Season 5 Episode Reviews
1. FRIENDS AND LOVERS
While riding her scooter down a busy sidewalk, Ally collideswith recently unemployed lawyer, Jenny Shaw. Feeling theimmediate bond, Ally hires her as a new associate. Meanwhile, Fishhas hired Glenn Foy, a young, suave lawyer, and Jenny's ex, whosoon becomes the hot topic of Ally's therapy sessions. Cagewrestles with the idea of revealing his love for Ally; andRaymond Milbury, a smarmy, pompous attorney, representsJenny's old firm in an attempt to disqualify her from a big case, aclass action suit against the phone companies.
2. JUDGE LING
As Ally fights a serious attraction to Glenn, her therapist catches on and soon Jenny does too. Jenny's classaction suit against the phone companies continues, with eccentric Claire Otoms (Dame Edna Everage) as nameplaintiff. A chance meeting with the Governor of Massachusetts lands Ling a judgeship and her court anticsinspire a television show. In the meantime, Corretta convinces Cage that her 'men makeovers' will leave alasting impression. Cage, demoralised that his presence leaves no lasting impression, consents to a makeover.
3. NEUTRAL CORNERS
After skirting the issue, Ally and Glenn decide to set aside their mutual attraction for each other in orderto spare Jenny's feelings. Returning from a two-week vacation, a new, buff, Cage finally confesses his loveto Ally, exposing himself to her rejection. While Ling holds court in a nearby courtroom, Jenny settles hercase for a cool fifteen million and the firm celebrates the awesome victory.
4. FEAR OF FLIRTINGS
till smarting from his tête - à- tête with Ally , Cage vanishes without a trace. Ally awkwardly tries to Putdistance between herself and Glenn and he finally corners her on it. Ally explains that a casual affair is notworth hurting Jenny's feelings. Meanwhile, Jenny starts a casual affair of her own with Raymond whilerepresenting him in a sexual harassment case.
5. I WANT LOVE
Ally continues to pine away for Glenn as he gains thecourage to ask her out, catching her off guard. Jenny's mother,Francis Shaw (Jacqueline Bisset), enlists the firm's help to sueher former employer. Her former employer claimed that herchoice of partner (her twenty-two-year- old fiance) reflectedpoorly on her judgment and on the image of the company.Undaunted by Francis' upcoming nuptials, Fish pursues herwattle. In court, Judge Ling continues to bring in the ratingswith her hit show.
6. LOST AND FOUND
After a disastrous double date with Jenny and Raymond, Allyconvinces Glenn to reconcile with Jenny. As if he never left, Cagecasually joins the firm for a staff meeting offering no explanation for hisdisappearance. Incensed, Fish berates him about his disloyalty and Cage finally confesses what brought himback. Back at the office, Coretta and Fish defend a gold-digging client who finally learns her lesson.
7. NINE ONE ONE
Ally encounters a tough case when Minister Wyatt (Tom Berenger) sues his church for wrongful terminationwhen they fire him for not believing in God. When his wife was murdered, his faith was destroyed and hestopped communicating with his distraught son Malcolm (Josh Groban), a gifted singer who is no longerable to sing due to the loss of his mother and distance from his father. In an effort to heal, Ally encouragesthem to talk, ultimately restoring their faith in God and in the beauty of song. Back at the office, Cage's faithin the Christmas spirit is tested when a well-meaning mayor cancels Christmas in the face of tragedy.
8. PLAYING WITH MATCHES
Francis Shaw's unorthodox marriage agreement gives Ally a sense of hopelessness about love and commitment.She begins to hallucinate and with help from her therapist and surprising insight from Fish, Ally is able toconfront her waning belief in love. In the meantime, Coretta and Fish are championing Kimmy Bishop (Jami Gertz)in her battle against a professional matchmaker, Harriet Pumple (Nell Carter), who deemed her 'unmatchable'.
9. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND
A surge of luck-and wind-give Ally the confidence tobuy her first home. The newly domesticated Ally then meetsthe resident plumber, Victor (Jon Bon Jovi), a master withpipes, who also looks great in jeans. Meanwhile, Allydefends a hopeless romantic (French Stewart) being suedby his wife because the extravagant gifts he purchased forher has led them into bankruptcy. A new chiropractictechnique leaves the girls in the office all aglow.
10. ONE HUNDRED TEARS
Feeling an instant kinship, Ally takes on the case of a man whobelieves he can fly and continuously attempts to do so from the bedroom window of hischildhood home. Ally soon learns that this lifelong obsession stems from experiences shecan relate to and she ultimately helps him fulfil his dream. In an effort to find asoulmate for John Cage, the firm employs matchmaker Harriet Pumple, and shereturns with some surprising results.
