Damages (TV series)

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Damages
Damages title card.jpg
Format Legal drama
Created by Todd A. Kessler
Glenn Kessler
Daniel Zelman
Starring Glenn Close
Rose Byrne
Željko Ivanek
Noah Bean
Tate Donovan
Anastasia Griffith
Marcia Gay Harden
Timothy Olyphant
Ted Danson
William Hurt
Opening theme "When I Am Through with You"
by The V.L.A.
Country of origin United States
Language(s) English
No. of seasons 2
No. of episodes 26 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Todd A. Kessler
Glenn Kessler
Daniel Zelman
Location(s) New York City, New York
Running time approx. 43 minutes
Production company(s) Sony Pictures TV
Broadcast
Original channel FX
Picture format 480i, 576i (TV)
480p (DVD)
1080i (FX HD; BBC HD)
1080p (Blu-Ray)
Audio format DD 5.1 (DVD, HDTV)
Dolby TrueHD (Blu-Ray)
Stereo Surround (TV)
Original run July 24, 2007 – present
Status Returning Series
External links
Official website

Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler (collectively known as KZK). It is broadcast in the United States on the cable network FX and is produced by the creators' own production company, KZK Productions. It premiered on July 24, 2007. The show's second season premiered on January 7, 2009. The show has been renewed for a third season which will premiere Jan. 25 at 10/9c.[1]

The series revolves around the brilliant yet ruthless lawyer Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), her protégée Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) and the law firm Hewes runs in New York City. The debut season finds Hewes attempting to win a class-action lawsuit against the former CEO of a corporation (Ted Danson) on behalf of his former workers. The second season revolves around Patty's relationship with a man from her past (William Hurt) and how she is thrown into a new cutthroat case against a big energy company, while Ellen seeks revenge against Patty.

Damages has received critical acclaim and numerous television awards, including a Golden Globe and three Emmy Awards for its first season. The show is noted for its nonlinear narrative, frequent use of plot twists, technical merit, season-long storylines and the acting ability of its cast.

Contents

[edit] Production

[edit] Conception

Creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman devised the series as relationship between a mentor and a protégée; two women in powerful positions. Although the initial story idea did not have the series set in the legal arena, the creators chose it because they felt the legal world included women who commanded power and influence.[2] The conception was inspired by the creators' interaction with their superiors along with their experiences in the entertainment industry.[3] The series steers away from usual legal dramas, where storyline is set inside the courtroom and instead describes the characters' lives and interactions outside the courtroom and the behind-the-scenes power maneuvering and manipulation.[3] About the characters of the show Zelman notes, "We don't look at any of the characters as good or bad or anything like that. What really motivated us to write about this world, first and foremost, was our interest in power dynamics, the dynamics of power in society."[4]

[edit] Writing

The series was designed with the main character, Patty Hewes, tackling one case per season.[5] The first season of the series focuses on a class-action lawsuit against the fraudulent multi-billionaire CEO of a defunct company. The plot was inspired by various corporate scandals and characters involved in them,[6] most notably from the 2001 scandal surrounding Enron.[7] The second season deals with the energy industry and related environment issues. The story is influenced by recent and ongoing environmental cases in the United States in the mining industry.[8] The writers were guided by environmental lawyer Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who shared his experience in the field with various corporations and CEOs.[9]

The series uses nonlinear narrative while employing flashforwards, foreshadowing and red herring narration techniques. This approach has given the writers flexibility in storytelling.[10] The narrative handles multiple plot lines and has loose ends. Zelman explains, "We know where we’re going. We have tent-pole moments that we’re building to all the way through to the end, and it’s very clear to us where we want to end up. [However], we want to leave room for improvisation..."[6] While the two different time-frames format was initially intended for the first season, in preparation for the second season the producers felt that the nonlinear format had become a signature of the series and decided to continue it for the second season.[11] With the serialized format of the show decreasing the viewership,[10] Todd Kessler contended that the second season would contain stand-alone storylines to make the show more accessible.[12]

[edit] Casting

When creators Kesslers and Zelman pitched the show to executives at FX, network president John Landgraf suggested that they should consider Glenn Close for the main character Patty Hewes.[13] Close who had earlier worked on FX's The Shield and had conveyed to the network officials that she would be interested to be cast as a lead in another show, so long as the show was set in New York City.[14] After a three-hour meeting with the creators, Close accepted the role, impressed particularly by the powerful persona of the character "as the head of her own law firm [...] in a male-dominated world."[6] In preparation for the role, Close met with several female attorneys in New York, including Mary Jo White, Lorna Scofield and Patricia Hynes.[13] The creators chose Ted Danson for the part of Arthur Frobisher, a corrupt billionaire CEO, because of his role in the 1979 film The Onion Field.[14] Danson was immediately attracted to the project after he learned that Close would be playing the lead role.[15] As part of preparation Danson studied the collapse of Enron by watching documentaries such as The Smartest Guys in the Room and meeting CEOs of various Fortune 500 corporations.[16] The producers also suggested that Danson consult Close's acting coach Harold Guskin. Danson was initially hesitant to this suggestion, but found the consultation extremely helpful.[17]

