3pipeproblem | Boston Legal Musings

Current Mood: accomplished

Boston Legal Musings

Okay, the title is slightly misleading. I don't just tolerate the show; there are quite a few parts I actively enjoy (sleepy!Alan being way up there). Also, I realize that it's a bit presumptuous to be writing a pseudo-essay on a series that's only aired two episodes, but I've been looking around and people have already begun to assert that "the Alan Shore on Boston Legal is not the same man he was on The Practice," or something along those lines. For my part, I think Alan is much the same--it's his circumstances that have changed.

First and foremost, he's at a new firm. I really enjoyed watching Alan at Young, Frutt, and Berluti, because he was always on this tenuous moral ground. He must have told himself at least once and with absolute certainty that everyone he worked with there was a better person than him (yes, even Jimmy). Working there gave him something to aspire to. The dynamic was obviously different--the other lawyers spent much of their time trying to keep him in check. Beneath it all, though, I think it's fairly evident that he admired them and their ideals (just look at his interactions with Eugene near the end of the series).

Crane, Poole, and Schmidt couldn't differ more. In the first episode, Alan actually executes his "hooker idea" and no one bats an eyelash--with the exception of Chase, who gives him a perfunctory slap on the wrist. Had Alan tried this at YFB, the firm would've been in an uproar and he would have been read the riot act by Eugene, if not fired. Nearly anything is permissible at CPS, so long as you get away with it. Since this is more or less what Alan claims his ethical standard to be ("What exactly can I get away with? How far can I go?"), there's no struggle for him to reconcile his belief in what's right with the demands of his firm and legal ethics. His illegal acts are somehow less rewarding now that he's not forced to justify them, now that they're accepted. At YFB, he had to recognize that there might be consequences for his actions before going through with them. When he helped Jamie, for example, his reasoning had to be along the lines of, "Well, I might get fired for this, but she's more important than that." Now that he can break the law with impunity, there's no sacrifice made. He can break the law at no cost to himself, and if he doesn't find that vaguely unsettling or unsatisfying right now, I think he will later.

...which brings me, strangely enough, to Alan and Sally. Alan's relationship with Sally is his attempt to "do the right thing" (inasmuch as Alan Shore can do the right thing, and in a way that involves the possibility of covering Sally with syrup). He's attentive to her needs--when he recognizes she's upset, he makes an effort to comfort her. He tries to communicate with her (inasmuch as Alan Shore can communicate with someone). In the last episode, in the face of Sally's anger regarding him not telling her about Christine, he said, "I'm sorry. I haven't exactly kept up-to-date on the boyfriend-girlfriend regulations, as you can imagine." He's convinced himself that--well, first of all, that there are regulations he should adhere to, but more importantly, that if he follows them, he and Sally will work out as a couple. Now, this is a patently stupid idea, but to Alan, a patently stupid idea is infinitely better than no idea at all. Without this conviction, he returns to the land of uncertainty and anguished gazes at Tara.

He tries to do right by Sally at all times. She says to tell him things, and he tells her about Christine staying in his hotel room and about being her guardian. He even opens up to her a little at the bar, half-answering her questions rather than simply refusing to discuss them. There are the gratuitous kissing scenes that I'd really rather not discuss. He massages Lori's feet, but afterwards says, carefully and deliberately, "I'm going to go dance with Sally now." No doubt he'd like nothing more than to stay with Lori and win her over, as it were, but that's not in compliance with boyfriend-girlfriend regulations. That is why he returns to the party, not because he necessarily likes Sally more than Lori, or wants to be with her more than Sally, but because he's playing by the rules. For this reason, his relationship with Sally is almost completely constructed. He likes her, of course, and he likes himself when he's with her--he said as much to Tara. But there's really nothing there beyond Alan proving to himself that he can be a good boyfriend (heh, or a boyfriend at all). Of course, if Alan's ever to be a good boyfriend (doubtful), he's not going to get there by playing by the rules, but acknowledging that reality would create more problems for him than it would solve.

