While it may follow the life and trials of an unlucky in love 30-something, Ally McBeal is far, far more than a US equivalent to Bridget Jones, and the male population should not be put off by this premise.
Set in a quirky Boston law firm owned by the entertaining duo Cage & Fish, the show uses the law as a backdrop to the surreal personal lives of Ally and her colleagues.
Watching Ally, you come to doubt your decision not to have studied law – a career choice that according to this show will entail working alongside Lucy Liu, bizarre encounters in the firm’s unisex toilet, a fair amount of flirting and coming up against a young Robert Downey Jr. in court (whose stint as Ally’s heart-throb other half makes watching up to season four a must).
Ally McBeal isn’t just any old courtroom drama: fantasy sequences that reveal the lawyer’s innermost thoughts mean you can expect to see Al Green pop up as a judge, or witnesses bursting into song.
We also get to follow Ally beyond the courtroom, with trips to her therapist’s office, as well as frequent visits to the dance floor of the bar situated rather conveniently just below their office. Glee haters needn’t worry though – musical numbers and guest appearances from the likes of Barry White and Sting are not overpowering, but an occasional treat.
The show was a pioneer in its late 90s heyday thanks to its contemporary take on relationships, winning it an Emmy for best comedy, as well as two Golden Globes.
A decade on, it is well worth revisiting the bizarre world of Miss McBeal and co., one in which she herself admits: “I like being a mess – it’s who I am.”