Cast members Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan, portraying Ellen Parsons and Tom Shayes respectively, secured their parts through auditions. Byrne had been unavailable the first time she was approached because she was shooting the film 28 Weeks Later, but was able to audition later when the part had not yet been cast.[7] Both Byrne and Donovan prepared for their roles by consulting lawyers and attending court trials.[18] According to producers, the characters of Ellen's fiancé David Connor and his sister Katie were the hardest to cast.[2] Noah Bean, who got the role of David, said he "gave an awful first audition," but managed to get the part when he was given a second chance while waiting for an elevator.[2] When British actor Anastasia Griffith auditioned for the part of Katie Connor, the producers were hesitant to have a British actor play an American, especially since they already had an Australian (Byrne) playing an American. However Griffith convinced the producers by speaking in an American accent throughout their follow-up meeting.[19] At the time of casting, Griffith's role was intended for only for three episodes, but was extended after the producers realized the success of the character.[3]

[edit] Plot synopsis

Main article: List of Damages episodes

[edit] Season One

The show begins at what appears to be the end. A young woman, Ellen Parsons, is found running through the streets half naked and covered in blood. Investigation by the police reveals that her fiancé, David, has been bludgeoned to death in their apartment, and Ellen is quickly arrested.

The scene shifts to six months earlier when Ellen, a newly minted lawyer, is being courted for prestigious jobs. She turns down an offer to work with the defense attorney Hollis Nye in favor of working for notorious lawyer Patty Hewes. When Nye finds out about this, he warns Ellen that working for Patty will change her.

Ellen soon becomes engrossed in the major case which Patty's firm, Hewes and Associates, is pursuing. Hewes and Associates has been retained in a class action suit by the former employees of billionaire Arthur Frobisher. In a case reminiscent of Enron, Frobisher is accused of insider trading and lying to his employees about the health of his company even as he unloaded his stock, depriving his employees of their life savings.

Early on in the series Patty shows that she is willing to go to extreme, even unethical and illegal, lengths to win her case. One such instance is when she has the pet dog of a reluctant witness killed in a manner which makes it look as if Frobisher is responsible. This action emboldens the witness to testify against Frobisher.

As the season progresses Ellen becomes more and more involved in the case, and in Patty's shady dealings. Part of this is due to Ellen's personal connections to the case. Her fiancé's sister turns out to be an important witness in the case. For most of the season Ellen skirts the edge of what is unethical, but eventually comes to cross that line.

As Ellen becomes more and more devoted to the case, her relationship with her fiancé becomes strained. The situation is not helped when Patty betrays his sister. Eventually Ellen and David tire of Patty and Ellen publicly leaves Hewes and Associates. However, she still has an interest in the case and soon becomes embroiled in it again.

Throughout the first season, the series plays with time. The narrative switches back and forth between a traditional linear narrative of events happening in "the past" and a more temporally disjointed narrative of events happening in "the present." The main plot focus of these flashes was the murder of Ellen's fiancé David and the apparent attack on Ellen that same day when she was staying at Patty's apartment. The flashes served to increase speculation among viewers since the audience was privy to information about the future which the characters were not. Until the final episode, speculation over the identity of the murderer switched between a whole host of characters including Ellen, Patty, Frobisher, and a stalker whom David acquired.

By the end of the first season the main narrative of the show has "caught up" with the flash forwards and most of the questions raised by them are resolved. The murder charges against Ellen are dropped, the identities of David's murderer and Ellen's attacker are revealed (at least to the audience), and the Frobisher case is resolved with Frobisher giving up the bulk of his fortune to the employees. He is later shot and left for dead by a vengeful former employee.

[edit] Season Two

Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Tate Donovan and Ted Danson return as regulars for the second season of Damages. Season One recurring star Anastasia Griffith is now a regular. William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant and Marcia Gay Harden also join the cast.

Season 2 begins with once naive young attorney, Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) talking to someone off-screen. Suddenly, she pulls a gun into frame and pulls the trigger twice.

