Damages: The Complete First Season DVD: Review By Dodd

I recently wrote a review for the FX series The Riches and had the opportunity to observe how the network has established themselves in the pantheon of edgy programming. This does not just mean creating programs that break the norms of language, sex, and violence, but also exceed expectations of storytelling and acting. To me, the dramas on FX have not been more hard-hitting than their last new series Damages. Why is this? I can only describe it in two words: Glenn Close. There is something about the woman's on-screen presence that sends chills up my spine. After making an appearance on another successful FX series The Shield, Close makes her return to the network starring in the new series.

Close stars as Patty Hewes. Patty is a powerful lawyer who is known for taking on only the largest cases and leaving the opposition begging for mercy. This is exactly why fresh-faced lawyer Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) thinks of it as an honor to serve on Patty's legal team. Patty is about to take on powerful CEO Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), who is accused of making millions of dollars at the expense of underling employees who have lost their security from the collapse of Frobisher's company (Enron anyone?).

However, what Ellen comes to learn, is that working for Patty is no walk in the park. She is a strong-willed woman who plays hardball both in and out of the courtroom. Patty is a woman who does not lose, and she will stop at nothing to keep her good name. This may or may not mean that she pays off the occasional goon to do something illegal for the sake of dominating the legal system. Things become even more complicated when her fianc&#233e (Noah Bean)'s sister becomes entangled in the proceedings as a possible connection to a hot testimony.

Damages is a series that simply cannot be justified in just a couple of synopsis paragraphs. The storyline extends way beyond the basic idea that Patty Hewes is a ball-breaking lawyer who grins devilishly at the sight of heads rolling. The series cleverly resorts to flash-forward storytelling to keep our anticipation at bay. When we first meet Ellen, she is covered in blood and accused of murder. It turns out this is a flash forward that follows the events of the entire season. As we are then re-introduced in Ellen's fresh start in the office of Patty Hewes, it is a wonder how her character ends up with such a drastically different fate. The show's unraveling of plot twists between Point A and Point B is simply intense.

Of course what sticks out the most here are the performances. Glenn Close always comes through, but her performance as Patty Hewes is one of the best of her career. Close has a face that can be soft and trusting one minute, and intimidating and frightening the next. There is not a better choice to play the anti-hero lead that will have us wondering if we are really indeed rooting for her. Ted Danson is also surprisingly terrific here as Arthur Frobisher. Like Patty, his performance is a mixed bag of deceit. He is a good old boy with honest origins who doesn't want his crooked lawyer (Zeljko Ivanek) to do anything illegal or murderous to clear his name. However, his outlook changes after he spontaneously decides to do cocaine off of an expensive hooker which motivates him to place a hit on a courtroom witness.

Willful Acts

This is the general "making of" featurette that primarily focuses on character. Now normally this kind of thing bugs me, but the enigmatic nature of the characters is what gives this show its heart and soul. Listening to the creators describe the characters does not seem repetitious, but seems more like a welcome re-visiting that sheds light on their traits.

Trust No One: Insight from the Creators

The creators of the series sit down to explore their angle on the show such as the legal system, and where it fits into the grand scheme of the world. They also touch upon its themes of corruption and moral choices, and its clever flashback storytelling.

Understanding Class Action

Now I love this kind of thing on DVD's. Viewers are taken into a virtual law library where they can select terminology and law ideas to have them defined by legal experts. This is a perfect companion piece to the series that will clear up any confusion over legal concepts being tossed around.

The DVD also contains very select episode commentaries from cast and creators, and deleted scenes on each disc.

Widescreen. The show has a shadowy appearance to it that really brings out the proper mood in uncovering the corruptness that lurks beneath the legal system we think we know.

5.1 Dolby. The show makes proper use of originally composed music along with creative soundtrack selections. Watch out for the appropriately selected White Stripes song at the end of the pilot.

Three discs come packaged in two slim line cases. These cases are sold in a thick sleeve. Glenn Close is pictured on the front cover with a powerful and mean stare.

The first season of Damages is extremely addictive and impressive, and I am begging for more in its second season. No matter who you think you trust, the show always leaves you wondering if everyone is who they say they are. The best thing is that the series answers these questions, yet leaves a couple of lingering moments that will carry into the second season. This is one of those DVD's that should be purchased and played over the span of a weekend in non-stop, marathon fashion.

Questions? Comments? Just want to talk movies? Drop me a line at dodd@movieweb.com