Boston Legal was a dramedy, but he was equally fantastic in that show. He was phenomenal in the eighth season of The Practice, too. Same character as he portrayed in Boston Legal, but darker and more damaged.

Wow I don't know how he is in Boston Legal but this guy is amazing in The Blacklist. It's some of the best acting I've ever seen on the small screen. I can't think of anyone else who could have filled in his shoes better. Amazing performance!
He who sacrifices freedom for securi111cty deserves neither ~ B. Franklin

He's the reason why I love The Blacklist and Boston Legal.
If it's all the same to you, I'll have that drink now.-Loki (Marvel's Avengers)

Everybody has a right to their own opinion, even professional critics are only giving their opinion. Plus, since when are critics Oscar winners?

My, what a lot of expert acting critics there are here! Oscar winners no doubt! Or maybe just working in mcdonalds and think they know what they're talking about

Truth. He owns any scene he is in.

If you can't stand him I suspect you haven't watched very many of his films. I know I try to avoid Tom Cruise movies because I can't stand him, but I certainly can't say he didn't fit well in any of his movies because I avoid his work. For one to make that accusation one would have to have seen the bulk of an actor's work.

Because I made the unfortunate mistake of attempting to watch Season 1 of Blacklist. He bugged me as Ultron as well.

Why would you even be on a board for a actor you can't stand?
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

Honestly I can't stand Spader. The only film2000 I really felt he fit well was when he played Ultron. I've not seen Lincoln, so I cannot say anything about his acting in that film.

Absolutely!
Spader has kept on growing, as an actor, throughout the years.
He is one of my favorite actors, too~!

Agreed. Whether its his great performance in Wolf or showing the Seinfeld cast what acting is or Boston Legal, he stands out and is fun and very entertaining.
It is better to light5b4 a candle in the wind than curse the darkness

I could not agree more. Television is lucky to have a man of his talents because basically we get a movie actor doing a lot of television. The guy is an incredible actor.

I've always loved him since Stargate when I was 7. And now I think he's been great in The Blacklist and can't wait to hear (maybe see?) him in Avengers: Age of Ultron.

Mikkelsen isnt the best actor on Hannibal!!!

Normally when an actor signs on for a TV show their contract is for five or seven yearsonce he started Boston Legal he was committed for a long time. I loved the show through the first three seasons.

Yeah, I've heard that quote before. I don't mean that he did it for free because it was fun, but it could still have been fun on top of being paid for it.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

Maybe Boston Legal was a lot of fun for him. Besides, just because you didn't like it after the first season doesn't mean that he didn't.
Here's a quote from him which appears on this board:
"If I don't need the money, I don't work. I don't mind going to somebody and saying, "Okay, this is how much money I need to pay my bills for the next six months. If you pay me that, I'll do the film.".
He's a wonderful actor and puts everything he has into what he does but I don't get the impression he would stay in a show just because he found it 'a lot of fun'.

Maybe
Boston Legal
was a lot of fun for him. Besides, just because you didn't like it after the first season doesn't mean that he didn't.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

He was great in
The Practice
as well as the first season of
Boston Legal
; I just wish he'd left BL at that point but he's said that he works for the money and that's probably why he stayed in the show. It could be that money was the reason why he's in
The Blacklist
because although the show is quite fun the part of 'Red' doesn't really stretch him.

Too creepy for ya? Understandable, excellent actor though. Hannibal is the best show on tv now that Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire (well 2 eps left) are gone. Spader has always been a great actor since the late 80s, just a shame The Blacklist & Boston Legal is where the newer fans know him for because he is so much better when on the big screen. Different strokes. Of course though given the right role, typecast a lot doesn't help. Just ask the great Gary Oldman,lol.
Nothing is as it seems so I wouldn't judge by what you think you see.

I didn't say that. There are great looking guys who are terrible actors and unattractive guys who are great actors (Buscemi, Giammatti, etc.) I am just saying that i can't look at the guy long enough to know if he can act or not because I find his appearance so repellent for some reason. Buscemi I can look at, Mikkelson I cannot.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!

So in other words you go by attraction? No wonder you are a Spader fan. That being said, Spader has been a highly underrated and often under-appreciated actor when he dominated the 80s and 90s with his textbook sleazy characters. This show as the other poster was getting at, is just fluff. Formulaic, doesn't surprise you at all but as he said watch it for Spader. Would prefer to see Spader being challenged like the big guns on cable but hey it's network television.

Mads Mikkelsen on Hannibal may be the best actor and character on Tv now
Perhaps, but my inability to look at the man for more than a second or two prevents me from being able to judge.
I do not have attention deficit disorOoh, look at the bunny!