Ep 18. Those Lips, That Hand

Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series that aired for five seasons from 1997 to 2002. The show follows the professional and personal lives of a group of lawyers working at a Boston law firm, Cage and Fish. In season 2 episode 18, titled "Those Lips, That Hand," Ally, the titular character, is assigned a case that challenges her personal beliefs and values.

The episode starts with Ally having a dream where she is singing "Puppy Love" with a young boy who is revealed to be her client, Ronnie, a 15-year-old boy who has been accused of sexual harassment by his female teacher. As Ally wakes up, she is confronted by her colleague Ling, who makes fun of her for dreaming about a teenage boy. This sets the tone for the episode, which deals with a sensitive topic – sexual harassment – in a serious yet humorous way.

Throughout the episode, Ally struggles with her belief that Ronnie is innocent, despite the evidence against him. Her opinion is further challenged when Ronnie tells her that he did touch his teacher inappropriately, but only because she was giving him mixed signals and he thought she liked him. This revelation makes Ally question the appropriateness of the teacher's behavior towards Ronnie, and she begins to wonder if he is a victim of her advances rather than the other way around.

Meanwhile, Ally's personal life is also in turmoil. She is dating a doctor named Greg, who is revealed to be a terrible kisser. This is highlighted in a humorous scene where Ally fantasizes about kissing Jimmy, her ex-boyfriend, while sitting in a meeting with Greg. The scene is typical of the show's quirky and imaginative style, which blends reality with fantasy and often features musical performances by the characters.

As the trial progresses, Ally struggles to prove Ronnie's innocence despite his confession. This leads to a twist ending that challenges the audience's perceptions of what really happened between Ronnie and his teacher. The revelation is both surprising and thought-provoking, and it showcases the show's ability to tackle complex social issues with sensitivity and humor.

Overall, "Those Lips, That Hand" is a standout episode of Ally McBeal that deals with a serious topic in a lighthearted way. The show's unique blend of drama, comedy, and musical elements makes it stand out from other legal dramas, and its talented cast, led by Calista Flockhart, delivers strong performances throughout. Fans of the show will not want to miss this memorable episode.