Ally McBeal was ahead of its time. I found the first three seasons compelling, but after that it was not so much. Ally McBeal and The Practice were the two series I watched. Ally McBeal was first, and then The Practice, and it was my evening viewing in my younger days when I could stay up and watch whatever was on the tube.
155 Reviews
WHY IS THERE SO MUCH VONDA SHEPARD??
schofieldius20 March 2019
Great show that eventually unravelled
adriangr14 August 2015
Warning: Spoilers
I've just watched all five seasons of Ally McBeal again and the gloss it had when it was first aired does seem to have worn off. Basically the story of a kooky, single female professional in short skirts, whose life revolves around her ex, her inner world, and her career as a lawyer, does't really progress very far in it's 5 seasons. It also goes downhill quite quickly from the later half of Season 2 onwards, but more on that later. This is a review of the entire series, so there will be SPOILERS.
Season 1 introduces us to Ally and her quirky outlook on life. Basically all of the first season is one long tale of pining for lost love as Ally works alongside childhood sweetheart /soul- mate, Billy, who is now married to another woman. Of course, they all work at the same firm, a company called Cage & Fish. The episodes follow an extremely repetitive template: Ally and her firm take on a case, which always hold up a mirror to the emotions and events going on in Ally's personal life in that episode. As well as defending cases in court, Ally and her colleagues spend each evening after work in a bar, mulling over events of the day, while "bar singer" Vonda Sheperd sings songs that - funnily enough - also underscore the emotions and events of the episode. The episode will normally end with Ally (or occasionally another main character) speaking from the heart during the trial, using their parallel pain and insight to win over the jury, and thus (nearly always) winning the case.
Season 2 kicks off in the exact same style, demonstrating that the show really seems to have no direction to move in. Two new characters are introduced, Nelle and Ling, which normally speaks of desperation in a show, but luckily both Nell and Ling are very entertaining and played to perfection by Portia De Rossi and Lucy Liu. Nelle is by far the more interesting of the two, and I would love to have seen more time spent on her character.
On to Season 3, and this is where I started to lose my faith in the show on my first viewing. The character of Billy now becomes easily the worst aspect of the show, with his metamorphosis into an idiot. I never really warmed to the character of Billy, and sadly by season 3 she now has no depth whatsoever, which turns this whole plot strand into a cartoon. Luckily there are episodes that still have warmth, where the other cast members get a chance to show some depth. Episodes like the one where Elaine finds an abandoned baby, or where Ling makes friends with people in a care home, are good showcases for some nice stories and acting. Ally carries on dating guys and failing, but she is so picky that it makes you lose a lot of sympathy with Ally's so-called loneliness.
So here we are at Season 4 and I was relieved to see that the show seem to gather itself again. Characters feel more realistic, although by now Georgia has been silently written out of the show, while Nelle and new guy Mark pretty much has nothing to do. But the introduction of Robert Downey Junior as a new love interest is pretty good, and it's a shame that this was marred by the later scandal involving the actor, as he brings a lot to the show. Same for Anne Heche as a new love interest for John Cage, another quirky character (of course), but thanks to Heche's acting ability I think it comes across nicely. Season 4 concentrates on Ally's insecurity as part of a couple instead of her insecurity at being single, which is at least a change from three whole seasons where she was incapable of holding onto a man at all. But all in all, Season 4 is an improvement on the shallow and erratic Season 3.
And now finally Season 5, where the whole thing really unravels and slides down the hillside to the bottom. It's easy to see why Season 5 is the last one. Characters are dropping like flies, some are just not carried forward from Season 4 (Renee, Mark), others gradually appear less and less and then disappear (John Cage), and others are turned into little more than extras without story lines of their own (Nelle, Elaine). The worst aspect of the season is to introduce new characters at an alarming rate - including a new lawyer (Jenny) who is identical to Ally, which seems to serve no dramatic purpose. Ling returns briefly in a new ludicrous side story, and of course (for people that remember it), Ally acquires a 10 year old daughter. But other than that the plots go all over the place. Ally pretty much stops taking on any legal cases altogether and all we see is her being a mother. The abrupt tying up of events in the final episode is ridiculously condensed.
So in conclusion, it's a case of diminishing returns for the series as a whole. The positives that hold the entire thing together and made me want to return to watching are is the main cast, who are all pretty good. There are some touching moments in several episodes. Seasons 1, 2 and 4 are the best. The saddest thing is to wonder if the series might have recovered if Robert Downey Jnr hadn't had to leave, as he was really making the series pick up again, but by Season 5, it seemed like other cast members too were either opting out or being fired. With issues like this to contend with, it's no wonder the series was incapable having a longer run.
Season 1 introduces us to Ally and her quirky outlook on life. Basically all of the first season is one long tale of pining for lost love as Ally works alongside childhood sweetheart /soul- mate, Billy, who is now married to another woman. Of course, they all work at the same firm, a company called Cage & Fish. The episodes follow an extremely repetitive template: Ally and her firm take on a case, which always hold up a mirror to the emotions and events going on in Ally's personal life in that episode. As well as defending cases in court, Ally and her colleagues spend each evening after work in a bar, mulling over events of the day, while "bar singer" Vonda Sheperd sings songs that - funnily enough - also underscore the emotions and events of the episode. The episode will normally end with Ally (or occasionally another main character) speaking from the heart during the trial, using their parallel pain and insight to win over the jury, and thus (nearly always) winning the case.