Six months earlier, a mysterious scientist named Daniel Purcell (William Hurt) sends documents to Patty (Glenn Close) following her victory over Arthur Frobisher. Purcell asks for Patty's help, saying he's being threatened, but she refuses. The following night, Daniel's wife Christine (Paige Turco), turns up dead and a guilty Patty reluctantly decides to help him. As the case of the murder rolls on, Patty begins to realize that there is a major conspiracy going on between Daniel's scientific firm and major energy corporation Ultima National Resources. They continue to make headway as the case rolls on, as over time the supposed killer of Daniel's wife is arrested and the corporation's environmental hazards are being exposed. When Patty is moments away from bringing UNR down, Daniel turns on her and defends the corporation. We later realize that Daniel was working for UNR the whole time and he indirectly murdered his wife. CEO of UNR Walter Kendrick (John Doman), meanwhile, is revealed to be merging with another corporation for reasons far more complicated, bizarre and secretive than meets the eye. When Patty catches this, she decides to use a plaintiff against UNR to stop what could happen, and she's able to convince Frobisher (Ted Danson) to do it to regain his image. Kendrick's attorney Claire Maddox (Marcia Gay Harden), meanwhile, had an affair with Daniel Purcell (to no one else's knowledge) and isn't aware of Walter's involvement, if any, in Christine's murder.

The mystery of the murder later comes to a close, when it is discovered that Daniel choked his wife when she threatened to tell the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency‎ about UNR's contamination. He thought he'd killed her, but she was still alive when the Deacon (Darrell Hammond) arrives at the house. Walter Kendrick tells him to finish the job, and he does just that, leaving Purcell thinking he'd murdered his wife. Still thinking he'd done it and evidence beginning to show itself, Purcell breaks and heads to the Police Department, confessing he killed Christine Purcell.

Ellen, meanwhile, is still under the impression that Patty tried to have her killed, and is working with the FBI to bring her down. In reality though, we discover it was possible that it was Uncle Pete that commissioned her attempted murder. In grief counseling, she meets and befriends a mysterious loner named Wes Krulik (Timothy Olyphant), and begins to confide in him. However, Wes is secretly working with Rick Messer, the police detective that murdered David Connor and that had been and still is working for Frobisher. He also has a shrine of newspaper articles on Arthur Frobisher, articles of David's murder, and articles from Ellen's arrest, as well as a large variety of guns and other weapons. As the season closes, Wes refuses to follow Detective Messer's order to kill Ellen, as Ellen has begun to suspect police involvement. As Messer tries to lure Ellen into a trap, Wes executes Messer in the season finale.

When Katie (Anastasia Griffith) re-enters Ellen's life, she begins to bring up old conflicts and new issues, as she recognizes a cop that was the man that tried to kill her. After telling Ellen—who, even with Patty's help, got nowhere on the issue—Katie went to the police and filed a report against him. This led to an argument between the two, with Katie claiming that if Ellen had never met Patty, David would still be alive. Katie doesn't understand Ellen's reasoning for going back to Patty, which Ellen says are reasons she wouldn't understand. When Messer thinks the cop's cover has been blown, he shoots and kills him.

Frobisher returns as a plaintiff against UNR for Patty in an effort to 'get his name back'. This creates an opportunity for Ellen though, as she can find new information and eventually links Frobisher to Detective Messer's agency. Wes recovers this information and lets Messer know, and he threatens Frobisher with his life and pulls out of the case. Messer's problems continue though, as Wes begins to develop affection for Ellen, and wonders if he can trust him. When he tells Wes to take Ellen out, he refuses, but when he brings up his past, Wes has no choice but to comply.

Walter Kendrick, meanwhile, initiates a merger which is discovered to be a major energy scheme to make more money. His partner, Dave Pell (Clarke Peters), has much more desire than Kendrick though, as he has a relationship with Phil (Michael Nouri), Patty's husband, and makes him a tempting offer in government. Phil accepts, but he is revealed to be having an affair, and when it is leaked to the press, Patty kicks him out of the house and he is no longer in consideration. Pell also has been talking to the FBI for information on Patty, and when Agent Werner's cover is blown to Agent Harrison, Pell executes Harrison.

Kendrick's illegal activity continues, and when Claire attacks Patty Hewes and Patty mentions Fin Garrity, a major energy trader secretly being used by Walter and Dave, she begins to realize she is being used in a major conspiracy, and asks for the assistance of Daniel. Claire lets the idea of power get the best of her, realizing she could head up UNR. A suspicious Kendrick catches her having sexual relations with Daniel. Kendrick uses this to get Claire thrown out of UNR, and she immediately goes to Patty saying 'I want you to destroy him'. She also tells her that she can trust Daniel Purcell. Following this, Patty uses Purcell to crack energy codes, and he is successful, giving Patty enough evidence to testify against UNR in court.

