Glenn Close in "Damages"
courtesy of FX
“Damages” (FX)

“Damages” is the best show on television that you are probably not watching. This is the third season of the Glenn Close series and though interest is high the number of viewers is not outstanding, and that’s a shame. Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan and an outstanding guest cast are providing some of the best dramatic television being offered this year.

In the show Close plays Patty Hewes, a cutthroat attorney. Donovan plays Tom Shayes her partner as of this year. He was a top associate in the firm for the past two seasons but this year he has risen to partner status. Sadly in a leap forward, for which the show is famous, viewers have learned that Shayes dies this year.

Ellen Parsons (Byrne) is now working for the District Attorney’s office. She and Patty still have a love/hate relationship that keeps them in contact with each other. Ellen is also having some family problems this year that are keeping her preoccupied.

The big case for this season involves the Tobin family. Louis Tobin (Len Cariou) has been arrested for bilking his investors out of their savings. Patty is handling the class action suit against Tobin and is trying to locate the money she knows he has hidden. She has put pressure on his wife Marilyn (Lily Tomlin) and his son Joe (Campbell Scott) but thus far she has not been able to locate it.

All of this interaction between the characters makes for great TV, and the caliber of the acting skills is amazing. Close has Patty down to perfection and Byrne and Donovan keep up with the standard she sets. Tomlin is perfect for her role and plays it without a touch of comedic interjection. The same is true for Martin Short who plays the Tobin family attorney Leonard Winstone. Campbell Scott gets better with each episode as the Tobin’s son Joe.

“Damages” operates in two realities – the present and a few months into the future. You get a glimpse of things that are going to occur and then you see the steps that lead up to them. It is a little confusing but it works at whetting your interest.

“Damages” is a very satisfying show and one that features some of the best acting on television. It is a program designated for “Mature Audiences” as it sometimes has violence and strong language.

Give it a try and tune into “Damages” on FX, Monday nights at 10.
 

 

 

 

 

©2010 Jackie K. Cooper

Click above to find out more about Jackie's books!