad Cows

Season 5 - Episode 7 - Aired 11/3/2008

Alan Shore and Denny Crane sue the government when cattle rancher Carol Hober who accuses the USDA of not allowing her to test all of her cows for Mad Cow Disease, an affliction that's close to Denny's heart. Meanwhile, Jerry Espenson is up for partner at the firm, but his quirky social inadequacies could lead to his downfall with the firm's panel, which includes Paul Lewiston.

Directors: Steve Robin
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