Season 2 kicks off in the exact same style, demonstrating that the show really seems to have no direction to move in. Two new characters are introduced, Nelle and Ling, which normally speaks of desperation in a show, but luckily both Nell and Ling are very entertaining and played to perfection by Portia De Rossi and Lucy Liu. Nelle is by far the more interesting of the two, and I would love to have seen more time spent on her character.
On to Season 3, and this is where I started to lose my faith in the show on my first viewing. The character of Billy now becomes easily the worst aspect of the show, with his metamorphosis into an idiot. I never really warmed to the character of Billy, and sadly by season 3 she now has no depth whatsoever, which turns this whole plot strand into a cartoon. Luckily there are episodes that still have warmth, where the other cast members get a chance to show some depth. Episodes like the one where Elaine finds an abandoned baby, or where Ling makes friends with people in a care home, are good showcases for some nice stories and acting. Ally carries on dating guys and failing, but she is so picky that it makes you lose a lot of sympathy with Ally's so-called loneliness.
So here we are at Season 4 and I was relieved to see that the show seem to gather itself again. Characters feel more realistic, although by now Georgia has been silently written out of the show, while Nelle and new guy Mark pretty much has nothing to do. But the introduction of Robert Downey Junior as a new love interest is pretty good, and it's a shame that this was marred by the later scandal involving the actor, as he brings a lot to the show. Same for Anne Heche as a new love interest for John Cage, another quirky character (of course), but thanks to Heche's acting ability I think it comes across nicely. Season 4 concentrates on Ally's insecurity as part of a couple instead of her insecurity at being single, which is at least a change from three whole seasons where she was incapable of holding onto a man at all. But all in all, Season 4 is an improvement on the shallow and erratic Season 3.
And now finally Season 5, where the whole thing really unravels and slides down the hillside to the bottom. It's easy to see why Season 5 is the last one. Characters are dropping like flies, some are just not carried forward from Season 4 (Renee, Mark), others gradually appear less and less and then disappear (John Cage), and others are turned into little more than extras without story lines of their own (Nelle, Elaine). The worst aspect of the season is to introduce new characters at an alarming rate - including a new lawyer (Jenny) who is identical to Ally, which seems to serve no dramatic purpose. Ling returns briefly in a new ludicrous side story, and of course (for people that remember it), Ally acquires a 10 year old daughter. But other than that the plots go all over the place. Ally pretty much stops taking on any legal cases altogether and all we see is her being a mother. The abrupt tying up of events in the final episode is ridiculously condensed.
So in conclusion, it's a case of diminishing returns for the series as a whole. The positives that hold the entire thing together and made me want to return to watching are is the main cast, who are all pretty good. There are some touching moments in several episodes. Seasons 1, 2 and 4 are the best. The saddest thing is to wonder if the series might have recovered if Robert Downey Jnr hadn't had to leave, as he was really making the series pick up again, but by Season 5, it seemed like other cast members too were either opting out or being fired. With issues like this to contend with, it's no wonder the series was incapable having a longer run.
Better than most
Pageharrison18 June 2004
One of the best shows to ever hit TV. There are some pretty negative comments here, but I know why. Folks are angry that the show changed in the last few seasons and they are disappointed that it ended. The first three seasons you couldn't go to the water cooler if you had not watched the show and had some little tid-bit to say about what you saw. That spells great writing and fabulous performances to me. Calista Flockhart is a wonderful person and a terrific actress. She made the show work. without her, no Ally. There are episodes that are priceless. The dancing baby is unique and entertaining. No one had ever taken that kind of risk on TV. A computerized baby dancing with real people. Of course everyone's doing it now. I believe Ally Mcbeal to be a classic.
the best....
coz1kan20 August 2007
I'm in the middle of season four as i write these words. It's been a few years since the last time i watched Ally McBeal but somehow it was time again to visit the old gang at Cage & Fish.
I absolutely fell in love with this show, it's characters and story's a few years ago and I'm falling in love all over again. This show, it's heart, gentleness and (sometimes)idealistic look at life and love can get me to weep like a little schoolgirl (and I'm a man, age 32).
The story's about fulfilled and unfulfilled dreams, lost loves, Christmas spirit, special friendships,The passing of time and meandering moments, etc. have me glued to my television once again.
I absolutely fell in love with this show, it's characters and story's a few years ago and I'm falling in love all over again. This show, it's heart, gentleness and (sometimes)idealistic look at life and love can get me to weep like a little schoolgirl (and I'm a man, age 32).
The story's about fulfilled and unfulfilled dreams, lost loves, Christmas spirit, special friendships,The passing of time and meandering moments, etc. have me glued to my television once again.
Last season fell flat
GoodGracious31 December 2020
"I like a fresh bowl"
loza-122 January 2007
TV critics are supposed to use their experience and knowledge to map out the salient points of a TV series. Certainly on this side of the Pond, the TV critics seemed to have lost the plot - if they had found the plot in the first place. None of them liked Ally McBeal and they failed to find the essence of the programme.
