Glenn Close in "Damages"
courtesy of F/X
“Damages” (F/X)

Last year “Damages” debuted on F/X. It was an immediate hit with the public and the critics. There was so much good buzz about it that it was picked up for seasons two and three upon the conclusion of the first year’s episodes. This year the drama starring Glen Close is back. Somehow the audience didn’t return with it. The show is struggling to find its viewers and to deliver the high drama the first season had.

This year picked up just where last season left off. Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) is still working as an attorney at the law firm of Patty Hewes (Close). She is working with the Feds to get the good on Patty and to get revenge on those who caused her boyfriend’s death.

This is all happening in the background. The big event of this season is Patty trying to get the goods on a large corporation that is polluting the areas where it operates. Patty thinks Daniel Purcel (William Hurt) is her ace in the hole on the case because he works for the corporation and he is also the father of her son. But there is more to Daniel than meets the eye.

Marcia Gay Harden plays Claire Maddox, a lawyer for the opposition. She is also involved with Daniel Purcell. It is expected that Claire will play an even larger role in the proceedings as the season progresses.

Ted Danson is back and recreates his performance as Arthur Frobisher. This character barely survived an assassination attempt from last season and this near death experience has changed him, or so he says. The way Danson plays Frobisher you are never sure of anything.

There are a lot of heavy hitting actors in this show but somehow the plot is not as compelling as last year’s. It is interesting to say the least, but some underlying current of tension is off the table. Still any show half good that features Close, Hurt, Harden and Danson has to be worth watching and “Damages” is.

So this Wednesday at 10PM tune your TV to the F/X channel and see what “Damages” has to offer. Chances are by the time Close and company get through with you, you will make this a weekly ritual. It may not be as good as last year but it is still one of the best shows on the air.
 

 

 

 

 

©2009 Jackie K. Cooper

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