Calling Season 3, Episode 18, “Son of the Defender” the best Boston Legal episode ever isn’t just hype, it’s backed up by a glowing 9.10 rating on IMDb and hundreds of rave reviews from both critics and viewers. The selling point here? Flashbacks. The episode takes viewers back to 1957, using scenes from William Shatner’s early role in Studio One’s The Defender to give viewers a young Denny Crane.
The story marries the past and present as Shatner’s character defends a murder suspect alongside his father. Meanwhile, in the present day, the victim’s son bursts into the firm, demanding a retrial and holding everyone hostage in the process. Throw in that unexpected twist to Alan’s story, and it’s easy to understand why “Son of the Defender” kept everyone abuzz. The writing and directing? Chef’s kiss.
1957 Flashbacks Give the Episode an Emotional Punch and Surprising Twist
With a 50-year gap between episodes, it’s incredible what the cast and crew were able to achieve here. Splicing scenes from Studio One’s The Defender with scenes from Boston Legal was pure genius. In Son of the Defender, the young Denny Crane teams up with his dad to defend a pal accused of murder. Needless to say, the case’s moral and legal dilemmas set the perfect groundwork for the episode’s events in the present day, decades later. In those formative years, we see Denny grappling with questions of justice, fidelity, and individual conscience. Those same questions reverberate throughout the 2007 sequel, where an angry young man — son of the murder victim — holds people hostage and demands a re-trial. This episode goes beyond being a throwback, it’s a reckoning. Son of the Defender is a tip of the hat to its precursor while diving into how much the law scene (and Denny) has changed since.
Meanwhile, Alan Shore (James Spader) is in trouble yet again. Known for his broken moral compass, Alan takes things a smidge too far while defending his neighbor, who was caught in bed with a state senator. All in all, his pushback gets him charged with contempt of court. Instead of ending in the show’s usual offbeat way, this episode lands on a more somber note. The tone highlights the weight of Denny’s past choices and how far out the ripples can go. In this case, the show traded jokes for legacy and nailed it.
‘Son of the Defender’ Isn’t the Only ‘Boston Legal’ Episode That Got People Talking
Though Son of the Defender gave Denny his time in the spotlight, Alan Shore unequivocally stole the show in the series finale. Season 5, Episode 13 “The Last Call” gave us an almost-perfect goodbye, and if it had gotten as many reviews as Season 3, Episode 18, it could have taken the crown. As far as finales go, this one managed to tie up nearly every major storyline with panache and emotion. The highlight of the episode was Alan’s over-the-top courtroom speech defending Denny Crane’s right to access experimental treatment for Alzheimer’s. The script was sharp, and Spader’s delivery, with all the wit, sarcasm, and sincerity, was a tour de force.
The final balcony scene presented itself as a gentle goodbye, full of banter and introspection. With that offbeat mix of sarcasm and sincerity, they managed to get the ending just right. The finale was far from ambitious; it just did what the show did best… allowed the characters to take it home their own offbeat, memorable way.
William Shatner’s Performance in This Episode of ‘Boston Legal’ Is Almost as Epic as the Story Itself
This episode of Boston Legal treated the audience to a thoughtful exploration of Denny Crane’s past and present, both embodied seamlessly by William Shatner. It was a quiet nod to his performance in The Defender, but it paid off in terms of real emotion. Shatner didn’t just lean into familiar charm and quirks, he showed real depth. His performance was as relatable as it was layered, especially in scenes where Denny struggled with aging and vulnerability. And the chemistry with the rest of the cast paid off every moment.
Most impressive was how he could be funny, imperfect, and poignant all at the same time. He didn’t come across as a caricature, he was simply human. The episode pulled off that ideal blend of humor, nostalgia, and legacy buzz, and Shatner’s performance wrapped it all up.
Want to see Denny Crane at his boldest and most vulnerable? Boston Legal is now streaming on Hulu.