What was interesting from my point of view is that it poked fun at the litigation culture which is prevalent in the USA, and is beginning to gather momentum in Britain, where people can sue one another often for the most ridiculous reasons. But if you had been fired for the most ridiculous reasons - for having orange skin or for seeing unicorns or for thinking you are Santa Claus - the team of lawyers at Cage and Fish would fight your case for you. However ridiculous the case, the programme took the legal arguments seriously, and John Cage's summations were a work of art, as they should have been after spending the night pacing round his office in his bare feet.
Some of the funniest moments in TV or cinematic history come from this show. The scene where John Cage's blowtorch erupts in the courtroom had me laughing so hard that I was literally fighting for breath.
Counterbalancing the humour was a great deal of pathos involving the characters whose entire lives are lived under the aegis of Cage and Fish - even the bar where Vonda Shepard performs is in the same building as the office.
Over the years, there were inevitable personnel changes in the cast. One of the most successful ones I thought was the introduction of Jackson Duper - one sane man in Cage and Fish's mad unisex toilet.
I know a little bit about acting - enough to know that much of the stuff the actors were doing is very difficult, so the cast are to be commended. Calista Flockhart made something outstanding out of a character that is essentially a cipher. She is a terrific dancer, too. It is a pity that so-called professional TV critics home in on her short skirts and her long, slender legs. They seem to be unaware that she is actually playing a role.
Peter McNicol's is just brilliant as John Cage, a man who jaywalks the border between genius and insanity. Greg Germann is excellent as Richard Fish.
Perhaps series 6 was a bit of a disaster. Certainly the inclusion of Dame Edna Everage is a good reason for reaching for the off switch. But I shed no tears over it: it just goes to show that there are two times that a classic series can end: too soon and too late.
And this series is a classic. So enjoy the 112 episodes. Like the Molly Maguires. "we'll never see the likes of them again."
What was interesting from my point of view is that it poked fun at the litigation culture which is prevalent in the USA, and is beginning to gather momentum in Britain, where people can sue one another often for the most ridiculous reasons. But if you had been fired for the most ridiculous reasons - for having orange skin or for seeing unicorns or for thinking you are Santa Claus - the team of lawyers at Cage and Fish would fight your case for you. However ridiculous the case, the programme took the legal arguments seriously, and John Cage's summations were a work of art, as they should have been after spending the night pacing round his office in his bare feet.
Some of the funniest moments in TV or cinematic history come from this show. The scene where John Cage's blowtorch erupts in the courtroom had me laughing so hard that I was literally fighting for breath.
Counterbalancing the humour was a great deal of pathos involving the characters whose entire lives are lived under the aegis of Cage and Fish - even the bar where Vonda Shepard performs is in the same building as the office.
Over the years, there were inevitable personnel changes in the cast. One of the most successful ones I thought was the introduction of Jackson Duper - one sane man in Cage and Fish's mad unisex toilet.
I know a little bit about acting - enough to know that much of the stuff the actors were doing is very difficult, so the cast are to be commended. Calista Flockhart made something outstanding out of a character that is essentially a cipher. She is a terrific dancer, too. It is a pity that so-called professional TV critics home in on her short skirts and her long, slender legs. They seem to be unaware that she is actually playing a role.
Peter McNicol's is just brilliant as John Cage, a man who jaywalks the border between genius and insanity. Greg Germann is excellent as Richard Fish.
Perhaps series 6 was a bit of a disaster. Certainly the inclusion of Dame Edna Everage is a good reason for reaching for the off switch. But I shed no tears over it: it just goes to show that there are two times that a classic series can end: too soon and too late.
And this series is a classic. So enjoy the 112 episodes. Like the Molly Maguires. "we'll never see the likes of them again."
Revisited Recently (2019)
joeh-2392521 September 2019
I recently started watching this show again because I enjoyed it when it first came out.
On this latest binge watch I found that I still enjoyed it except it being the longest running infomercial for Vonda Shepard.
I cannot stand her singing now , i'm just sick of her droning voice. Thankfully that kind of music monopoly doesn't exist in today's TV shows.
I can't stop this feeling
alaningle712 January 2022
Ally McBeal joins a prestigous law firm which is full of wierd
and wonderful characters. The crux of the series is about her searching for romantic love from a females point of view and dealing with her many neuroses. I am reviewing from memory and I am not sure how well it would hold up today, but at the time I om
really enjoyed her quirky antics.
Used to be a favorite.. but can't take the screaming
bebakke1 January 2023
Used to love this show, rewatching it now could also be a delight, if it was possible to filter out the awful SCREAMING they call singing by Vonda Shepard..
Remember it was a huge hit growing up, and it was fun watching these quirky character in play again. The songs are great older hits, but my ears couldn't take it due to their total over use of the horrible singing by Shepard. If it only was the intro it would be ab easy skip, but its so integrated in the show so theres no escape.
Part from that it would be quite enjoyable and sought-after break from whats produced today, without the focus on race, sexual orientation and politics..