Tate Donovan returns as Patty's partner Tom Shayes. After he is given the infant mortality case, which the FBI wanted Patty to take to bring her down, the witness asked Tom for some money to hold her over until the trial or she would go to another attorney. He was about to hand over the money until Patty heard about the bribe and convinced Tom to join her in the case against UNR. While chasing a lead to find out more information on Finn Garrity, Tom is propositioned by a call girl. It is unknown whether Tom gave in to her advances. Despite being named partner to Patty, he is still left in the dark when it comes to certain issues regarding the case. Tom's wife just had a baby boy this season.

Patty realizes that victory in the UNR case relies on the GPS code from Walter Kendrick's Cadillac to be entered into evidence. Because the car was stolen to retrieve the codes, it can not be entered into evidence. To fix this, Patty puts Ellen up to the task of bribing the judge. But Patty soon takes back the request and gives the job to Tom. After Ellen and Agent Werner were planning to use this to bring down Patty, they target Tom and take him into custody, citing his almost-bribe with Agent Hawkins in the infant mortality case as the reason, while he is on his way to the hospital where his wife is giving birth. Ellen convinces Tom to wear a wire and he goes back to Patty and turns down the job of bribing the judge, and urging Patty not to do so either. Angry, Patty fires Tom for letting her down.

In the season finale, Ellen convinces Patty to bribe the judge after the judge makes it clear that in the current state of the case, he will not allow the evidence of the stolen SUV (a subtle hint to Patty's firm that he needs a payoff). Ellen feels she has Patty setup and arranges with Agent Werner to monitor the payoff. Meanwhile Patty confronts Finn Garrity, the energy trader involved with UNR. This sets off a chain reaction between Garrity, Kendrick, and Patty and which causes Garrity to seek out Patty as she is taking the bribe to hand over to Ellen at Ellen's hotel room. In the run-up to the final confrontation between Patty and Ellen alluded to in flash forwards all season, Patty makes a deal with Pell. Pell will call off the FBI and reveals Ellen to be the insider working for the Feds. Patty gets Pell to hand over the data that UNR is using toxic chemicals. In return Patty will drop the energy trading angle of the case. She also sets up Ellen as the fall guy for bribing the judge. Ellen, meanwhile, works a deal with Tom, procuring a handgun in the process, after Wes refuses to get her one.

Ellen confronts Patty about her actions from season 1. She has evidence from Uncle Pete's wife that she feels is proof Patty set her up to be killed. However, when she hands the evidence to Patty, the folder is shown to hold only a message that the Feds are watching, not the evidence of Patty's involvement with Ellen's attempted murder. Ellen fires 2 shots at Patty, but instead of aiming for Patty, she aims at the camera installed by the FBI. She then gets Patty's confession that she indeed was responsible for setting up Ellen to be murdered. Satisfied with the confession, Ellen leaves with the bribe for the judge. Patty leaves after Ellen, but is shown to be bleeding. Patty is found in the elevator by Agent Werner, who assumes Ellen shot Patty and leaves to pursue Ellen. Wes, who was monitoring Ellen from across the hall also finds Patty (right after Agent Werner leaves) and gets her to the hospital. It is revealed that Patty was stabbed by Finn Garrity on the elevator before her confrontation with Ellen. When Ellen bribes the judge, Agent Werner has her and the Judge arrested for bribery. As they leave, Federal Marshals (led by Tom's sister) arrest Agent Werner for corruption. Tom reveals to Ellen that Patty, apparently had discovered the FBI scheme and worked with him to record the conversation with Pell. This leads to both Kendrick and Pell getting arrested. The season ends one month later with Patty recovering at home, Tom returning to Patty's firm, and Ellen with a new unrevealed job offer (and out of touch with Hewes and Associates). However, Patty states she feels that Ellen will be in contact with them soon.

[edit] Cast

[edit] Season One

[edit] Season Two

[edit] Season Three

The following have been confirmed to be starring in season three:

