When it was originally on: 1997-2002

Original network: FOX

Where you can stream it now: Hulu

Had I seen it before: I definitely have tried to get into Ally McBeal before and watched the first several episodes, but never quite got into it.

What IMDb says: Follows the personal and professional life of lawyer Ally.

Why I picked it: For so long, TV dramas limited to cops, doctors, and lawyers. I try to make sure all three are represented on a list of pilots since they’re such staples of the medium and it’s interesting to watch how the cop, doctor, and lawyer dramas have evolved over time. Ally McBeal is one that I remember being just as interested in Ally’s personal life as it was in her lawyer life, which represents an interesting evolution.

What I liked: The basic love triangle conflict is great. Can two exes, one of whom is married and one of whom admits to still being in love with the other one, work together? And to make it even better, they’ve made Billy’s wife, Georgia, a respectable woman who opens up and admits her insecurities to Ally making us sympathize with her as well. A weaker show might’ve made at least one of these three a more obvious antagonist, or kept Georgia offscreen as much as possible; but Ally McBeal lets all three of them be likable, yet flawed people who are genuinely trying their best to handle the awkward situation in a mature way, though that may mean something different to all of them. We can tell that somehow, feelings are going to get in the way, we just don’t know exactly whose feelings or what they’re going to be. It’s easy to envision this triangle keeping us entertained for many seasons to come.

I also love Richard Fish as a comic relief character. The moment where Ally and Billy have been fighting in the men’s room and he exits one of the stalls? Perfect comic timing, chef’s kiss.

What I didn’t like: One could argue these are nitpicks, but I think I know too much about the law/find the law too interesting to deal with a show that cares so little about the legal aspects. What the fuck do you mean he left HARVARD LAW SCHOOL to go to MICHIGAN, and somehow this helped him clerk for a Supreme Court judge? I actually cared enough to Google this and try to figure out why this made sense, and it turns out Michigan does have a well-respected law school beyond what I imagined, but I think the fact I cared enough to Google it illustrates why my personality may not jive with the show. Normal people would’ve just rolled with it, but alas. It would’ve been so damn easy to make him transfer schools for any other reason, especially since ultimately he is going to end up back at the exact same law firm as Ally, SCOTUS clerkship or not.

There’s also a plot point where a judge openly acknowledges that he’s ruling against the Constitution for some reason just to make Ally and her client “work for it.” I can believe there are crappy judges out there, but crappy enough to make the decision AND be this upfront about their lack of rationale for it? That strained credulity for me.

Now mind you the show was created by David E. Kelley who actually went to law school and I didn’t, so I don’t think I know better than him. But I do get the impression that Ally McBeal is more of a workplace dramedy where that workplace happens to be law firm and that it has little interest in making legal disputes a core part of its storytelling. The outcomes of legal issues are just whatever this pilot needs them to be in order to get Ally’s arc where it’s supposed to go, regardless of whether there’s any logic or reason behind them.

There’s also a lot of strange stylistic choices that seem like they’re only there because CGI was still novel, but finally cheap enough to make it into network television on a weekly basis. They don’t really enhance the show’s entertainment value, or my understanding of the characters, they’re just weird and distracting.


Do I want to watch Ep. 2?: Not really? But not in a “this show is bad” way, just a “this show isn’t for me” way.