Damages is one of those shows that grips you and doesn’t let you go. Rose Byrne plays Ellen Parsons, a fledgling attorney who is fresh out of law school, looking for a firm to employ her. She is cautioned against going to work for Patty Hewes (Glen Close) by her first interviewers when she turns down the job for them after they learn she has formerly spoken with her. Over the next few episodes we are introduced to Rose’s fiancé and his sister, who has ties to the class action lawsuit Hewes has against Arthur Frobisher, played by Ted Danson.
If this all seems somewhat trivial, then stay tuned, there is a fair amount of weirdness added to the mix. Overshadowing this plot, is where Rose is now, which is in a police interrogation room covered in blood – the blood of her fiancé. Each episode, we lunge forward in both stories, waiting to see how they interconnect.
The show opens with a song by LA indie band “The VLA” called “When I Am Through With You” against very atmospheric credit renderings of New York’s business and legal district intertwined with hands covered in blood holding leather straps to a briefcase. Indeed, the whole show is a visual treat to look at. What makes the show work of course, is Glen Close. Here is an actress I thought was overrated and terrible, but starting with her stint 2 years ago on “The Shield”, she has completely won me over. She is so strong, one wonders if anyone could stand against her. Even Vic Mackey had a hard time standing his ground against her. She’s just as tough here, although from a more perceptually intelligent stance. Her role here in relation to Rose Byrne takes on a dynamic very similar to the one between Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway in “The Devil Wears Prada”. I believe that Close sells it better: she’s not mean for the sake of being socially inept as Streep’s character was. Close’s character is driven by the case itself, it’s all she cares about, and she’s always three steps ahead of her competition. There’s a strong likeability to her character, as we see her when she’s vulnerable, and we begin to understand her motives. She doesn’t like her colleagues having families because she doesn’t understand family: she’s a terrible mother, and she treats her son like he’s on trial in an effort to correct his indiscretions.
Ted Danson finally turns away from his sitcom style of acting, and plays the sleazy billionaire Frobisher in a very different manner. He seems friendly, but there is also something terrifying lurking beneath his outer shell… Just what is he, or has he been capable of, besides screwing his employees?
Tate Donovan Plays Patty’s loyal subordinate, Tom Shayes. He is her right hand man, and even though he is a character that serves to interface with others on behalf of Patty’s firm, he has his own agenda, and his warm demeanor is a great contrast in his friendship with Patty. She needs him, and she has a hard time letting him know it because she knows he’s too scared to leave. He just doesn’t have the balls she has.
You forget the murder because the back story is so interesting, and for once, I can wait to find out. The characters are excellent, and the progression forward is moving at a fine pace.
Why only 3 stars then? Well, Rose Byrne is a fine actress, but she seems slightly out of sorts here. She seems like she would be a better candidate for a Gilmore Girls cameo than in a legal drama, and of course that might be the intent: that she is too weak to play in the sanbox, and she's being set up to be torn apart. Anastasia Griffith, also, is just a little too over the top as the soon-to-be sister-in-law with a skeleton in her closet. Watching her character's stupid actions tends to grate on the nerves a little bit, but thankfully, our exposure to her is kept at a minimum level to service the story.
Still, have a look at Damages for Close's sake, because it's worth your time to get invested in the characters. The season will most likely be kept short, being on FX, and the network is known for taking chances with riskier shows like this.