Remember it was a huge hit growing up, and it was fun watching these quirky character in play again. The songs are great older hits, but my ears couldn't take it due to their total over use of the horrible singing by Shepard. If it only was the intro it would be ab easy skip, but its so integrated in the show so theres no escape.
Part from that it would be quite enjoyable and sought-after break from whats produced today, without the focus on race, sexual orientation and politics..
Pathetic
alicemclarke186 September 2015
I started watching this show pretty much because I had seen good reviews, it looked funny and it was available on netflix. The more I watched it however, the more frustrated I became that people actually liked this character.
I enjoyed the side characters with my favourites being John Cage and Elaine but Ally McBeal was pathetic to say the least. She was the most self-obsessed, selfish, egotistical person who constantly whined about not finding the love of her life. She expected everyone to drop what they were doing to hear about her problems and acted so unprofessionally at times that I couldn't believe that she hadn't been fired or at least charged with assault. The whole time I kept thinking she needs to learn to love herself without a man and stop calling herself empty all the time, it just got sad. And then, when she did meet a man, she acted so standoffish and coy- it bugged the hell out of me. I would not be friends with this person- she seems like such a buzzkill.
My other little annoyance were some of her 'fantasies'. Honestly at first they were funny and cute but they got more intense and disruptive in her life and I kept thinking that maybe there was a serious medical problem there.
This is just my opinion and there are probably others out there who think that it is too harsh or too serious for a TV show; however, it pains me to think that this show influences how women should view the world and themselves and how men view us. Overall, this is a seriously annoying show for any woman who has any iota of self-respect.
I enjoyed the side characters with my favourites being John Cage and Elaine but Ally McBeal was pathetic to say the least. She was the most self-obsessed, selfish, egotistical person who constantly whined about not finding the love of her life. She expected everyone to drop what they were doing to hear about her problems and acted so unprofessionally at times that I couldn't believe that she hadn't been fired or at least charged with assault. The whole time I kept thinking she needs to learn to love herself without a man and stop calling herself empty all the time, it just got sad. And then, when she did meet a man, she acted so standoffish and coy- it bugged the hell out of me. I would not be friends with this person- she seems like such a buzzkill.
My other little annoyance were some of her 'fantasies'. Honestly at first they were funny and cute but they got more intense and disruptive in her life and I kept thinking that maybe there was a serious medical problem there.
This is just my opinion and there are probably others out there who think that it is too harsh or too serious for a TV show; however, it pains me to think that this show influences how women should view the world and themselves and how men view us. Overall, this is a seriously annoying show for any woman who has any iota of self-respect.
One of the best shows!
anaplus-735699 March 2022
I keep re watching episodes of Ally McBeal and it always makes me laugh. It was a very modern show for its times and so much better than what they call comedy nowadays. The whole singing, the awkward cases and the office issues are just so much fun. Everyone is a hoot!
Looking back on Ally McBeal: A show for teenagers?
sulphuria-creatura17 April 2012
When I first saw this show (back in 2002) I was still a young teenager and I LOVED it. I thought a lot of the jokes were funny, the quirky characters were fresh and exciting and the often silly story lines (the cases, mostly) were as entertaining as smart. I also identified a lot with John Cage, being socially awkward yet intelligent and innovative, and Ally herself, being slightly neurotic and a hopeless romantic. I guess I kind of lost interest in the show as it reached its final season and must've forgotten about the bad stuff since I always held it in high regard.
Recently I started watching it again, and having seen A LOT of different series over the years as well as other work from Mr. Kelley I have to say, I'm disappointed. The first 2 seasons only barely still worked for me and after that it went downhill real fast. What changed? How come I connected to a show on an emotional level this well 10 years ago and now all I can see is flaws?
Well, I think those 10 years really made that much a difference. Take these 'hallucinations' Ally ha(s/d) for example. Where they were a relatively new and refreshing way to show how she viewed other people and how she reacted emotionally to certain situations in a slightly comedic way back in the 90s, now they look cheap and silly, at best (and not because of the often poor animation.) Where I could fist simply 'accept' these hallucinations occurring because of the comedic tone of the show, now I can't help but conclude this is a sign of a severe mental illness and a person like that working in a law firm is simply not a believable scenario. There's even this one episode about Ally really starting to believe in them and locking herself into her room, her friends and colleagues worry about her, and then it's all 'resolved' with no further consequences (not even a psych-evaluation) and she can go back to work no problem, just like that. These hallucinations feel like an enormous plot hole (if not a flaw on a conceptual level) rather than funny gags in between because of the semi-serious approach to them. I don't know whether problems like these are really due to experimenting with the format and the newness of it all, but I'm willing to do the show a favor and see it that way.
Of course, not only the show aged, I aged as well. And as I've grown into adulthood I am baffled by the idea this show was meant for adults. I quickly came to the conclusion that most of the characters were written as teenagers, on a mental as well as an emotional level. Ally is of course the best example of this, always doubting everything around her as well as herself, being insecure about herself, either not thinking about consequences of a situation or overthinking them... I could go on but you get the idea. The other characters have some pretty childish traits as well without something else making up for it. I get why I liked this show as much as I did when I was still a teen, but now it's just way too hard to even view these characters as believable, let alone connect with them.
Then there are the 'political' issues. If you've ever seen even one episode of a show by David E. Kelley you know what I'm talking about. Both Boston Legal and Ally McBeal are obviously very liberal shows with a high sense morality and this needn't be a problem, but it is, in many ways. I myself am a liberal, yet I take offense to the notion that all non-liberals are dumb for not being liberals or are simply evil. This notion however is a recurring theme in both shows and I think it displays liberals as closed-minded and smug. Another problem is the 'pro-woman' tone, particularly in Ally McBeal. Men are mostly displayed as either wimpy 'good guys' (Billy first 2 seasons) or sex-crazed assholes (Billy 3rd season, Richard Fish) and I take offense to that as a man.
I often get the feeling the writers really want to rub my face in what they think is morally right, and it's just annoying. I guess having grown up and having found my own sense of right and wrong really clashes with the show, another reason for me to argue it's more suited for teens rather than adults.
For me these are the real big issues with the show as a whole, the characters aren't believable on multiple levels, some aspects of the show are too 'out there' and remain unexplored and the political and moral messages are too one-sided and painfully present. There are some minor issues as well, Elaine never being funny even though she was obviously meant as comic relief, the never ending overuse of Vonda Shepard and her annoying voice, the quality of the animation, etc. etc. These are however a lot more subjective and don't affect the show as much as the rest, the show would be better without them but they don't ruin it either.
Lastly, what DOES still hold up? Well, as I've said the first 2 seasons are okay, even for today's standards. They don't hold up all that great because of aforementioned issues but they do have a lot going for them as well. The cast is great, most of the actors deliver a good, if not great, performance, the silly story lines usually don't get too silly and are entertaining enough to follow and even with their problems there are still some genuinely funny characters in the mix (Dr. Tracey being my favorite, but Richard Fish is also pretty funny at times, to name a few).
So, is it still watchable? Yes, but I'd prefer watching something else. I'm an adult now.
Recently I started watching it again, and having seen A LOT of different series over the years as well as other work from Mr. Kelley I have to say, I'm disappointed. The first 2 seasons only barely still worked for me and after that it went downhill real fast. What changed? How come I connected to a show on an emotional level this well 10 years ago and now all I can see is flaws?
Well, I think those 10 years really made that much a difference. Take these 'hallucinations' Ally ha(s/d) for example. Where they were a relatively new and refreshing way to show how she viewed other people and how she reacted emotionally to certain situations in a slightly comedic way back in the 90s, now they look cheap and silly, at best (and not because of the often poor animation.) Where I could fist simply 'accept' these hallucinations occurring because of the comedic tone of the show, now I can't help but conclude this is a sign of a severe mental illness and a person like that working in a law firm is simply not a believable scenario. There's even this one episode about Ally really starting to believe in them and locking herself into her room, her friends and colleagues worry about her, and then it's all 'resolved' with no further consequences (not even a psych-evaluation) and she can go back to work no problem, just like that. These hallucinations feel like an enormous plot hole (if not a flaw on a conceptual level) rather than funny gags in between because of the semi-serious approach to them. I don't know whether problems like these are really due to experimenting with the format and the newness of it all, but I'm willing to do the show a favor and see it that way.
Of course, not only the show aged, I aged as well. And as I've grown into adulthood I am baffled by the idea this show was meant for adults. I quickly came to the conclusion that most of the characters were written as teenagers, on a mental as well as an emotional level. Ally is of course the best example of this, always doubting everything around her as well as herself, being insecure about herself, either not thinking about consequences of a situation or overthinking them... I could go on but you get the idea. The other characters have some pretty childish traits as well without something else making up for it. I get why I liked this show as much as I did when I was still a teen, but now it's just way too hard to even view these characters as believable, let alone connect with them.
Then there are the 'political' issues. If you've ever seen even one episode of a show by David E. Kelley you know what I'm talking about. Both Boston Legal and Ally McBeal are obviously very liberal shows with a high sense morality and this needn't be a problem, but it is, in many ways. I myself am a liberal, yet I take offense to the notion that all non-liberals are dumb for not being liberals or are simply evil. This notion however is a recurring theme in both shows and I think it displays liberals as closed-minded and smug. Another problem is the 'pro-woman' tone, particularly in Ally McBeal. Men are mostly displayed as either wimpy 'good guys' (Billy first 2 seasons) or sex-crazed assholes (Billy 3rd season, Richard Fish) and I take offense to that as a man.
I often get the feeling the writers really want to rub my face in what they think is morally right, and it's just annoying. I guess having grown up and having found my own sense of right and wrong really clashes with the show, another reason for me to argue it's more suited for teens rather than adults.
For me these are the real big issues with the show as a whole, the characters aren't believable on multiple levels, some aspects of the show are too 'out there' and remain unexplored and the political and moral messages are too one-sided and painfully present. There are some minor issues as well, Elaine never being funny even though she was obviously meant as comic relief, the never ending overuse of Vonda Shepard and her annoying voice, the quality of the animation, etc. etc. These are however a lot more subjective and don't affect the show as much as the rest, the show would be better without them but they don't ruin it either.
