“Damages” — Sort of Like A Family
I missed recapping last week’s episode, which in hindsight was a mistake as the hour was so absolutely jam-packed with plot and reveals it might have been a high water mark for the series. I suppose this is to be expected. Being the ninth of thirteen episodes dramatically, the series reached that emotional climax. From here on the story will unravel to its inevitable conclusion (a conclusion that is still a mystery at this point, but which is quickly approaching). The brilliance in last Tuesday’s episode came a lot from the editing, and the jumping around on the timeline. This week, things were much more straightforward, though obviously building upon the events that had just transpired. More after the jump…
The big moment this week was the taped deposition Frobisher gave. He was fully prepared going in, but ultimately cracked when Patty started needling away at his imminent divorce (a fact she was not suppose to know). Again, this is an episode that belongs completely to Danson. Watching him go from complete control to complete rage over the hour is probably the most fun you will have watching a man act this week (well, until Friday Night Lights premieres its second season on Friday). Still, the man is a master. It’s a shame none of us knew this until recently.
The stuff with Ellen I found forgettable as I often do, despite it being integral to the overall murder mystery that we’re suppose to be solving. I guess that highlights the biggest problem with the series for me. I love the Frobisher litigation trial and all of the twists and turns surrounding it, but I just can’t get too excited about who killed Ellen’s husband and why she was framed for his murder. By the finale it seems we’ll learn the two cases are one in the same, though at this point we don’t know how and we don’t know why (but we do know Patty has blood on her slipper). Still, I’m not excited.
What I like about Damages is how it takes something as boring as insider trading and turns it into a mystery of lies, intrigue and dead witnesses. I love how all that is on the line for Frobisher is money and pride. This is fascinating on television. You never see a legal show of any consequence dealing with anything outside of life and death. Power though, is far more intriguing.
What set aside the murder-mystery elements last week and made them resonate dramatically was the style in which that story is being told. The editing was sharp and the clues were revealed sparingly. This week that plot was just a few scenes that played out very straightforward. It delivers the clues, but not the thrills. Setting the framework of the present through a filtered lens allows the creators to take artistic choices that may be more off-beat and edgy. Not taking those chances when you can seems a bit of a cop-out.