[edit] Characters

Actor Character Episode Count Current Bio Status
Glenn Close Patty Hewes 26 Fresh from her greatest legal victory, Patty Hewes is the undisputed champion in the ruthless, back-stabbing world of high-stakes litigation. When a man from her past re-enters her life, the manipulative lawyer is thrust into a murder case which leads to a conspiracy involving one of the country's most powerful energy companies. It's a case that could cost her far more than she's bargained for. Regular S1-2
Rose Byrne Ellen Parsons 26 No longer an idealistic fledgling attorney, Ellen Parsons is becoming masterful at navigating the morally ambiguous maze of Patty Hewes and high-stakes litigation. The only problem is - Ellen thinks Patty tried to have her killed. Fueled by revenge and haunted by her fiancé's murder, Ellen decides to take matters into her own hands. Regular S1-2
Tate Donovan Tom Shayes 25 Recently named a partner in Hewes & Associates, Tom Shayes has stepped into a leadership role at Patty's side. While Tom's newfound position opens up new avenues for fulfillment, his ambition affords him a variety of temptations to compromise his ethics—both personally and professionally. Regular S1-2
Ted Danson Arthur Frobisher 17 After losing his fortune in a legal battle with Patty Hewes and suffering a near-fatal gunshot wound, Arthur Frobisher is rebuilding his life. The onetime billionaire is on a quest to rehabilitate his image. But letting go of his past may not be as easy as he thinks. Arthur is currently working on a new enviro-friendly company. Regular S1-2
Michael Nouri Phil Grey 17 Patty's current husband, Phil Grey truly loves his wife and supports her completely. But sometimes, when she's in danger, Phil feels he has to take a stand. Phil also finds morality a tough thing to define during the UNR case, as he's given tempting business offers that could jeopardize his wife's case. Despite true affection for Patty, he has had affairs with other women. When Patty discovered his indescretion, and his secret negotiations with UNR, she filed for divorce. Recurring S1-2
Zachary Booth Michael Hewes 16 Patty's brilliant high-school graduate son, Michael definitely has his issues but at the heart is a good kid. He has been dating a much older woman, much to the chagrin of Patty. He recently discovered his father is Daniel Purcell. Michael is kicked out of the house when Patty discovers he will not be attending college. Recurring S1-2
Željko Ivanek Ray Fiske 15 The former loyal attorney of Arthur Frobisher, Ray Fiske had a lot of concealing to do for some of his past mistakes. But, when his dark past is uncovered, Ray feels the expose has doomed him and he commits suicide. Regular S1; Recurring S2 (Deceased)
David Costabile Detective Rick Messer 14 This ruthless and sinister police detective was under Frobisher's wing when the case was alive and was the one who murdered David Connor, Ellen's fiance. Knowing that Ellen is constantly getting closer to his discovery, Messer begins to panic. His partner, Wes Krulik, has been instructed to kill Ellen but, instead becomes involved in a relationship with her. When Messer attempts to kill Ellen himself, Wes murders Rick. Recurring S1-2 (Deceased)
Anastasia Griffith Katie Connor 13 Katie Connor is the sister of David Connor and Ellen Parsons' friend. A vivacious young woman with an outgoing personality, she tries to help Ellen reconnect with the world following the murder of Katie's brother. Despite her best intentions, Katie's actions create ever-increasing problems for Ellen. Recurring S1; Regular S2
Noah Bean David Connor 13 Ellen's fiancé David Connor was the charming doctor that was the love of Ellen's life. But as Ellen was drawn into the cunning world of high-stakes litigation, David was also put in the ring of fire, and was murdered while in possession of a videotape that would ruin Arthur Frobisher's life. Regular S1; Recurring S2 (Deceased)
Glenn Kessler Agent Werner 13 An FBI agent working with Ellen to bring down Patty. Through out season 2, it is led to believe he is in the middle of a divorce from his wife, Pam. It is soon revealed, however, that he isn't and the calls from his wife are really from Dave Pell, giving Werner money for occasional information on the Patty Hewes investigation. However, his corruption eventually caught up to him and was arrested. Recurring S2
Philip Bosco Hollis Nye 11 A criminal defense attorney that tried to hire Ellen, Hollis Nye became a friend for Ellen when she entered the world of Patty Hewes. Really, Mr. Nye was working Ellen in an attempt to have her work with the FBI to bring Patty down, something he succeeded in. Recurring S1-2
Tom Aldredge Peter "Uncle Pete" McKee 11 Patty's most trusted ally and, according to Patty, her maternal uncle. With a decades-long history of petty crimes behind him, Uncle Pete's job was to do whatever it took to protect her. Pete was used as leverage by the FBI to get evidence to prosecute Patty, but committed suicide to protect an unknown secret. Recurring S1-2 (Deceased)
Mario van Peebles Agent Harrison 10 An FBI agent working with Ellen to bring down Patty. After he discovers that Agent Werner is getting paid for information on the investigation, he rats Werner out to the FBI and ends up dying from a heroin overdose, set up by Werner's contact, Dave Pell. Recurring S2 (Deceased)
William Hurt Daniel Purcell 10 Daniel Purcell is a brilliant scientist with a mysterious past. When the corrupt company he works for threatens his family, he seeks out the one person powerful enough to help—Patty Hewes. Patty's efforts are complicated by her personal history with Purcell, setting off an unpredictable chain of events with shocking - and fatal - consequences. Purcell was arrested when confessing he killed his wife, although, in truth, he did not kill her. Regular S2
John Doman Walter Kendrick 10 A billionaire alpha-male, Walter Kendrick is the CEO of Ultima National Resources. With mysterious motives for a merger, Walter's plans and secrets may greatly impact the case, and with no help, it may not go in his favor. Although Kendrick ended up playing his cards correctly, Patty was able to retrieve evidence that prosecuted Walter Kendrick and UNR. Recurring S2
Peter Riegert George Moore 9 An SEC member involved in Frobisher's conspiracy, George Moore's vulnerability in the case shook him up, and he was willing to cross anyone to protect himself. Recurring S1 (Deceased)
Peter Facinelli Gregory Malina 9 A young naive kid, Gregory Malina began a friendship with Ray Fiske a while back and, unknowingly, became the major player in the Frobisher case. With evidence that would prove him guilty, he was killed to keep his information secret. Recurring S1 (Deceased)
Timothy Olyphant Wes Krulik 9 A mysterious loner, Wes Krulik meets Ellen Parsons in grief counseling and quickly becomes both a friend and confidante. Ellen can't deny her attraction to Wes, but she also isn't sure how much she can trust him—if at all. Wes was secretly aligned with detective Rick Messer, though surprisingly he refused to hurt Ellen in any capacity, going as far as to kill Messer when he wouldn't listen. They are currently romantically linked. Regular S2
Clarke Peters Dave Pell 8 A wealthy businessman at the helm of the other side of the major UNR merger, Dave is currently working a bizarre conspiracy with Walter Kendrick for financial purposes. He'd been successful in turning Phil Grey, Patty's husband, into a UNR shareholder, and had been secretly talking to the FBI for information on the Patty Hewes case. However, Ellen playing the FBI jeopardized Pell's plans, and was arrested. Recurring S2
Marcia Gay Harden Claire Maddox 7 As Ultima National Resources' in-house counsel, Claire Maddox is Walter Kendrick's chief adviser. A legal bulldog who thrives on confrontation, she's a worthy adversary to Patty Hewes. But Maddox's devotion to Kendrick is challenged as she's drawn deeper and deeper into the web of his conspiracy. She is also romantically linked to Daniel Purcell. Claire saw an opportunity to oust Kendrick when she discovered he'd been lying to her, but he got her thrown out of the company before she could oust him. Regular S2
Darrell Hammond The Deacon 7 The one that does the dirty work for Walter Kendrick, The Deacon is responsible for many unsolved murders and conspiracies involving Walter Kendrick. The Deacon, an employee of Walter's, isn't afraid to get is hands dirty and often does. Recurring S2
Carmen Goodine Lila DiMeo 6 A beautiful but clinically insane woman, Lila was the granddaughter of one of David Connor's patients. She soon began stalking David, even though David continuously shunned her advances. Recurring S1
Brett Cullen Wayne Sutry 6 A partner in Daniel Purcell's firm, Wayne Sutry is one of the few men heavily involved in Walter Kendrick's massive conspiracy. While he doesn't know as much as he thinks he knows, he'll do whatever it takes to seem good in his eyes. Recurring S2
Victor Arnold Larry Popler 5 A lifelong employee of Frobisher's that was used as a plaintiff against Frobisher, desperate Larry was secretly leaking info to Frobisher in exchange for money. Frobisher later reneged on the deal and distanced himself from Larry. When caught by Patty and his former co-workers, Larry was kicked out of the class action lawsuit and denied the settlement money. Enraged, Larry followed Arthur to one of his sites, shot him in the stomach and left him for dead. Recurring S1

