Downey, Jr. shakes up 4th season of 'Ally'

By Jenny Jeltes

Daily Arts Writer

Last Monday, "Ally McBeal" fans welcomed the show's fourth season. Those who enjoy watching "Ally" were brought back into her quirky world of humor, relationships and everyday complications. The addition of Robert Downey, Jr. to the cast brings a lot of anticipation, for you can already speculate a new love interest in Ally's life.

In the season premiere, Ally (Calista Flockhart) is invited to move in with her current boyfriend, Bryan. Stunned and flustered, Ally's instinct tells her no. With encouragement and insight from her roommate, Renee (Lisa Nicole Carson), and her fellow co-workers, Ally realizes that not only is she questioning his invitation, but also the continuance of their relationship altogether.

Upon running into Larry (Robert Downey, Jr.) in her former therapist's office, Ally shares her dilemma, mistakenly believing that Larry is a new therapist in town, when he is actually another lawyer. Larry, who is witty, confident and intriguing, sets her straight. The underlying flirtatious attraction between the two is obvious.

Although Bryan has all the right qualities - sincerity, compassion and trust - and Ally knows this is an opportunity to settle into a stable and "content" situation, she realizes how dreadfully boring he is and decides to break it off. Here ends another relationship, although the aftershocks have deeply affected Ally as she realizes that you just don't find "someone to love" everyday. Finding that her commitment to Bryan really stemmed from her fear of loneliness, viewers are once again sympathetic to Ally and her situation.

What makes "Ally McBeal" a success is the realistic and often absurd encounters Ally finds herself in. Ally is who she is, doing the best she can to find happiness and satisfaction. She shows the audience that all those "little things" aren't so trivial after all. Ally is one of those people who has her head in the clouds, but feet on the ground. If one can manage a realistic view of oneself and everyone around him or her, what harm does a little daydreaming do? Ally's fantasies are funny, yet very similar to our own. Be it stuck in an embarrassing situation and wanting to literally shrink to the floor or imagining oneself kicking the crap out of someone out of utter frustration and anger, Ally demonstrates life's ups and downs.

We cannot forget Ally's fellow attorneys at law. Ally's friend and co-worker, John (Peter MacNicol), still finds the opportunity to make his nose whistle. Despite seemingly strange characteristics such as this, he seems just a bit more confident this season. Perhaps this is due to the previous success of overcoming his initial shyness and awkwardness while dating the beautiful Nelle (Portia de Rossi). Ling (Lucy Liu) is just as cold and guarded as ever, always finding the opportunity to throw in her two cents. Richard (Greg Germann) still gloriously represents a typical image of a male chauvinist pig.

You can't help but hook into all of the characters' hilarious experiences, both in and out of the office. The arrival of Robert Downey, Jr. to the cast leaves much to be anticipated. "Ally" still remains an outlet for the thoughts and actions we may hesitate to express.

Courtesy of The Fox Network

Downey, Jr. to appear in "Ally," court, rehab.