This also goes to explain why he's--if not threatened by, at least nervous about Brad's presence. Brad's the sort of person who always does the right thing, always follows regulations. In a relationship based on doing right by Sally, being there for her, basically behaving as though he were someone else, Alan realizes that he really can't compete with Brad. Alan's unsure and unnatural when he's trying to behave as he should; Brad quite possibly couldn't behave any other way. When he had no competition, Alan was free to struggle with being a good boyfriend. Now the margin for error is considerably smaller.

So, where does this leave us? Alan/Sally will, inevitably, end. We're two episodes into the show and already things are beginning to fall apart. Alan can't handle both Christine and Sally (note that while Tara is concerned for Alan's welfare, Sally's reaction regarding Christine is more "get her the hell out of here!" although I don't suppose that can be criticized). The hope he clings to is that if he does everything the right way, does everything Sally wants and needs, it will all work out. Because it's supposed to. That's what the "right" way is for.

It's all going to come crashing down, and I can't wait for that to happen.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Alan and Sally are wrong. Their relationship is that of, I dunno, a rockstar and a groupie. She's just too...young. They're not on equal ground.

I agree. They aren't at all. Half the time she has no idea what he's talking about--when they're talking about anything of substance, at least--and he still doesn't have any idea why she's with him.

Profound, well-rationalized and I think Brad has just experienced a personality shift to the truer course. Thanks for that.

I think Brad has just experienced a personality shift to the truer course.

Oh dear. Should I be scared?

Let's just say Shore's margin for error is considerably smaller. And more by the book lines will be tossed his way. Brad's not Shore, but he had started to slide down that slippery slope. Too crowded down there at the bottom, anyway.

*snerk* That's a yes, then.

It's about time TM got someone with principles.

I love the fact that we're only two episodes in, and you already wrote an essay. ^_~

So... I don't have much to comment in since I agree completely with the entire thing.

Yay for anguished looks at Tara - that's how she makes her cameo appearances. ^_~ You should write an essay entitled, "Tara: Queen of Cameo". That would amuse me so very much.

Well, I did have a law midterm to put off studying for ;)

That'd be something I'd love to analyze, but I think it's just a byproduct of crappy editing (that I could write an essay on) and so many cast members.

Amen to everything you've just said. Despite my status as an Alan/Tara groupie, I always wondered what the hell Alan was doing with Sally ... not that I agree with the bashing of her character, but there've been two episodes and it's like, "Uh, yeah, what the hell, did we just skip to the middle of the book?" (Unless I missed something in those Practice eps.) It just seemed so ... I don't know, forced. Which is something I'll have to address should I take her over in TM.

But yeah, you hit the nail on the head. :)

Well, I think they took great liberties with the off-season and just left most of the development of their relationship implied. Which, in my opinion, is peachy. And I think it seems forced because it is, which is what makes it bearable.

*nods* Yeah, for me it seemed a bit sudden. I kind of like to know how things develop for characters, I enjoy watching the progress of it (i.e. Without A Trace). And the fact that I missed those Practice eps probably didn't help me either.

It's a shame you missed them. There was some really good Alan/Tara :(

Damn. I only ever had patience for the show (before Spader) when it involved Ron Livingston. Though, Steve Harris did grow on me. I met his brother once.

I caught one of the Ron Livingston eps! How many was he in?

And I <3 Eugene.

I think he was a regular for one of the later seasons (fifth or sixth) ... but that didn't mean he was actually in every one, which began to piss me off.

Eugene totally rules. Steve Harris is so underrated.

If you've ever seen Homicide: Life on the Street, Steve Harris is in the first episode. He's the guy Munch starts yelling, "Do I look like Montel Williams? I am not Montel Williams!" at. It's pretty damn funny.

OMFG, now I have to go get my Homicide DVDs out. Heh. I remember that scene vaguely - I remember I started using that line and all my friends thought I'd gone nuts. :)

He's like this punk in a goofy hat. It's great.

*makes mental note to watch this*

My favorite funny scene is still my favorite actor ever, Josh Charles, being beaten up by Miss Piggy in Muppets From Space. It's just funny and yet somehow sad.