11. A KICK IN THE HEAD
Ally answers the front door to find a very big surprise waiting on the other side. Ally has a daughter, Maddie, recently orphaned and eager to move in. Apparently, the egg Ally donated to an experimental infertility study ten years ago mistakenly found a recipient. In a spectacular court case, Fish and Cage co-defend client Kendall Williams who mistook his wife's head for a soccer ball and kicked it, killing her. After questioning Fish's professionalism in this case, Cage is impressed with his strategy and he apologises, saving the friendship.
12. THE NEW DAY
In the wake of Cage's latest departure, a sincere Fish offers partnership to Ally and she accepts, with a few stipulations. When Fish introduces the firm's new partner,the rest look on in bewilderment and jealousy, particularly Nelle. At home, Victor proves to be helpful with more than Ally's plumbing, and in court, Coretta goes up againstRaymond when she represents a woman sacked by her firm for being HIV positive.
13. WOMAN
In an effort to keep the firm from financial ruin, Ally's new role forces her to let go of Jenny. When Glenn chivalrously jumps to Jenny's defense, he lashes out at Ally and she fires him, too. Meanwhile, Claire Otoms hires the firm to fight for her job after she was fired for sexual harassment. After Ling pays a surprisevisit to check up on Richard, she and Nelle share the spotlight at the bar in a slightly off beat duet.
14. HOMECOMING
When Ally orders a DNA test to secure absolute certainty, Maddie takes offence and temporarily flees to New York, back to the arms of her aunt. The previous owner of Ally's house, an elderly woman named Helen Apple (Shirley Knight), seeks comfort in believing that Victor is her deceased husband and Victor obligesthe overtures. At the bar, Claire Otoms dedicates a song to a disappointed, shell-shocked Fish, who followed her advice in seeking out his high school sweetheart. In a surprising move, Ally hires Raymond at Cage and Fish.
15. HEART AND SOUL
Victor overhears Ally talking about their relationship in a not-so-positive light. He abruptly leaves her.Ally tries to set things straight with him leading to more honesty than Victor bargained for. Back in court, Fish and newly hired Raymond are an unlikely duo in the battle to grant a young girl's last hope for life.
16. LOVE IS ALL AROUND
In this double episode, Todd Merrick (Matthew Perry),a handsome, successful lawyer tries to charm Ally intohiring- and dating him. Tempted by his persistence and wily ways, Ally resists, but not before he wreaks havoc on her personal and professional life. Meanwhile, Cage finally meets his legal match in court, the seductive temptressLiza Bump (Christina Ricci). Claire announces to the firm her plans to marry and much to the chagrin of Nelle, Cage hires Liza as a new associate at the firm.
17. TOM DOOLEY
Liza hits the ground running and tag teams a case with Cage todefend an alleged bigamist (Heather Locklear), a subject matter that brings out the best in Liza. Legal eagle Wilson Jade, Liza's premature but unchallenged new hire, keeps Nelle on her toes with his legal prowess and uses some delicious tactics to get more thanwhat the client expects. Nelle has finally found the yin to her yang.
18. ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST
After a crummy vacation in the Bahamas, Ally and Victor's relationship is teetering on the edge of disaster. To make matters worse, when Ally defends Victor in a legal spat against his beautiful, cosmopolitan, ex-girlfriend (Vanessa Williams) over a contract dispute, she hears an earful. At the office, Liza coyly dials in on Fish's obsession with her and begins to toy with him. Impressed with the Nelle and Wilson duo, the victim of their previous legal victory hires them for a case that calls for tricky lawyers unafraid to get their hands dirty. He is not disappointed.
19. REALITY BITES
Elaine pursues her dream of auditioning for aBroadway play and an unlikely member of the firm turnsout to be her biggest supporter. Meanwhile, Richard findshimself defending his father, Charlie (Charles Kimbrough),who is accused of sexual harassment by his secretary. Hurtand angry, his mother, Ellen Fish, files for divorce and Richardis caught in the middle. Liza eventually comes to the rescue,unwittingly charming Charlie into professing his love for Ellen.
20. ALL OF ME
Ally and Cage go to court for Helen (Kyra Sedgwick), a shy and demure woman who is trying keep her alter ego, Helena (Kyra Sedgwick), a driven and successful business woman from ruining her life. Helena hires Fish and Liza to go up against Ally and Cage in a dispute that has everyone's heads spinning-and as the battle heats up, so does the chemistry between Liza and Richard.
21. BYGONES
The series finale. A wedding and a tearful farewell.
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