Alan is assigned a pro bono case defending a man accused of stealing a loaf of bread, which escalates into a larger critique of the penal system. Lori handles a case involving a surgeon who allegedly botched a procedure due to a video game addiction. Episode 5: "An Eye for an Eye" Original Air Date: October 31, 2004
The season features appearances by stars like Betty White, Freddie Prinze Jr., and Kerry Washington. Transcripts:
Halfway through the season (Episode 11), Candice Bergen makes her debut as Shirley Schmidt. Her arrival creates a power struggle within the firm and provides a necessary foil to Denny’s eccentricity and Alan’s lechery. She brings a sense of order to the chaos of Crane, Poole & Schmidt.
(October 31, 2004) Shore and Chase clash over a case involving a man accused of murdering his wife. Meanwhile, Schmidt tries to help a colleague deal with a personal issue. index of boston legal season 1
| Episode # | Title | Original Air Date | Key Plot Summary | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1 | | Oct 3, 2004 | Alan Shore defends a man who beheaded a statue; Denny Crane boasts about his shotgun. | | 2 | "Still Crazy After All These Years" | Oct 10, 2004 | Alan helps a woman sue her dead husband's ghost. Introduces the "mad cow" jokes. | | 3 | "Catch and Release" | Oct 17, 2004 | Lori faces a sexual harassment case; Alan tries to woo a client. | | 4 | "Change of Course" | Oct 24, 2004 | A college student accuses a professor of rape; ethical lines blur. | | 5 | "An Eye for an Eye" | Oct 31, 2004 | A death penalty case forces Alan to confront his own morality. | | 6 | "Truth Be Told" | Nov 7, 2004 | A priest breaks the confessional seal. Denny defends a gun executive. | | 7 | "Questionable Characters" | Nov 14, 2004 | Alan defends a mobster; Sally Heep appears as a love interest. | | 8 | "Loose Lips" | Nov 21, 2004 | A murder trial hinges on a slip of the tongue during sex. | | 9 | "A Greater Good" | Nov 28, 2004 | A military cover-up goes to trial. Denny suffers memory lapses. | | 10 | "Hired Guns" | Dec 12, 2004 | Lawyers become bounty hunters; Tara Wilson joins the firm. | | 11 | "Schmidt Happens" | Jan 16, 2005 | Donny Sutherland (Michael J. Fox) returns; the firm name is at stake. | | 12 | "From Whence We Came" | Jan 23, 2005 | Alan defends a cheating husband; Denny wants to freeze his body. | | 13 | "It Girls and Beyond" | Jan 30, 2005 | A model's murder trial satirizes celebrity culture. | | 14 | "Til We Meat Again" | Feb 13, 2005 | A cannibalism case shocks the firm. Bernard Ferrion returns. | | 15 | "Tortured Souls" | Feb 20, 2005 | A torture lawsuit against a US contractor. | | 16 | "Let Sales Ring" | Mar 6, 2005 | A class-action suit against a telemarketer. | | 17 | "Death Be Not Proud" | Mar 20, 2005 | Season finale: A euthanasia case splits the firm. Denny, Alan, and the balcony. |
Alan investigates the suspicious institutionalisation of a former client. Shirley Schmidt takes on a case involving freedom of speech in a private workspace. Episode 13: "It Girls and Broken Hearts" Original Air Date: January 23, 2005
Index of Boston Legal Season 1: The Definitive Episode Guide and Analysis Alan is assigned a pro bono case defending
: Shirley defends a man accused of murder; Alan helps a woman being blackmailed. Let Sales Ring
| Episode | Title | Air Date | Synopsis | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | "Death Be Not Proud" | Mar. 20, 2005 | Chelina (Kerry Washington) asks Alan to help in Texas, where an innocent man faces execution. An old friend of Denny and Shirley asks for help fighting a prostitution charge. The season finale is a powerful meditation on justice and redemption, with Alan facing the limits of the legal system. The dual plotlines—death penalty and sexual freedom—encapsulate the show's range from grave to absurd. |
Whether you’re a first-time viewer or revisiting the halls of Crane, Poole & Schmidt, Season 1 is essential viewing—a show still writing its own rules, one wild closing argument at a time. (October 31, 2004) Shore and Chase clash over
: Alan helps a man whose mail-order bride is being deported; Denny tries to win back Shirley. It Girls and Boys
: A man is sued for revealing a "family secret" on a talk show; Denny deals with a difficult client. A Greater Good
