Boston Legal Recap

5/21/08

Scott Patrick Wagner

Tonight's season finale of Boston Legal, "Patriot Acts," opens with Alan and Denny beside themselves with jubilation over having been accepted into the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. They jump up and down together as only the prototypes of the bromance could. On the heels of this, Ornery Judge (Anthony Heald) harumphs into Alan's office and hires him for a court case: to argue to secede his town of Concord, Massachusetts, from the United States. When Denny hears about this, he asks Alan not to take the case. Alan already has, and refuses to drop it no matter how Denny claims it is unpatriotic. Alan says that this country is founded on rebellion, and Denny tells him to get out of his office and that their friendship is over.

The case comes before Prissy Judge (Henry Gibson), who is appalled at first. Then Denny and Carl enter as opposing counsel. This was Denny's idea ("I have one every leap year") and no one is quite sure whether it's a good one or not, particularly since Denny insists of serving as first chair. Shirley tries to discourage him from taking lead counsel, telling him bluntly that Alan will rip him to pieces and that he doesn't have the stuff to win a case anymore. Denny tells her to bugger off, and we're not sure if he's being confident or foolhardy.

Denny does great in his first argument in the case, and Jerry is surprised, telling Alan he thinks it's amazing how a man dying from Alzheimer's could be so excellent. Alan chews Jerry out royally for saying Denny is dying, not to mention calling it Alzheimer's. Alan subsequently apologizes, and regretfully mentions that he feels he hasn't been paying enough attention to Jerry as a friend. Jerry wistfully says that everyone pays more attention to work and neglects their friendships.

Alan's friendship with Denny is on the line, as the competition between them in this case takes on a $100,000 money wager. In the case, Alan brings up a superlative argument about all the violations of human rights and fundamentals of the Constitution that are being perpetrated by the Patriot Act. Surprisingly, Denny has an eloquent and plausible argument in response, as he makes his summation in his Coast Guard uniform. Denny wins the case, which we can see actually pleases Alan. When Alan asks if they are still friends, Denny says that friendship is more important than anything. Back at the office, Shirley enters the men's room as Denny is washing his hands, and apologizes for having doubted his capability. He takes this as encouragement to suggest nookie, and she gives his a chaste kiss of congratulations and says, "Not tonight."

In their cigar-and-brandy closer on the terrace, Alan and Denny wax lyrical about friendship and the fleeting passage of time. Denny suddenly suggests they go fishing, right that very minute. Alan at first thinks Denny is either kidding or demented, but ultimately realizes the soundness of the suggestion and agrees. We then see Alan and Denny — in their Coast Guard uniforms with rubber waders atop, and carrying fishing poles — happily leaving town. In a nod to the shortened season, we see a final shot of the empty offices of the law firm, with a big, hand-painted "Gone Fishin'" sign on the front door. A beautiful episode.