Lastly, what DOES still hold up? Well, as I've said the first 2 seasons are okay, even for today's standards. They don't hold up all that great because of aforementioned issues but they do have a lot going for them as well. The cast is great, most of the actors deliver a good, if not great, performance, the silly story lines usually don't get too silly and are entertaining enough to follow and even with their problems there are still some genuinely funny characters in the mix (Dr. Tracey being my favorite, but Richard Fish is also pretty funny at times, to name a few).
So, is it still watchable? Yes, but I'd prefer watching something else. I'm an adult now.
How did this character become a lawyer?!
bbb5153 March 2012
This is one of the worst shows I've been bored enough to sit through. I like Boston Legal and I like the idea of a comedy law show. However, this series is more focused on McBeal finding love and feeling sorry for herself. The idea is that she "needs" a man or she isn't grounded enough to perform simple tasks. This makes you wonder how the character graduated from law school. This coupled with Calista Flockhart's painfully obvious eating disorder makes for the most anti-feminist female lead I've ever had the displeasure of watching.
All that said, the first 2 seasons can be pretty funny at times. I attribute most of the humor to Greg Germann's character Fish, although he can be extremely sexist.
In closing, I'd like to say that apart from the sexism this series so annoyingly demonstrates, I have discovered at least two recycled monologues from Ally McBeal on Boston Legal. I would be looking for that in Harry's Law, but it's important for me now to avoid anything written or created by David. E. Kelley. I don't believe it's okay to be lazy enough when creating series to go back to your writing on a previous show and copy it onto your new script word for word.
All that said, the first 2 seasons can be pretty funny at times. I attribute most of the humor to Greg Germann's character Fish, although he can be extremely sexist.
In closing, I'd like to say that apart from the sexism this series so annoyingly demonstrates, I have discovered at least two recycled monologues from Ally McBeal on Boston Legal. I would be looking for that in Harry's Law, but it's important for me now to avoid anything written or created by David. E. Kelley. I don't believe it's okay to be lazy enough when creating series to go back to your writing on a previous show and copy it onto your new script word for word.
Was a great show that lost it's way
A Jay18 January 2005
Warning: Spoilers
How can Ally McBeal be easily described? Well it actually can't because it works on a huge variety of levels. The characters are likable and funny, the dialogue is interesting and quirky and the stories vary from downright silly to incredibly moving.
I guess I'm mostly referring to the first four seasons of the series rather than the travesty that was the final one. The first four seasons were fantastic to watch and I really enjoyed every episode. Yes there were one or two duds scattered here and there, but that is only to be expected with that many episodes. But there could be some really moving moments. When Ally has to inform the office that Billy has died the acting by Calista Flockhart was superb because the whole situation was totally underplayed which made the announcement almost real and that much more moving. The final scene of the season one episode "Boy to the World" was heart wrenching That said the sheer comedy moments were also wonderfully played out. Ally getting stuck in a toilet, her fear of murderers, her trial for statutory rape are all a joy to watch.
But how could it all go so wrong after so much right? I won't say I watched the entire 5th season, it was just to painful to see such a decline. We were missing Renee, Ling, Georgia, Billy and Larry, it just couldn't be the same. And after that ridiculous daughter storyline happened, the series was doomed. It's a huge shame it had to end the way it did because of Robert Downey Jr's forced exit from the show. The character of Larry Paul breathed new life into the series and the hasty rewrites at the end of the 4th season are all to evident, yet even these are much better than anything much that passed for the 5th season.
But I can't condemn a series for one flawed final season when it brought me so much joy with the 4 previous ones. All in all I loved Ally McBeal for what it was, and I shall continue to watch my first 4 season DVD's for long time yet
I guess I'm mostly referring to the first four seasons of the series rather than the travesty that was the final one. The first four seasons were fantastic to watch and I really enjoyed every episode. Yes there were one or two duds scattered here and there, but that is only to be expected with that many episodes. But there could be some really moving moments. When Ally has to inform the office that Billy has died the acting by Calista Flockhart was superb because the whole situation was totally underplayed which made the announcement almost real and that much more moving. The final scene of the season one episode "Boy to the World" was heart wrenching That said the sheer comedy moments were also wonderfully played out. Ally getting stuck in a toilet, her fear of murderers, her trial for statutory rape are all a joy to watch.
But how could it all go so wrong after so much right? I won't say I watched the entire 5th season, it was just to painful to see such a decline. We were missing Renee, Ling, Georgia, Billy and Larry, it just couldn't be the same. And after that ridiculous daughter storyline happened, the series was doomed. It's a huge shame it had to end the way it did because of Robert Downey Jr's forced exit from the show. The character of Larry Paul breathed new life into the series and the hasty rewrites at the end of the 4th season are all to evident, yet even these are much better than anything much that passed for the 5th season.
But I can't condemn a series for one flawed final season when it brought me so much joy with the 4 previous ones. All in all I loved Ally McBeal for what it was, and I shall continue to watch my first 4 season DVD's for long time yet
Great show!
carolleejones24 September 2022
I've always loved this show and ALL those wacky characters! From the Biscuit to the dancing twins...it's clever, insightful, and totally entertaining. Lucy Lui was a great new character, and Robert Downey Jr was wonderful!
