Boston Legal - TWoP Forums p299:

barkleyl--I thought the "we're lawyers above all else" excuse was weak. Yes, Alan was being a ruthless lawyer, but at the same time I think he was getting back at Jerry for being a jerk Jerry was being obnoxious but was he saying anything actually hurtful? the hurt was just that he was being so unlikeable?, and then his lawyer instinct kicked in and he took it way too far. To me the only way to explain Alan's behavior is to assume he was hurt as a friend more than threatened as a lawyer. yeah... Certainly he didn't really think Jerry was going to win. He got in some clever lines, but he was still as big a spaz as ever with the fake cigarette and everything. I really hope that Jerry is back soon and they explore this further. It was by far the most interesting BL storyline in a while. The way Alan and Jerry were so openly happy to see each other, and then to have their friendship threatened if not destroyed by Alan's behavior... so much more emotionally engaging than anything else the show has had to offer lately.

dreamist--Alan broke my heart tonight. He was watching a wildly different, arrogant, disruptive Jerry, and he was completely flummoxed. Not just because of the trial, but because I don't think he liked the new Jerry. right that's how it felt to me So when he was challenged by the new bombastic Jerry, he struck viscerally, with lethal intent. I feel unsure how he found himself being so harsh - he was offended by the way Jerry was acting - he didn't like him - why was the offense so severe? Those were harsh, calculated words, meant to be devastating.
And then "new" Jerry crumbled like sand, and the damage - he damaged 'old' Jerry, his friend. right and it was heartbreaking. You could tell that Alan was stricken when he realized the damage done. That whole 'lawyer' thing? Pure rationalization. ok. good, bcs that confused me. But I don't think Alan believed it - he is keenly aware he damaged one of the few true friendships he can claim.

Miss Dee--The interplay between Alan and Jerry this episode is some of the most powerful stuff BL has done all year... and about time, too, as this season hasn't been as strong as the first two.
It was set up wonderfully from the first... Alan and Jerry, greeting each other with hugs, chatting like old friends, being quite accommodating to each other as they set up times to meet, confusing the hell out of the judge with their cordiality... opposing counsel doesn't act like that in the courtroom! But these two lawyers do... because this is Alan and Jerry. Alan is Picard to Jerry's Wesley. Batman to Jerry's Robin. Perry to Jerry's Clark. Claude to Jerry's Peter. (Aside: I watch way too much sci-fi/fantasy.) Alan is the man who saw more than just "Hands", the brilliant tax lawyer whom no one would dare allow into a courtroom... he saw a man with a pipe dream of being a real lawyer, and instead of laughing at him he took it seriously. He's the guy who called him "Jerry" when everyone else called him "Hands." He's the guy who made it his business to find out if there might be a medical condition at the root of Jerry's behaviour, and broke the news to his friend when he found out that there was. He's mentored him, helped him out of jams, encouraged him, believed in him when no one else would. It is in no small part due to Alan Shore that Jerry Espensen is currently out in the world, fighting the daily fight against his condition and struggling to establish himself as a lawyer and now, finally, discovering that he is able to live out his dream of being a litigator.
But Alan hasn't seen Jerry in a while. And Jerry's gotten himself some new meds, along with a wooden cigarette and a whole lot of 'tude. ...
Alan Shore is right about one thing: to practice law the way he does, there has to be a beast within - an animal that will attack with ferocity the moment a weakness presents itself to gain the upper hand and win the fight. The most amazing part of the entire episode is James Spader's face as Clemenson gives the "Al...." dialogue, because you can literally see the moment the beast rises and takes over. And Alan, being the feral fighter he is, moves in for the kill and gives no quarter....
And, as dreamist so beautifully pointed out, it is then that the "New Jerry" facade crumbles and Alan realizes, to his shock and grief, that he has in fact torn out the jugular of his gentle, kind, Aspergers-battling friend. Clemenson did that transition flawlessly, and the bowed figure that is James Spader for the remainder of this episode brought tears to my eyes. To watch Hans literally cringing around him, waiting for another attack, and to see the pain etched on Alan's face as he realizes he can't fix this... it just broke my heart. Both of them just broke my heart.
There's no easy reconciliation possible here... Hands as good as told Alan to step off for good with his "I'll see you around... in court."
I think, now, that Jerry has to beat Alan in the courtroom just once... not just for the restoration of Jerry's confidence and sense of worth, but for Alan's as well. I think it might bring Alan peace of mind to know that he hasn't broken his friend's spirit after all.

nhnjt--I'm with Miss Dee and Dreamist on this one...you gotta love James Spader. As Miss Dee said, you could actually see the physical change on Alan's face when the "beast" inside him roared up over the "Al" speech...which was the last straw coming from the man that Alan literally helped to create. And, then, to see the stricken look on his face when New Jerry just disintegrated...both actors deserve Emmys for their roles in last night's episode. But, James Spader just brought it all...and 90% of it with facial expressions alone.
Denny and the spitballs were the ideal counterpoint to the agony that was unfolding in Alan's part of the episode. Nobody but Shatner could have pulled that off without declining into the ridiculous!

alicecuriouser-Well said Dreamist and Miss Dee. That was hard to watch; Alan has always been a little softer around Jerry - to watch him intentionally tear down a friend was ugly.

prairiegirl--dreamist and Miss Dee, you were both very eloquent in your posts, and I can add nothing but this: There is no better actor than James Spader on TV or film right now, anywhere.

below, Boston Legal - TWoP Forums p286 re episode aired 1/30
-If theres someone on TV with better delivery and timing than James Spader it must be on a show I don't watch.