Sexual frustration in the work place (Ally McBeal)

Member Name: little devil

Product:	Ally McBeal
Date:	03/08/01 (819 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: makes me laugh, makes my cry, easy to watch

Disadvantages: only on an hour, stops during each series

Ally McBeal is one of those shows that love it or hate it is compulsive viewing. It has the ability to make you both laugh and cry in the same hour slot. Now in it’s fourth series over here I have decided to put in my 2p worth about the show that I simply cannot miss.

…WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT?

Ally McBeal is a comedy/drama about the working and social life of a top female lawyer in Boston. Ally works in the law firm of Cage and Fish and associates, along with a group of colourful young up and coming lawyers. The aim of the firm is to have fun and every night they unwind together with a drink in a bar downstairs from the office. There is a lot of tension in the work place, be it through the sexual air or the relations of associates.

Ally’s life is a mess; there are no two ways about it. She loves too much and gets hurt. She is seeking a man to settle down with and keep her for the rest of her days. She does have a very active imagination and her thoughts are conveyed in visions and sequences.

The show is basically set in the courtroom, the office and the local bar. There are funny scenes, heart-warming episodes and a lot of the ideas dealt with we can associate with. Like having trouble getting rid of the elusive ex and being dumped.

Creator and executive producer David E Kelly hit on a novel and interesting idea with this, I only hope it isn’t run into the ground, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.

…THE CAST

This show has an extensive cast, which changes from series to series, however each has just as strong of a personality as the rest and brings something unique and great to the show.

The Original cast…

Ally McBeal - Claista Flockhart
The incredible shrinking woman and the title character of the show. Obviously it is mainly about her and her life, and more importantly the quest to find the perfect man and settle dow
n. Ally is like the rest a top lawyer in Boston; she just has a little problem of an over active imagination. What with seeing dancing babies and Al Green it is no wonder she has to she a therapist to try and sort her head out, like all good Americans she has her very own head doctor.

As we get to a new series her waist seams to get smaller and her skirts shorter, you go girl!

Renee Radick - Lisa Nicole Carson
Ally’s best friend and the person I gather she loves most in the world, well apart from herself. She is a very independent and assertive black woman who is proud of her ‘assets’ (boobs) and is not afraid to use her sexuality to get what she wants. She is always there for her friend and flat mate, although she is a rival in the courtroom.

Richard Fish - Greg Germann
Richard has to be one of the best characters, if it is only because he is so laughably shallow. He is one of two partners in the law firm which Ally works for, and he has an obsession with knee pits. A very easy to manipulate man who is controlled by sex, and is never afraid to say what he thinks. Due to his crash attitude and inability to make sense he very rarely ends up in court.

Watch out for numerous ‘Fishisms’ they can be brilliant.

John Cage - Peter Macnicol
The Second partner and can best be described as a shy, strange little man. He initially keeps reserved from the rest of the firm but in time takes his place in the group. A brilliant legal mind who nearly always wins. He has various distraction methods in court and plans his summing up in bear feet.

He becomes great friends with Ally, because he is one of the few people who actually understand her and her mind.

Elaine Vassal - Jane Krakowski
Ally’s personal secretary and the bane of her life, although over time they do get closer and become friends. She is exceptionally nosey and if it’s gossip you want s
he is the person to see. The lass gets around a bit but does have a big heart and takes things more personally than others give her credit for.

Billy Thomas - Gil Belows
Ally’s first love and things always having to be complicated he is an associate at the firm she gets a new job at. This brings back memories as Ally was hurt deeply by Billy and there is a definite air of sexual chemistry between the two, even leading to an affair. However it is not meant to be and Billy is taken, Ally therefore has to over come the problems of working with him and still loving him.

Billy does die, so is no longer in the show, speaking at series 4 I am now.

A bit of an arrogant character in my opinion.

Georgia Thomas - Courtney Thorne-Smith
Billy’s wife who doesn’t get on with Ally at all, full stop. There is an atmosphere between the two because of the relationship Ally still has with her husband, i.e. the way she feels. However Georgia is a nice person, a kind of human Barbie doll, with a big heart and an acid tongue, a wicked combination.