[edit] Home video release

The first season of Damages is available for purchase in Region 1 in both DVD and Blu-ray formats as of January 29, 2008.

The first season was released in Australia (Region 4) on the 19th of December 2007, however this version contains no special features.[27] A Blu-ray version is also available, which was released on the 18th of August 2009.[28]

The second season was released in Australia (Region 4) on the 25th of November 2009.[29]

The second season will be released on DVD on January 10, 2010 in Region 1.

Damages is also available for purchase on the iTunes Store, and all episodes that have currently aired are available. The first season can also be streamed for free in the US on Crackle.

[edit] International broadcasts

Country/region Channel Debut
Argentina AXN , 2008
Australia Nine Network and W. Channel September 16, 2007
Austria ORF 1 April 14, 2008
Belgium (Flanders) 2BE
Belgium (French) RTL-TVI
Brazil AXN
Bulgaria Nova Television
AXN		 January 8, 2008
October 12, 2009
Canada (English) Showcase February 18, 2008
Canada (French) TVA January 21, 2009
Chile MEGA November 16, 2008
Czech Republic AXN
Denmark TV3 Plus March 31, 2009
France Canal + February 28, 2008
Germany Kabel 1 April 21, 2008
Hong Kong ATV World May 15, 2008
Hungary RTL Klub January 30, 2009
Ireland RTE2
Israel HOT3 March 13, 2008
Italy AXN April 30, 2008
Japan NHK BS 2 April 2, 2008
Latin America AXN February 12, 2008
Malaysia RTM2
AXN
New Zealand TVNZ One November 7, 2007
Norway TV 3 October 31, 2007
Poland AXN September 13, 2009
Portugal TVI
Romania AXN October 6, 2009
Russia Domashniy February 16, 2009
Singapore AXN April 06, 2008
Slovenia POP TV February 26, 2008
South East Asia AXN January 8, 2008
South Africa M-Net
Spain Canal+ April 15, 2008
Switzerland TSR 1 February 1, 2009
Turkey TNT March 3, 2008
United Kingdom BBC One and BBC HD January 6, 2008
Venezuela AXN February 12, 2008
The Middle East Showtime Arabia & MBC 4

