Nah, I think that's too simplistic. Alan on The Practice was a destructive (and self-destructive) character, and you can't really have someone like that as the "hero" of their own show (ahahaha, which reminds me, originally, the spinoff was going to be about Alan pursuing a profession other than law after he was disbarred). And there has been some legitimate character development--most of it involving Denny--over the course of the series, no doubt about it.
But this struck me as blatant wish-fulfillment on DEK's part. Alan did the same thing in the Texas case (back in season one), but it was as a last resort. He'd exhausted all the rational arguments, so he turned to emotion and felt embarrassed about it afterwards (and ultimately lost the case--after attempting to employ unconventional tactics as well). Here he does it almost immediately and is rewarded by everyone around him.
The blatant wish-fulfillment (which I see in Alan every episode) means that Alan is becoming a worse lawyer as the series progresses. It's interesting, because there is a history of unsympathetic characters being softened and made more sympathetic over the course of a series but all the examples that spring to mind right now are dated and don't do more than show my age. At any rate, that's what the audience demands, making characters nicer (there are no rat bastards at CP&S. How credible is that? They always nicen up as the season progresses.). So it might be simplistic, but I don't think it can be entirely written off, particularly if we accept that Alan is so obviously DEK's mouthpiece. Can't have him be hated, not when the boss identifies with him on top of everything else
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No, I see it, too, but most of the time I can bear it, because Alan does fuck up (though not usually in court, I have to admit). I would've had no problem with Alan taking the Supreme Court to task tonight if it'd ended with the realization that he'd done so at the expense of a man's life. (I do reeeeally miss Alan from The Practice, though.)
I didn't hate this episode (despite what it may sound like). I think I'm just irritated because they had a really ambitious idea with a lot of potential and they managed to turn it into the same old same old. I wish the writers had taken more time to develop it, maybe done it over two eps (the Scott Little trial lasted at least six episodes!) or developed the storyline throughout the season.
I agree on most points, particularly on your other comment about it seeming rushed. For the big "Supreme Court" case it should have been a big moment, something with some development and nice ressonance. Not a one off episode that ends with Alan making the same kind of rant that he always makes. I do hate it when the legal drama gets pushed aside in favor of DEK monologuing on the ills of the world in a vaguely connected way to the story.
The Thomas bit was great though. If it had been a real trial with that thrown in for good measure, then it might have been a great story arc.
Ugh, I hate it, too. Sometimes there's a legitimate connection between Alan/DEK's pet cause and the case, but other times...he goes off on these huge tangents that have nothing to do with his client or the issue at hand. He was so unbelievably arrogant (and not in a good way), telling the SC what role they should be playing.
Hahahahaha, yes. When I went, we made a bet about Thomas speaking, too, but it was for like...ten cents.
Alan and Denny in DC deserved at least two episodes. They got two episodes in LA!
I hated it from the time Alan stood up until almost the end. I hated that a person's life depended upon his actions, and Alan went off on his own personal agenda anyway like it was cool.
I hated that it was so preposterous (In RL he would have been cut off in three seconds) especially after last week's argument and the fairly realistic S1 season ender.
I did, however, love the hotel room fight, Denny's suit , Denny's fart, the judge look-alikes and Denny being willing to flirt with Ginsberg for the cause.
Yeah, it was such a jarring shift in tone from last week's ep. Hahahaha, based on spoilers, I was expecting Alan to go, be nervous and do his usual thing, doom the client, and then fight with Denny about it (and then somehow end up in jail, though that whole subplot was cut). In all honesty, I would've preferred that, and the changes do make me wonder whether DEK's written the show off as canceled.
I watched the episode (and last week's) having the feeling it was a "wish list" (for lack of better phrase)episode. It felt like DEK sat down during the break and wrote down arcs to wrap up before the series ends.
Unless this episode was the beginning for a longer arc (which I highly doubt) it was a culmination of Alan's death penalty stand by letting im argue it as far as it could go. Yes, letting him rant on was obvious dramatic license, but Alan's rants are an integral part of the show's formula. To leave it out would have left all those remote twitchy-fingered couch potatoes saying "Wha?"
