Boston Legal-Season 2 (2004)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Main Menu Audio & Animation Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Legal Pad: The Words of Boston Legal Featurette-Behind The Scenes-Exhibit A: The Look of Boston Legal
Rating
Year Of Production	2004
Running Time	1109:00
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Multi Disc Set (7)	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Ads Then Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Lou Antonio Steve Robin
Studio Distributor	Twentieth Century Fox	Starring	James Spader Julie Bowen Monica Potter Rhona Mitra Lake Bell Mark Valley Rene Auberjonois Justin Mentell Ryan Michelle Bathe Candice Bergen William Shatner
Case	?
RPI	?	Music	Danny Lux

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	Unknown	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	Danish English for the Hearing Impaired Finnish Norwegian Swedish	Smoking	Yes, Lots of cigars
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    Legal dramas have certainly had their share of hit and misses over the years. Fortunately, Boston Legal hits the mark more often than not. Boston Legal fits into the relatively new type of a drama that doesn't take itself (or anything else for that matter) too seriously. Whilst not as successful as similar light hearted dramas (or dramadies as they are being called) like Desperate Housewives or the strangely appealing Ugly Betty, Boston Legal is a lot of fun.

    This site has a review of Season 1, to see that please click here.

    Season 2 picks up right where Season 1 left off, and it is business as usual at Crane, Poole and Schmidt. However, something doesn't feel quite right. As it turns out, the broadcast of Season 1 was interrupted for a popular mid-season replacement called Grey's Anatomy, so the last 5 episodes didn't air until the following year at the beginning of Season 2. So the Season 2 box-set is actually what David E Kelley envisioned to be the last 5 episodes of Season 1 followed by the 22 episodes of Season 2. That's why it feels a little disjointed.

    Unfortunately, it gets a little worse. A major character (played by Monica Potter) was suddenly out of the show with no explanation at all. Three new lawyers (one played by the appealing Julie Bowen) seemingly come out of nowhere. Bowen quickly finds her place in the show and becomes an asset. However, the two new junior lawyers seem like window dressing, Kelley soon realises that he doesn't have anything for them to do and they too are jettisoned mid-season.

    Boston Legal's strength, the chemistry and rapport between James Spader and William Shatner is also perhaps it's greatest weakness. The two are in perhaps the roles of their careers (unless you count Capt Kirk of course) and are so fun to watch, the supporting cast have little or nothing to do. Kelley and his writers bring in other storylines to give Candace Bergin, Rene Auberjonois, Mark Valley and Julie Bowen more screen time but usually all it does is detract from the Spader and Shatner show. A fun aspect of the show however, is the revolving door of guest-star clients. This season sees Michael J Fox, Heather Locklear, Megan Mullally, Parker Posey and Tom Selleck (amongst others.) 

    The Alan Shore and Denny Crane show whilst immensely amusing, has unfortunately become Kelley's right vs left soapbox. Shore's liberal, socially conscious (and yet quite morally challenged) character is always taking the left-wing position to Crane's Republican red, NRA gun toting, "I hate poor people" right-wing nutter. Some episodes are so preachy it needs to be seen to be believed.

    Those points aside, Season 2 continues to be a lot of fun. This is indulgence television at its best. Whilst not as good as Season 1, it is still better than most of the rot on television.

    Highly recommended.

    Disc 1    201 The Black Widow

                  202 Schaudenfreude

                  203 Finding Nimmo

                  204 A Whiff and a Prayer

    Disc 2    205 Men to Boys

                  206 Witches of Mass Destruction

                  207 Truly, Madly, Deeply

                  208 The Ass Fat Jungle

    Disc 3    209 Gone

                  210 Legal Deficits

                  211 The Cancer Man Can

                  212 Helping Hands

    Disc 4    213 Too Much Information

                  214 Breast in Show

                  215 Smile

                  216 Live Big

    Disc 5    217 ...There's Fire!

                  218 Shock and Oww!

                  219 Stick It

                  220 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

    Disc 6    221 Word Salad Days

                  222 Ivan The Incorrigible

                  223 Race Ipsa

                  224 Deep End of The Poole

    Disc 7    225 Squid Pro Quo

                  226 Spring Fever

                  227 BL-Los Angeles

*Due to the knowledge of spoilers possibly lessening your viewing experience I am not including episode summaries. Please go to www.tv.com for their great (and spoiler filled) summaries. All episodes are network standard 41 or so minutes long.

Video

    These PAL discs have an aspect ratio of 1.78:1 and are 16x9 enhanced.

    Just like the first season, this set also looks fantastic.

    The image is sharp and for the most part, crystal clear. Shot in HD, it's doubtful that except for HD broadcasts that the series has ever looked this good.

    It's a studio shot show, but colours look good. Skin tones are natural. Black levels and shadow details are fine.

    There are no MPEG artefact problems.

    Chapter breaks occur where TV commercial breaks would take place.

    Subtitles are available: Danish, English for the Hearing Impaired, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish

    More releases should follow their example with the English for Hearing Impaired track.

    Overall a very good transfer.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The only audio track is English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s)

    The track is solid.

    The dialogue comes through clearly.

    The soundtrack is that funky jazz style that Kelley sticks with. Quite pumpin', and even with a 2.0 track, shakes the walls.

    There are no click, popout or synch issues.

    No surrounds, and a centre heavy track but it does the job.

    No sub-woofer, but it wasn't expected.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu Audio & Animation

Featurette-Legal Pad: The Words of Boston Legal (5:06)

    Nothing to write home about, but a brief look at how the screenplay and show comes together.

Featurette-Exhibit A: The Look of Boston Legal (9:15)

    A look at the sets, design, wardrobes and how its filmed to give it the BL look and feel.

 Web Links

    Link to Fox Movies website

    Special features are identical, so let's call it a tie.

    Not as good as the first season, but one of the better dramadies on TV at the moment

    The video is first class.

    The audio is good too.

    The special features are minimal, but enjoyable. A show this good warrants a commentary or two.

    Lots of fun. Buy it now!

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall