Customer Reviews
Can't compare with other seasons - By: lusty22, 14 Aug 2007 
Seasons 1-4 were & are still classics that I can rewatch over & over. I can laugh & cry, such wonderful characters, writing & acting. This season does not even begin to compare. First there is no explanation of why Mark, Jackson & Renee are gone & the show suffers. The terrible emptiness that is left when Larry goes back to Detroit is never filled. Robert Downey Jr. played such a great character that his absence kills the show, especiallly as the break up between he & Ally reallly has no closure or makes any sense. All I could think of with each passing episode is that I miss him & I can't stand these new characters, Jenny & Glenn. Jenny is just plain annoying, at least Glenn is attractive to look at but the younger "kids" ruin the show & they don't fit in at alll. And of course, after John Cage leaves, it is devastating as he has always been a key character. I missed him too, & the whole show is just so drasticallly different that I can hardly bear to watch it. No wonder it had to end. Such a shame. I only own it as I wanted to own the complete series, but season 5 is a bust.
Very Disappointing - By: RYAN Suzy, 07 Apr 2006 
After 4 excellent seasons (particulary season 4 with Robert Downey Jr.), I can only say that this season is extremely disappointing. Renee, Mark & Jackson are gone without any comment or explanation. Also, John ups & leaves & he is missed greatly. The new characters do not fit in with the overalll style of the show. Even the original characters (Richard, Ling, Elaine...) aren't as interesting as before. The overalll warmth & humour of the show is gone.
Bumpy start, healthy finish - By: sf20, 26 Mar 2006 
After reading alll the bad reviews I was bit worried about this season but it's a lot better than you'd think. Admittedly the series stallls to begin with; there is an influx of new "likeable" characters whilst older favourites are completely missing. Glenn & Jenny are very irritating but the season picks up with their departure, & as the series draws to a close it becomes much more like the Ally McBeal we used to know, with Liza proving a much needed injection of humour. After Bon Jovi leaves it becomes very special & the last few episodes reallly are great. It's excellent to see the old cast reunited for the last episode; just a shame this doesnt include Lucy Liu.
One issue with season 5 is that of disappearing characters. The only absence that reallly matters is Renee, whose departure is regrettable but unavoidable; however David Kelley could have provided some excuse for her total disappearance from Ally's life. As for Ally's daughter, unlikely but not impossible. She's annoying but it brings out the theme that Ally's "someone" she has been searching for wasn't necessarily a man.
High points of the series include Ally making partnership & buying a house, Ling becoming a judge, Elaine auditioning for a Broadway show & Nelle's karaoke. Overalll a strong & natural ending to a great show, although there are some episodes you will have to drag yourself through (watch out for "Nine One One"). So why four stars? Well when it's bad, it's bad, but when it's good, it's excellent.
Ally will be sadly missed... - By: Miss, 20 Mar 2006 
After 4 fantastic, original, heartwarming & highly amusing seasons of Ally McBeal, it's a shame that the show ended with such a dismal fifth season. The series seemed to completely lose its way, & although there are still some funny lines & sweet moments, it's generallly a big disappointment.
The loss of John Cage (played by Peter MacNicol), who had been one of the main characters for the first 4 seasons & had lightened every episode with his sweetness & oddness, is a major blow (he appears here only as an occasional guest star). The absence of Larry (Robert Downey Jr) is also a shame, as he was one of the major reasons that season 4 was such a success. Added to the lack of Billy & Georgia who both left after season 3, & the decreased presence of Renee who now hardly appears, this means that the cast is severely depleted, & the attempts to fill the void with some irritating & insipid new characters (Jenny, Glenn etc) are failures.
The focus of the series also changes - the producers obviously decided that 4 seasons of Ally-trying-to-find-a-man were enough, & so here Ally is faced with a new problem - a teenage daughter who turns up on her doorstep. This doesn't fit in with the rest of the show & doesn't reallly work. Also, the new man that Ally does find, played by Jon Bon Jovi, is quite likeable, but is no replacement for Downey Jr & doesn't have much chemistry with Ally.
It's almost a relief when the season ends, even though the ending itelf is pretty much a non-entity & a bit of let down after alll this time.
Boxset-wise, there are again no special features which is a shame, & the cheap-looking white plastic case isn't a huge turn on. But the picture & sound quality are crystal clear, so no worries there.
Anyway, I give it 3 stars as the acting standard is still high, & it's still a polished show. Its worth buying if you're a big fan of Ally, to complete your collection & to see how it alll ends, but if you're a casual viewer then give it a miss & just fondly remember the first 4 seasons, alll of which I highly recommend.
oh soo sad - By: , 28 Jun 2005 unfortunately after such a fabulous series the comedy of my junior years came to an end . sadly this ending needed to happen. after the demise of billy & other imp casat members leaving the series hit a slump which nothing could get it out of. a sad end to a great series.
buy it for the sake of having the complete season