Personally, I think it would have made a bigger political impact but having them cut Alan off immediately, but I think this is a case of playing it safe. I think if this were second or even third season DEK would have had Alan cut off. It would have caused a buzz. Now, I think more watercooler talk about the show would have to do with Denny and Alan talkinng about moving to Weds. Night.
Oh, definitely, though I think the Alzheimer's plot was well timed and he did build up to it throughout the season (sometimes very subtly--Denny started consistently misusing/misremembering words sometime around the first few episodes). I enjoyed that ep quite a bit.
Yeah, you're right--this was the pinnacle of something, which is maybe one of the reasons I'm so critical about it (and it makes me wonder whether DEK knows something we don't about the show's fate). What can Alan strive for professionally, now that he's bested the Supreme Court? Hahahaha, I really, really would've liked for him to lose, I think. (Because while he might've lost the case, he met with so much approbation that it might as well have been a win.) I've been watching some West Wing lately (they were selling entire seasons for $20 at Best Buy), which may also have something to do with my discontent. I mean, it's another show that takes place in liberal fantasyland, but the Republicans are portrayed as intelligent and as people. It would've been nice for Alan to
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too freaking lazy to resign intrust_issueApril 23 2008, 17:44:39 UTC
I'm floored by the Alzheimer's plot. It's beyond a perfect depiction of dealing with a terminal disease while not making Denny a poster child. They are not having the characters walking around on eggshells with it and making it very human in saying that life needs to go on and be as fulfilling as possible but not trying to cram a second lifetime of memories into what time is left. That's been so over killed in TV, movies, and books.
and it makes me wonder whether DEK knows something we don't about the show's fateI'm saying yes he does...but not in a negative way. I think he wants to have an endgame that fits with the quality of the show and if that means "quitting" before he's "fired". I believe that he is gearing up for next season to be the last. I believe he already has a good idea about next season's order and he's putting the pieces in place to play it out. At least I hope this is what's happening I know I've been out spoken about CJ's unceremonious cancellation....but that has nothing to do with the actual episodes and
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I watched this episode the other day and thought the same, though I don't have your knowledge of law.
The reason I never got interested in the show until very recently is that I thought it was too unrealistic and silly. I've since realised that Alan and Denny's relationship trumps that for me, but I definitely didn't enjoy watching Alan harangue the judges in either this episode or the finale!
It's difficult for me to (re)watch any of the Supreme Court stuff, because it's so clearly wish fulfillment on DEK's part. Alan argues a similar case in season one with the same sort of impassioned desperation, but the outcome is completely different (and much more realistic).
Yeah, it's not a perfect show by any means, which is why I wasn't ever upset when it failed to win Best Drama at the Emmys. Some of the silliness and ridiculousness I liked, but what really gets me is the preachiness. As the series went on, Alan got more and more self-righteous and given to grandstanding until it became his trademark. I dunno, Spader does a magnificent job with the closings, but they can and do get on my nerves. (Especially when they have nothing to do with the case! Why?I wish I could hook you up with season 8 of TP--Alan's much darker and more destructive in it (though he still has that compassionate streak). There's an ep where he conceals evidence, hacks opposing counsel's email, and then proceeds to blackmail the guy into a settlement with
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I've watched the clips from The Practice on boston-legal.org! I was disappointed when I learned it wasn't out on DVD, but at least I've been able to see some of the highlights.
Yeah, it should be out on DVD eventually, since they've already released the first two (?) seasons. Back in the day, I managed to pick up a sketchy bootleg copy off a site that seems to have disappeared.
Oooh, and certain copies of BL season one came with an extra DVD containing the last 4 eps of TP--you might be able to get ahold of that if you poked around on ebay.
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But this struck me as blatant wish-fulfillment on DEK's part. Alan did the same thing in the Texas case (back in season one), but it was as a last resort. He'd exhausted all the rational arguments, so he turned to emotion and felt embarrassed about it afterwards (and ultimately lost the case--after attempting to employ unconventional tactics as well). Here he does it almost immediately and is rewarded by everyone around him.