[edit] Reception

The first season of Damages received positive reviews from critics[30] with the series ranking in the top ten lists of several critics, including Robert Lloyd (Los Angeles Times), Alessandra Stanley (The New York Times) and Robert Abele (LA Weekly) among others.[31] The return of the series for its second season was also met with critical acclaim.[32]

[edit] Awards/nominations

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Damages (TV series)

Damages was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series at the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards. Co-creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler and Daniel Zelman were nominated for writing and Allen Coulter for directing the pilot episode. Glenn Close received the nomination for her lead role, with co-stars Ted Danson and Željko Ivanek nominated for their supporting roles.[33] Close and Ivanek won in their respective categories,[34] with the series also receiving the Emmy for best casting.[35] The series earned four nominations at the 65th Golden Globe Awards, including Best Television Series, Close for Best Actress and Byrne and Danson for their supporting roles. Close won the award in her category.[36]

For its acclaimed second season, Glenn Close received her second nomination for Best Lead Drama Actress Emmy. Ted Danson also received another nomination, for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Rose Byrne, earned her first Emmy nomination, and William Hurt, was nominated as a supporting actor in a drama. The series again was nominated for direction, and the series itself was nominated again for best drama. On September 20 2009, the show won its fourth Emmy Award when Glenn Close won the Best Actress in a Drama Series Emmy.

[edit] Ratings

The series premiere on July 24, 2007 drew 3.7 million viewers, with total of 5.1 million viewers including re-airing on the same night,[37][38] becoming the most watched cable television program for the night.[39] The viewership however declined over the first season, partially due the story's serialized approach, with the season finale drawing 1.4 million viewers.[40] Regardless of its critical acclaim, Damages seriously suffered in its second season ratings. Season Two premiered with only 1.7 million viewers watching, even with the momentum that was built following its Golden Globe and Emmy wins. Despite the show's low ratings, FX has picked up and secured the program for a third season. John Landgraf hopes the show will continue on the air following its third season; after taking into account the encore presentations and "extraordinary" DVR numbers, the ratings appear to be quite good.[41]