And as we speak, I'm writing the post that puts Joel in Boston. :)

My roommate is obsessed with Josh Charles. And Josh Lucas. So therefore I confuse them. But I think she owns Muppets From Space, since she's always talking about it.

Sweet! I think Brad made a post for him, but I suspect Alan's not invited (this may be a good thing).

Well, at least your roommate has taste. :) Yeah, it's real easy to get people confused. I've got a little pool of people I track, and my friends are always trying to keep them straight.

Hehe. Brad, Alan and Joel in the same room would be chaos. We should incite that sometime.

I'm sure it will happen at some point and rest assured, Alan will take full advantage of it.

LOL yeah I'm quite sure of that. Much to my morbid, sardonic, cynical amusement.

"You're wearing an unusually ugly tie today, Brad. This is Joel speaking, by the way."

*falls over laughing*

I have to admit, it provides a nice break from all the brooding angst of my other characters.

I wanted to say that I agree with pretty much everything that you said.

This character has been hard for me, and I have been unendingly frustrated, because the so-called writers on the show have painted her into this one dimensional turbo slut role that is demeaning to her and to Alan. What are they doing together? They are all wrong for each other and it makes them both look like jerks. They are together because Alan took the easy way out of his feelings for Tara, because that would have required he grow up and make an effort. With Sally, he does not have to. He gets sex, adoration and someone to cut his sarcastic teeth on. I mean, really, what kind of boyfriend makes an announcement in the middle of the office that his girl and Brad had sex? *eyeroll*

She should be with Donnie, I think...or maybe a younger guy. But the show is all wrong with them.

That being said, I do have concerns about the way that Brad and Sally are treated in BL/TM. Just because they are not well written on the show does not mean that the muns are not trying to flesh them out here. I am on the fence about giving her up. I would like to see her become something better, and it won't happen until she is able to be more than Alan's bed buddy. My other muse at TM is an OF, and it is sooooooo much easier, because there is no moron ruining her every Sunday night.

Anyway...I said my piece. But don't be surprised if (should I keep her) Sally takes a new direction and a new voice that is stronger. The generic, one note turbo slut thing is getting pretty old.

(PS, I want Alan and Tara together, too...always have) :)

Ooooooh, "the easy way out of his feelings for Tara." I'm not so sure that that's what Alan did. I mean, granted, his decision had that effect, but I think he meant all that crap he said to Tara about choosing the less lonely path. He can't imagine a future with Tara, because first of all he doesn't think he's good enough for her, and second of all, the possibility of a future with her frightens him. In theory, he and Sally should work very, very well. He likes her. She, like you said, adores him. They have sex, which I presume they both enjoy. They shouldn't fight, because there isn't enough substance to the relationship for there to be anything to fight over (ah, with the exception of crazy ex-girlfriends, but he sort of argues with Tara about that as well). He has nothing to lose by having a relationship with Sally, and I think that's important to him. As for the announcement...what kind of boyfriend tirelessly writes you letters at the asylum after you've attempted to run him down with a car?

I think there's ample opportunity for Brad and Sally to be fleshed out in RP. That's sort of the purpose of RP. Heh, take Alan and David for example...I like all of TM!Brad's little quirks and in my opinion, so long as you remain essentially true to the character, you're free to flesh out. For instance, the little conversation Alan and Sally had about Brad in the first ep was kind of interesting. She almost made it sound like Brad had broken her heart, that she was acting the way she was as part of the aftermath of that relationship. That, I think, would be something worth exploring (I think I kind of like Brad/Sally simply because it unnerves Alan).

I don't think Sally is really a one note turbo slut. I think that may be the perception of the fans, mostly because she's not Tara, but there are definitely layers to her character. Now, are they layers I like? Not necessarily. But she showed some vulnerability when trying that case and she's definitely showed emotional range beyond just slutiness. I can't say that I'd ever be able to play her, but I think it'd be an interesting challenge to make her likeable and sympathetic.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Boston Legal Musings

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject