Boston Legal Buddy Banter

Boston Legal Buddy Banter by Roxanne McDonald

The verbal exchanges between Denny and Alan on each episode of “Boston Legal” offer buddy banter at its best.

The witty, sensitive, and special dialogue between Alan Shore and Denny brings us into the friends’ sphere whether we know law or not, offers us a take on something pertinent to socio-political culture whether we are news-savvy or not, and makes each episode of Boston Legal come to a satisfying end, giving us closure whether we appreciate it or not.

But more than dialogue between two mental maniacs discussing relevant details and daily doings, the conversation functions as a fourfold kind of buddy banter that galvanizes character development and cements one of the most important of relationships. Yes, that between two men.

Anthony Easthope, in his article, “What a Man’s Gotta Do,” explores how banter “makes use of every kind of irony, sarcasm, pun, clichéd reply,” and so is, he says, a “kind of joke.” This is at the surface of Allan and Denny’s dialogue, to be sure.

But more profoundly, the banter of “Boston Legal” has a double function, working on outward and inner levels.

Says Easthope, “Outwardly, banter is aggressive, a form in which the masculine ego asserts itself. Inwardly, however, banter depends on close, intimate, and personal understanding of the person who is the butt of the attack.” Banter thus works, he asserts, “as a way of affirming the bond of love between men while appearing to deny it.”
There is clearly no shortage of ego for Denny or Alan, and masculinity impels it forward. At the same time, the men’s dialogue works so well as humor and as bonding agent that the implications of their closeness are clearly understood, as well.

In a most recent episode, “The Bride Wore Blood,” for example, Alan asks Denny what he learned through his meeting with Bethany. Bethany had lectured Denny on the detriment he did as a bigot toward Israelis and Jews. Denny says he learned how complex people are, and Alan replies that “non-Jews can’t possibly comprehend the level of persecution [endured].” Denny then asks Alan if he

thinks Israel didn’t overreact in Lebanon. Alan responds, “I do, but I also think you could liken it to what we did in response to 9-1-1…going into a country who had nothing to do with us.” Denny snipes back, “Communist. Cancel that sleepover.” Bantering attack number one. Obviously not really a statement about how he feels about Alan as an actual Communist but how he feels close enough to Alan that he can attack, disagree, and tease about taking back his invitation for an overnighter. The banter continues, quick, big in attitude, and provocative in sensitive affection:
Denny [instantly forgiving again]: Sleepover?
Alan: Forget it.
Denny: Tease.
Alan: Why can’t we ever just have an intimate conversation without it leading to a sleepover?

And the banter which parallels the courtroom pushme pullyou, that is outwardly aggressive but inwardly intimate, is now no longer just implicit but is exposed as the loving and sentimental exchange it also is—making it one of the finest, most endearing elements of “Boston Legal.”

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