EDIT: Now with 70% fewer "really"s!
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I didn't hate this episode (despite what it may sound like). I think I'm just irritated because they had a really ambitious idea with a lot of potential and they managed to turn it into the same old same old. I wish the writers had taken more time to develop it, maybe done it over two eps (the Scott Little trial lasted at least six episodes!) or developed the storyline throughout the season.
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The Thomas bit was great though. If it had been a real trial with that thrown in for good measure, then it might have been a great story arc.
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Hahahahaha, yes. When I went, we made a bet about Thomas speaking, too, but it was for like...ten cents.
Alan and Denny in DC deserved at least two episodes. They got two episodes in LA!
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I hated that it was so preposterous (In RL he would have been cut off in three seconds) especially after last week's argument and the fairly realistic S1 season ender.
I did, however, love the hotel room fight, Denny's suit , Denny's fart, the judge look-alikes and Denny being willing to flirt with Ginsberg for the cause.
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Yeah, it was such a jarring shift in tone from last week's ep. Hahahaha, based on spoilers, I was expecting Alan to go, be nervous and do his usual thing, doom the client, and then fight with Denny about it (and then somehow end up in jail, though that whole subplot was cut). In all honesty, I would've preferred that, and the changes do make me wonder whether DEK's written the show off as canceled.
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Unless this episode was the beginning for a longer arc (which I highly doubt) it was a culmination of Alan's death penalty stand by letting im argue it as far as it could go. Yes, letting him rant on was obvious dramatic license, but Alan's rants are an integral part of the show's formula. To leave it out would have left all those remote twitchy-fingered couch potatoes saying "Wha?"
Personally, I think it would have made a bigger political impact but having them cut Alan off immediately, but I think this is a case of playing it safe. I think if this were second or even third season DEK would have had Alan cut off. It would have caused a buzz. Now, I think more watercooler talk about the show would have to do with Denny and Alan talkinng about moving to Weds. Night.
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Yeah, you're right--this was the pinnacle of something, which is maybe one of the reasons I'm so critical about it (and it makes me wonder whether DEK knows something we don't about the show's fate). What can Alan strive for professionally, now that he's bested the Supreme Court? Hahahaha, I really, really would've liked for him to lose, I think. (Because while he might've lost the case, he met with so much approbation that it might as well have been a win.) I've been watching some West Wing lately (they were selling entire seasons for $20 at Best Buy), which may also have something to do with my discontent. I mean, it's another show that takes place in liberal fantasyland, but the Republicans are portrayed as intelligent and as people. It would've been nice for Alan to ( ... )
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and it makes me wonder whether DEK knows something we don't about the show's fateI'm saying yes he does...but not in a negative way. I think he wants to have an endgame that fits with the quality of the show and if that means "quitting" before he's "fired". I believe that he is gearing up for next season to be the last. I believe he already has a good idea about next season's order and he's putting the pieces in place to play it out. At least I hope this is what's happening I know I've been out spoken about CJ's unceremonious cancellation....but that has nothing to do with the actual episodes and ( ... )
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The reason I never got interested in the show until very recently is that I thought it was too unrealistic and silly. I've since realised that Alan and Denny's relationship trumps that for me, but I definitely didn't enjoy watching Alan harangue the judges in either this episode or the finale!
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Yeah, it's not a perfect show by any means, which is why I wasn't ever upset when it failed to win Best Drama at the Emmys. Some of the silliness and ridiculousness I liked, but what really gets me is the preachiness. As the series went on, Alan got more and more self-righteous and given to grandstanding until it became his trademark. I dunno, Spader does a magnificent job with the closings, but they can and do get on my nerves. (Especially when they have nothing to do with the case! Why?I wish I could hook you up with season 8 of TP--Alan's much darker and more destructive in it (though he still has that compassionate streak). There's an ep where he conceals evidence, hacks opposing counsel's email, and then proceeds to blackmail the guy into a settlement with ( ... )
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Oooh, and certain copies of BL season one came with an extra DVD containing the last 4 eps of TP--you might be able to get ahold of that if you poked around on ebay.
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