Plot: What’s it about?
The law offices of Crane, Poole & Schmidt is home to some of the true sharks of the legal system, a gifted and ruthless group of attorneys. These lawyers take on the cases others won’t even think about, but there is more to the office than meets the eye. Denny Crane (William Shatner) continues to battle Alzheimer’s Disease and while he can function, his illness causes a number of situations, from tense to hilarious. In between his bouts with the disease, he tries to lay hands on whatever women he comes across, but now, he might have met his match. While Crane is at the helm of the office, the other lawyers have just as colorful antics, some more tolerable than others. A huge murder trial is about to begin, one that has garnered immense publicity, but the importance of the case doesn’t have impact on the office. Will the new faces in the office make a splash? Has Crane finally met his match? And can things get any more outrageous at Crane, Poole & Schmidt?
This is, hands down, one of the smartest, funniest shows on television. I am addicted to detective and police dramas, but I’ve never been as taken with lawyer driven shows. Boston Legal is a show that I never gave a second thought to, as it looked like just another law office program. I started watching in the second season and right off the bat, I knew I made a mistake and should have watched from the start. This is not the typical law office drama and stands as one of the most unique, fresh shows around. The show takes place in a law office, so there are elements of lawyer drama, but Boston Legal offers so much more. The show has brilliant humor at times, with a self awareness that yields some classic moments. William Shatner, James Spader, and Candice Bergen lead this great cast, which has some new additions in this third season. I burned through these episodes in two nights, once I started, I couldn’t stop until I seen the entire season. I love Boston Legal and this seven disc collection has more laughs than you can count, so Boston Legal: Season Three is highly recommended.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The prints look almost pristine throughout the season, so the visuals have a sharp and refined texture. This means softness is never a problem, so detail is high and image depth is top notch. I found colors to be bright and rich as well, especially the greens of the woods. No troubles with flesh tones either, as skin tones come across in warm, natural fashion. The contrast is quite good also, as black levels look stark and consistent, so even the shadows look excellent here.
Audio: How does it sound?
The audio here is basic, thanks to the included 2.0 surround soundtracks, but all the bases seem to be covered. The nature of the series is one of a natural, subtle audio presence too, so its not like the material screams for dynamic presence. A few scenes could have been boosted a shade, but even then, the experience wouldn’t have been enhanced that much. The sound effects come across in fine form, with the same kind of audio presence you’d expect from a television show, though these days, some do provide a more immersive texture. No troubles with dialogue either, as vocals are clear and crisp throughout the episodes. This release also includes subtitles in English, Spanish, and French.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This release includes a couple of brief, mostly promotional behind the scenes featurettes.