I watch all my favorite series multiple times. House, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl...but what keeps me from watching Alley McBeal more than once is that singer! Omg, she makes me cringe! She's so loud, too. Ugh! If they would at least cut her voice out of the introduction, it would help. I keep trying to watch it again, but I just can't do it.
I do wish they'd recreate the show with all the same actors...still making piles with Fish.
I watch all my favorite series multiple times. House, Friday Night Lights, Gossip Girl...but what keeps me from watching Alley McBeal more than once is that singer! Omg, she makes me cringe! She's so loud, too. Ugh! If they would at least cut her voice out of the introduction, it would help. I keep trying to watch it again, but I just can't do it.
I do wish they'd recreate the show with all the same actors...still making piles with Fish.
Really Good Show for 2 1/2 season's.
bfox-2861817 November 2021
All the actors and actresses were really good. However, Calista Flockhart really got old after the 3rd season. Show would have been better if a woman other than Flockhart had been the lead. Having all guys fall for her so called radiance was completely unrealistic to me.
I really enjoyed Ling,and Nelle and the couple of shows with Bernadette Peters. The show was 20 years old but I wanted to watch Barry White.
I really enjoyed Ling,and Nelle and the couple of shows with Bernadette Peters. The show was 20 years old but I wanted to watch Barry White.
One of the greatest, ever
dtm-322854 August 2018
One of my favorites growing up.
m-4782614 December 2020
And it still kind of is. Especially the first two seasons. Season 2 is the one I can't stop watching. All the episodes are great. The best the show had to offer. The next two seasons are decent, but the finale one is a revamp fail. It can come off as a bit naive by today's standards. But only from a distance. Things weren't as cut and dry as they are these days. Social commentaries didn't make characters look like raging activists, either. It's better, and help making them sympathetic, no matter their « beliefs ». It's a saner way of handling important issues. And I'm glad shows like these were those that introduced me to certain topics. It's a more subtle and unbiased view on feminism, and female empowerment, than the one currently thrown at us, as well. It even made way for other great « chick » series like Sex and The City, that premiered the Summer this show's first season ended. The cast was gold. And let's not forget about Vonda Shepard's songs, giving rhythm to the heroine's mood, and other musical guests, like Barry White and Tina Turner. The show was clearly of different times, yet it's oddly relevant and even more enjoyable twenty years or so later.
I love Ally McBeal
mrbinky-131 May 2006
I ordered all five seasons from hong kong on e-bay... it's fantastic..!! you know, people watch Jerry Springer to make sure their lives are not that screwed up... I believe people watch(ed) Ally hoping their lives could become as chaotic... We are into the 4th season.. and it seems like the show should be wrapping up at the end of this season... but they go on for one more year... contract fights with ABC? I know Robert Downy Jr. went back to rehab at the end of season 4...
But this show is about life.. all the stupid little things that most people never even notice are magnifide a thousand time... Jerry Seinfeld did the same thing... Ally McBeal was a lawyer show about nothing.. but in Ally everybody is George and Kramer and all the other characters all the time all rolled into one... David Kelly was/is a genius. to be able to write so many shows with such passion. That's another key to this show you don't see on very many.. the passion the actors deliver their parts in... They invite us into their world and we actually become part of it... The fears we see on Ally are something we all experience at some time in our lives... Wish I could find more of David Kelly's shows on DVD... can't find the Practice at all...
let's have a reunion..!!!!
But this show is about life.. all the stupid little things that most people never even notice are magnifide a thousand time... Jerry Seinfeld did the same thing... Ally McBeal was a lawyer show about nothing.. but in Ally everybody is George and Kramer and all the other characters all the time all rolled into one... David Kelly was/is a genius. to be able to write so many shows with such passion. That's another key to this show you don't see on very many.. the passion the actors deliver their parts in... They invite us into their world and we actually become part of it... The fears we see on Ally are something we all experience at some time in our lives... Wish I could find more of David Kelly's shows on DVD... can't find the Practice at all...
let's have a reunion..!!!!
R. Downey Jr Ruined EVERYTHING.
Rilo2920 August 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Okay. So this show is a little out there. The characters are all very, um, unique. It's not a bad show, really. My issue is that the entire premise of the show rests on Ally being absolutely heartbroken but set on finding the great things in life. She wants it all: the career, the gorgeous husband, the perfect child, and a white picket fence. Yes, in the beginning Ally is whiny and pouty, often displaying sheer immaturity. Toward the end; however, her character starts to realize the true pain of having everything. The ending of the show, for me, was sad. Yes, Ally found herself surrounded by her friends... But she didn't truly get everything she wanted and knew she had to settle. It's not a happy ending type show if that's what someone is looking for, but it does remind us all that life is constantly throwing surprises our way.
But this is all because RD Jr. had legal issues and was impossible to work with. Otherwise, I like to think that Ally would've had it all. Way to go, RD Jr.
But this is all because RD Jr. had legal issues and was impossible to work with. Otherwise, I like to think that Ally would've had it all. Way to go, RD Jr.