Newer cast members…

Nelle Porter - Portia de Rossi
Nelle is initially referred to as ‘sub zero’ because she is so cool, calm collected and from what the other associates gather doesn’t have a heart. Obviously causes a stir with her stunning looks and lush long blonde hair. A character which has grown on me, especially as her personality has developed.

A brilliant lawyer who aims to be an equal with the male partners, maybe that’s initially why she starts a relationship with John.

Ling Woo - Lucy Liu
Nelle’s best friend, one of those people you simply have to hate but love at the same time. Shallow, honest and bitchy, I love this character and the actress is great. The evil looks from Ling, and accompanying growls make her one of the better members of the law firm, and the partner of Richard. <
br>
Mark Albert - James LeGros
Mark is brought in to replace Billy, and I don’t like him. The character seems a little out of place in the scatty world of Miss McBeal and the producers were never going to replace Billy. I suppose he’s ok, but I can’t stand the man’s teeth! Like the rest of the associates he has his own little ways and means of doing things.

Larry - Robert Downey, Jr.
What a shame that this character will not be around long. Robert Downey Jr. has been fired after breaking his drugs probation, yet I love his character. We initially think he is Ally’s new therapist, but he is only a lawyer. Larry becomes Ally’s love interest and seems to be able to match her on the speaking stakes. Great and exceptionally witty and funny character, good find, deep loss.

Worth a mention…
There are several characters who appear in an episode every now an again, or just deserve a mention because they have a theme/make me laugh!

Vonda Shepard
The singer at the bar where they all go to unwind, pops up in most episodes although very rarely says anything.

Tracy
Ally’s wacky therapist who is in need of a little help herself. A great character that will always make you laugh.

Barry White
John Cage imagines himself as Barry White when it comes to building up sexual confidence, therefore his songs play a big part in the show. The man himself has also made an appearance to sing for John.

Al Green
Ally goes through a stage of having recurring fantasies about Al Green and him singing to her.

Dancing Baby
How could I no mention this little dude? Ally is like a normal woman and wants kids, she feels her biological clock is ticking and sees a dancing baby.

…CAST CONNECTIONS

Right here’s where is may get a little hard to follow, the relationships between the characters –

 Ally u
sed to date Billy and she is n love with him, as they say you never forget your first love.
 Georgia is married to Billy.
 John is a partner in the firm and has dated both Ally and Nelle.
 Richard is the other partner (and so boss) and is dating Ling.
 Elaine is Ally’s secretary and has kissed just about everyone.
 Renee is Ally’s best friend and law rival.
 Georgia goes into business with Renee.

I think that covers the main things, there are loads more but they get very complicated and in depth and I don’t want to give anything away for those who do not watch it that much but are thinking about it.


…EPISODE LISTINGS

Series one…
Episode 1 - Pilot
Episode 2 - Compromising Positions
Episode 3 - The Kiss
Episode 4 - The Affair
Episode 5 - One Hundred Tears Away
Episode 6 - The Promise
Episode 7 - The Attitude
Episode 8 - Drawing The Lines
Episode 9 - The Dirty Joke
Episode 10 - Boy to the World
Episode 11 - Silver Bells
Episode 12 - Cro-Magnon
Episode 13 - Blame Game
Episode 14 - Body Language
Episode 15 - Once In A Lifetime
Episode 16 - Forbidden Fruits
Episode 17 - Theme of Life
Episode 18 - The Playing Field
Episode 19 - Happy Birthday Baby
Episode 20 - The Inmates
Episode 21 - Being There
Episode 22 - Alone Again
Episode 23 - These Are The Days

Series one basically sees the setting up of the relationships and the natural progression of the way people feel about each other. Working in a highly charged atmosphere you can imagine some of the things that go on. The last episode is one of the best, because everything comes to a conclusion and there’s a re-cap on what has happened. With events like John’s cousin hitting people with a paddle and a transvestite prostitute this is a great first series.

