The Court Supreme

This episode and the final 2 seasons of BOSTON LEGAL have received a lot of flak for being too left wing. But you just have to give credit to it's writing, and especially James Spader's performance. In this episode, he jumps at a chance to argue before the Supreme Court; what happens next, in his arguments, is charismatic and characteristic. James Spader and William Shatner played extremely well of each other in this episode, with John Larroquette doing a consistently excellent job as the watchful Carl Sack. The subplot involving Jerry and Dana was also thought-provoking, and essential television.

Most of this episode lies on James Spader's electric performance as Alan Shore, a role winning him 3 Emmys in 4 years. He is articulate, emotional, and righteous and logical enough to the point that by the end of his 5-minute, sometimes 10-minute monologues, you were completely cheering for him. When I watch television, this is the thought provoking kind I want, whether or not I disagree with its pathos and agenda. An excellent and essential episode of TV, and quite simply among the best of the series.