[edit] References

  1. ^ Joyce Eng. "FX Sets Midseason Schedule". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/FX-Sets-Midseason-1012661.aspx. 
  2. ^ a b c Goldman, Eric (2008-03-26). "Damages Strikes Back". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment Inc.. http://tv.ign.com/articles/862/862210p1.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  3. ^ a b c Gambill, Randy (2009-02-10). "On The Set of Damages". hmonthly.com. http://hmonthly.com/blog/2009/02/10/set-damages/. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  4. ^ Goldman, Eric (2007-07-23). "Glenn Close and Ted Danson Cause Damages". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment Inc.. http://tv.ign.com/articles/807/807329p1.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  5. ^ Wolk, Josh (2007-07-23). "'Damages': Shock and Law". Entertainment Weekly. Entertainment Weekly and Time Inc.. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20047717,00.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  6. ^ a b c Foody, Michelle (2007-07-18). "Glenn Close, Ted Danson Seek Scandals for ‘Damages’". Hollywood Today. Angel Media. http://www.hollywoodtoday.net/2007/07/18/glenn-close-ted-danson-seek-scandals-for-‘damages’/. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  7. ^ a b Surette, Tim (2007-08-14). "Q&A: Damages' Rose Byrne". TV.com. CBS Interactive. http://www.tv.com/story/10021.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  8. ^ Pettie, Andrew (2009-02-13). "Interview: Rose Byrne on US legal thriller Damages". Telegraph.co.uk (Telegraph Media Group Ltd.). http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/4593411/Interview-Rose-Byrne-on-US-legal-thriller-Damages.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  9. ^ Fowler, Matt (2009-01-06). "Glenn Close Assesses the Damages". IGN.com. IGN Entertainment Inc.. http://tv.ign.com/articles/941/941316p1.html. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  10. ^ a b Itzkoff, Dave (2009-01-01). "Caution: The Story Line Is Slippery". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/arts/television/04dave.html?_r=1. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  11. ^ Halterman, Jim (2009-01-07). "Interview: Glenn Close on Reuniting With "Damages," William Hurt". The Futon Critic. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/rant.aspx?id=20090107_damages. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  12. ^ Schneider, Michael (2008-06-16). "William Hurt joins FX's 'Damages'". Variety (Reed Elsevier Inc.). http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117987533.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&nid=2562. Retrieved 2009-04-13. 
  13. ^ a b Rorke, Robert (2007-07-22). "Close Call". New York Post (NYP Holdings Inc.). http://www.nypost.com/seven/07222007/tv/close_call_tv_robert_rorke.htm?page=0. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  14. ^ a b Bianculli, David (2007-07-13). "Close assesses 'Damages': It's all about the writing". NYDailyNews.com (Daily News, L.P.). http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2007/07/13/2007-07-13_close_assesses_damages_its_all_about_the-1.html. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  15. ^ Gray, Ellen (2007-08-21). "Ted Danson relishes playing the bad guy for a change". Philadelphia Daily News (PopMatters.com). http://www.popmatters.com/pm/article/ted-danson-relishes-playing-the-bad-guy-for-a-change. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  16. ^ Allan, Marc D. (2007-07-22). "Legal Thriller Broadens Ted Danson's Acting Chops". The Washington Post (The Washington Post Company). http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/18/AR2007071802308_pf.html. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  17. ^ Rochlin, Margy (2007-08-28). "A Veteran of Comedy Rediscovers His Dark Side". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/28/arts/television/28dans.html. Retrieved 2009-04-17. 
  18. ^ MacIntyre, April (2007-08-29). "A chat with 'Damages' star Tate Donovan". Monsters and Critics. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/features/article_1349485.php. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
  19. ^ MacIntyre, April (2007-08-15). "A chat with FX 'Damages' Anastasia Griffith". Monster and Critics. http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/features/article_1343603.php/A_chat_with_FX_Damages_Anastasia_Griffith. Retrieved 2009-04-18. 
  20. ^ In the second season, Danson was only credited in the episodes in which he appeared.
  21. ^ http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-10/damages-stylish-mind-game/#gallery=666;page=6;item=
  22. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/campbell-scott/news/143244
  23. ^ a b http://content.usatoday.com/topics/post/life/68499261.blog/1
  24. ^ http://www.seattlepi.com/tvguide/410426_tvgif22.html
  25. ^ http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/damages/288002
  26. ^ http://www.tvfanatic.com/2009/11/sarah-wynter-joins-growing-cast-of-damages/
  27. ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/796736
  28. ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/806907
  29. ^ http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/808440
  30. ^ "Damages (FX) - Reviews from Metacritic". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc.. http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/damages?q=damages. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  31. ^ "Best TV shows of 2007". Metacritic. http://www.metacritic.com/tv/bests/2007/. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  32. ^ "Damages (FX) Season Two - Reviews from Metacritic". Metacritic. CBS Interactive Inc.. http://www.metacritic.com/tv/shows/damagesseason2?q=damages. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  33. ^ Levin, Gary (2008-08-05). "Cable newcomers join the party for Emmy nominations". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/televisionawards/emmys/2008-07-17-emmy-nominations_N.htm?csp=23&RM_Exclude=aol. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  34. ^ "60th Primetime Emmy Awards - Press Release". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. http://cdn.emmys.tv/downloads/2008/PTE60winners_pressrel.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  35. ^ "2008 Creative Arts Emmy - Press Release". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2008-09-13. http://cdn.emmys.tv/downloads/2008/CTA08winners_pressrel.pdf. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  36. ^ "HFPA- Nominations and Winners". 'Hollywood Foreign Press Association. http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/year/2007. Retrieved 2009-01-08. 
  37. ^ Keveney, Bill (2007-08-01). "Nielsens: TNT has dynamic duo in 'Closer,' 'Grace'". USA Today. http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-07-31-nielsens-analysis_N.htm. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  38. ^ "FX Inflicts Ratings 'Damages'". Zap2It. Tribune Media Services Inc.. 2007-07-25. http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-damagespremiereratings,0,1646857.story?coll=zap-tv-headlines. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  39. ^ McElroy, Steven (2007-07-28). "Arts, Briefly". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company). http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/28/arts/28arts.html?ref=arts. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  40. ^ Itzkoff, Dave (2009-01-01). "Caution: The Story Line Is Slippery". NYTimes.com (The New York Times Company): pp. 2 of 2. http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/04/arts/television/04dave.html?_r=1&pagewanted=2. Retrieved 2009-04-08. 
  41. ^ http://tvbythenumbers.com/2009/02/18/nba-all-star-festivities-the-closer-wwe-raw-and-monk-lead-week-damages-to-return-despite-ratings/13021

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