I wish someone could explain why this was such a popular show
t-c-431-19659324 July 2012
Warning: Spoilers
My thoughts are based solely on the content of the show and have nothing to do with the actors or their acting ability. It reminds me of a saying I heard years ago..."People doing the best possible job with the worst possible material." The show consistently portrays women as weak and that they need a man to be "okay" in life. The chauvinistic attitudes of the men toward the females on the show regardless of whether they are attorneys at the firm, clients, or simple passersby is extremely insulting, I cannot believe it had the popularity that it did.
I did not watch it when it aired originally. It never even caught my eye back then. Recently I was browsing through some titles and started watching it. Being fair minded (& a little OCD) and not wanting to judge it on just a few episodes, so I am up to episode 87 out of 100. I originally hoped it would redeem itself somehow but at this point I have given up that hope.
I simply cannot figure out why it was such a high rated show. I know times have changed but it is hard for me to believe that women thought it was entertaining to see themselves portrayed in this way.
I did not watch it when it aired originally. It never even caught my eye back then. Recently I was browsing through some titles and started watching it. Being fair minded (& a little OCD) and not wanting to judge it on just a few episodes, so I am up to episode 87 out of 100. I originally hoped it would redeem itself somehow but at this point I have given up that hope.
I simply cannot figure out why it was such a high rated show. I know times have changed but it is hard for me to believe that women thought it was entertaining to see themselves portrayed in this way.
Ally McBeal nostalgia!
zheper62-129 November 2011
I used to be so hooked on ally McBeal when it was on. I remember using cassette tapes to record the episode. Only the conversation alone was really amazing. Ally McBeal is David Kelly's masterpiece. I was hooked even more with John Cage and Nelle Porter. The biscuit and the subzero is such an interesting pairing for me. I must admit I stayed watching Ally McBeal simply because of this two. Season 2 was really good. Ally Mc Beal herself is like a medication in a way as it is good in small doses. Thank God for the internet I was able to download some of the episodes. It was then I realized how annoying Ally's character can be at times. But the writing was superb! I used to be annoyed at Elaine but I like her more now than Ally. Watching Ally all over again gave me a chance to see some of the characters in a different light. Cage and Fish are really hilarious, I love John and Nelle even more, I used to find Ling funny but I have second thoughts now, Elaine is more likable than Ally. After realizing that John and Nelle didn't end up together I am not that keen anymore.
1st couple years Good, Last couple nope
TheEmulator2329 November 2009
I enjoyed seasons 1, 2, & 3 quite well. 4 isn't bad but getting weak at the end & season 5 is terrible. It seemed pretty obvious that many of the actors knew what was coming and thought it was getting weak & left for good reason. The addition of Hayden Panettiere was the exclamation point of desperation. No, the way they explained her as being Ally's biological mother was ridiculous. Stick with the 1st three years and leave it at that. Boston Legal was solid for it's entire 5 year run but this was not. This is one of those shows that found a solid lead in Calista Flockhart & it might not have been a success at all with out her. I enjoyed many of the plot lines & it had quite a few excellent guest stars which also helped.
Like a triple stack of IHOP pancakes w/ extra syrup
rooprect28 November 2006
Mmm, doesn't a big stack of pancakes sound good? Maple syrup and fruit preserves on top. Take a bite. Mmmmmmm. Take another bite. Another. Another. EAT. EAT it, you!!! Keep shoveling it down your throat until your face turns green with nausea. You have just had the Ally McBeal experience.
I stumbled on this show in the winter of '98 and was instantly hooked. Like that stack of pancakes, I gorged myself on it. But the enjoyment soon wore off, because the Ally McBeal character (whom we see to be cute & endearing at first sight) soon becomes the most annoying, insecure, whining complainer you've ever met. (Call me a feminist, but I prefer my female leads to have a spine.) The gags & gimmicks of the show also become hackneyed, the music of Vonda Shepherd (which is really shoved in your face) becomes grating, and the incessant character changes & rewrites make the show into a damn soap opera.
My advice to you is to take this show in small doses, and quit as soon as it becomes bothersome (and it will). I made it through 2.5 seasons before my enjoyment had totally soured. It was good while it lasted, but like a crazy, neurotic ex-girlfriend it just turned ugly after it had overstayed its welcome.
And next time you go to IHOP, skip the pancakes. Order something healthy like the fruit cup. It'll sit with you much better.
I stumbled on this show in the winter of '98 and was instantly hooked. Like that stack of pancakes, I gorged myself on it. But the enjoyment soon wore off, because the Ally McBeal character (whom we see to be cute & endearing at first sight) soon becomes the most annoying, insecure, whining complainer you've ever met. (Call me a feminist, but I prefer my female leads to have a spine.) The gags & gimmicks of the show also become hackneyed, the music of Vonda Shepherd (which is really shoved in your face) becomes grating, and the incessant character changes & rewrites make the show into a damn soap opera.
My advice to you is to take this show in small doses, and quit as soon as it becomes bothersome (and it will). I made it through 2.5 seasons before my enjoyment had totally soured. It was good while it lasted, but like a crazy, neurotic ex-girlfriend it just turned ugly after it had overstayed its welcome.
And next time you go to IHOP, skip the pancakes. Order something healthy like the fruit cup. It'll sit with you much better.
See also
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