When talking about iconic 90's and early 2000's TV shows, Ally McBeal isn't often mentioned as much as other series, but it definitely deserves some attention. Starring Calista Flockhart as the title character, the series tells the stories of lawyers who work hard and play hard, too.
There are many pop culture versions of law school and law offices, from the serious TV drama The Good Wife to the silly and fun rom-com Legally Blonde. Ally McBeal was somewhere in the middle. While the characters take their jobs seriously and love taking on cases (and making money), they are all quirky individuals who don't conform to societal expectations. While that sometimes meant some creative storylines that are full of whimsy, as Ally has many visions (like the famous dancing baby), that can mean some bad episodes, too.
Best: Car Wash (7.8)
The third season premiere of Ally McBeal got a 7.8 rating out of 10 on IMDb.
This episode is a bit silly but the characters made some big decisions in their lives and it's a fun episode to watch, so it seems logical it's one of the show's highest rated episodes according to IMDb. In this episode, Ally has sex with someone she doesn't even know while at a car wash. Ally's roommate and best pal Renee (Lisa Nicole Carson) leaves her job to go out on her own. While the Ally McBeal actors aren't often talked about as a great TV drama cast, they do feel like a really cohesive bunch, and Renee is a big part of that.
Worst: In Dreams (6.8)
With only a 6.8 out of 10 rating on IMDb, this season two episode is pretty depressing: Ally learns that the teacher she loved the most back in high school isn't going to make it. Ally takes on the case to make the hospital release her into a coma because she loves the dreams that she has been having.
This storyline is both sad and a bit strange, which explains the low rating. It doesn't seem like something that could actually happen IRL, but unlike some of the better Ally McBeal episodes, it's not fun and whimsical.
Best: Love On Holiday (7.8)
In this fourth season episode, rated 7.8 out of 10 on IMDb, Ling (Lucy Liu) and Nelle (Portia de Rossi) fought to see who would be considered the most good-looking at the charity auction that the law firm Cage and Fish has.
Playing Ling is one of Lucy Liu's most memorable parts, and she did a great job in this episode. Although the plot sounds a bit silly and even outdated, the actresses make it entertaining.
Worst: Another One Bites The Dust (6.9)
The title and the plot of this season five episode are pretty bad: Ally takes on a case about a character named Victor (Jon Bon Jovi) whose ex-lover is suing him for painting her in an unflattering light as he included some cellulite.
IMDb users gave this episode a 6.9 out of 10 rating, and it's not a very interesting or enjoyable episode.
Best: The Wedding (7.9)
Larry (Robert Downey, Jr) and Ally's relationship didn't work out, and in this episode, Ally is flying solo once again.
The plot of this episode is a little strange: Ally defends a teenage boy who is trying to ask someone to prom, and he wants a court order. This doesn't seem like a plot that would fly today, but fans wanted to see how the episode turned out, as they rated it 7.9 out of 01.
Worst: Let's Dance (6.9)
Even though this episode has a bit of Billy (Gil Bellows) and Georgia (Courtney Throne-Smith) drama, as they try to get some counseling for their marriage problems and talk about Ally, it's just not compelling enough.
It's got a 6.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb, and there isn't a lot of other stuff going on, either. John (Peter MacNicol) has become a more confident person and so Renee goes out with him, but that's about it.
Best: Cloudy Skies, Chance Of Parade (8)
In episode 20 of season four, Ally celebrates her birthday but does so by herself. She's definitely upset about that.
This was a popular episode, getting an 8 out of 10 rating on IMDb, and Ally was sad that Larry wasn't there for her big day. Ally is always a relatable character as she struggles with the fact that she's often single, so it seems like that's why fans responded to this episode so well. She just wants to celebrate her birthday with a partner who loves her.
Worst: One Hundred Tears (6.9)
Another bad episode that got a 6.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb, this fifth season episode finds Ally taking on the case of a man who isn't going to survive his cancer. He would like to be able to wear wings and fly from the roof of his apartment building, so she agrees to help him.
Ally and her fellow lawyers aren't as great as the lawyers on The Good Wife, but they do take on some pretty strange and confusing cases, and this is one of them.
Best: Boy Next Door (8.4)
In this third season episode, Billy gets heartbreaking news: he has a brain tumor. This was tough for fans to see as he is one of the kindest characters on the show.
When Billy passes away, it's one of the saddest deaths on a TV show, and something that fans are still teary-eyed about today. It's particularly tough for Ally, as the two are former flames who have always been in love with each other. It got a high rating of 8.4 out of 10 on IMDb.
Worst: Queen Bee (6.9)
Another lackluster Ally McBeal episode getting a 6.9 out of 10 rating on IMDb, "Queen Bee" is the 21st outing of the fourth season.
The storyline is immediately off-putting: a pretty woman hires the law firm, and both John and Richard (Greg Germann) are obsessed with her. Richard, in particular, goes to a creepy place with his fantasies. This episode definitely didn't age well.