Series 2 …

Episode 1 - The Real World
Episode 2 - They Eat Horses, Don't They?
Episode 3 - Fools Night Out
Episode 4 - It's My Party
Episode 5 - Story of Love
Episode 6 - Worlds Without Love
Episode 7 - Happy Trails
Episode 8 - Just Looking
Episode 9 - You Never Can Tell
Episode 10 - Making Spirits Bright
Episode 11 - In Dreams
Episode 12 - Love Unlimited
Episode 13 - Angels And Blimps
Episode 14 - Pyramids On The Nile
Episode 15 - Sideshow
Episode 16 - Sex, Lies And Politics
Episode 17 - Civil Wars
Episode 18 - Those Lips, That Hand
Episode 19 - Let's Dance
Episode 20 - Only The Lonely
Episode 21 - The Green Monster
Episode 22 - Love's Illusions
Episode 23 - I Know Him By Heart

Well start as you mean to go on as they say and in the first episode Ally has a fling with an 18-year-old, bordering on being indecent that is! The firm sees some new members come in to shake things up, this being Nelle and Ling. Relations get worse for the married couple (Georgia and Billy) and the office becomes very sexually charged. Look out for the episode were Ally goes to court with a bowling ball stuck on her fingers (You Can Never Tell).

Series 3…
Episode 1 - Car Wash
Episode 2 - Buried Pleasures
Episode 3 - Seeing Green
Episode 4 - Heat Wave
Episode 5 - Troubled Water
Episode 6 - Changes
Episode 7 - Saving Santa
Episode 8 - Blue Christmas
Episode 9 - Out In The Cold
Episode 10 - Just Friends
Episode 11 - Over The Rainbow
Episode 12 - In Search of Pygmies
Episode 13 - Pursuit of Loneliness
Episode 14 - Oddball Parade
Episode 15 - Prime Suspect
Episode 16 - Boy Next Door
Episode 17 - I Will Survive
Episode 18 - Turning Thirty
Episode 19 - Do You Wanna Dance?
Episode 20 - Hope And Glory
Episode 21 - The Musical, Almost

Unfortunately due to a demanding boyfriend at the ti
me I missed the last couple of episodes in the series when it was on TV, so I has to go out and buy them, like you do! The third season of Ally kicks off with sex in a car wash and a wreaked marriage. This is definitely one for the boys with lesbian kissing and lots of relationships. We know how they wanted to boost ratings!

Series 4…
Episode 1 - Sex, Lies and Second Thoughts
Episode 2 - Girls Night Out
Episode 3 - Two’s a Crowd
Episode 4 - Without a Net
Episode 5 - The Last Virgin
Episode 6 - Tis the Season
Episode 7 - Love on Holiday
Episode 8 - The Man with the Bag
Episode 9 - Reasons to Believe
Episode 10 - The Ex-Files
Episode 11 - Mr. Bo
Episode 12 - Hats off to Larry
Episode 13 - Reach out and Touch
Episode 14 - Boys Town
Episode 15 - Falling Up
Episode 16 - The Getaway
Episode 17 - The Pursuit of Unhappiness
Episode 18 - The Obstacle Course
Episode 19 - In Search of Barry White
Episode 20 - Cloudy Skies, Chance of Parade
Episode 21 - Queen Bee
Episode 22 - Home Again
Episode 23 - The Wedding

The latest series, which has just shown two episodes on channel 4. The whole thing has been shown on E4, for those with the facilities. This is a cracking selection with some new faces that bring the old Ally back to life, and her getting rid of her dowdy English boyfriend. Not to be missed.

…MUSIC

Music plays a key part in the programme, what with the use of Al Green, the pips, Barry White and the excellent Vonda Shepard. There is an album accompanying each series, although I personally wouldn’t buy them.

…WHY I LIKE IT

Ok so I was thinking about why I actually like Ally McBeal and to be honest I do not know. I suppose its something to do with the fact that when I watch it I can think someone is having a worse life than me! The story is nothing special but it is com
pelling and addictive. All them people who tune in every episode can’t be wrong.

The lapses from reality to fantasy break up what would be a mundane and average show and give this programme something extra over the competition. The effects that do this are brilliant, and so great to watch.

I think another thing about it is that you never know what is coming. The humour in the show can be mad or subtle, or heavens forbid they deal with something thought provoking and make tears well up in the eyes.


Neurotic Ally is not to be missed, I know I never do, even though the other half hates the programme. Just one bad thing, the cast and their dramatic weight losses, sort it out girls your all fantastic looking. In my opinion Ally looked better in the first series than in the fourth, but that’s me.

I don’t know anyone who hasn’t seen this programme and I suppose you either like it or not, but give it a whirl! I am hooked and am currently making the collection of box sets.

Summary: