Academic

Damages

By Tim Zinnecker

The FX drama, ?Damages,? wrapped up its second season last week.  The series stars actress Glenn Close as litigator Patty Hewes, a lawyer revered by some, reviled by many.  Last year the series was built around her class action lawsuit against corporate titan Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson) for allegedly violating securities laws.  This year Patty faced an FBI investigation while at the same time mounting a lawsuit against energy corporation Ultima National Resources for allegedly violating environmental laws and manipulating the energy markets.

Maybe it?s just me, but I enjoyed the first season much more than this season.  I thought actor John Doman portrayed UNR?s chief executive officer Walter Kendrick as convincingly despicable, and I?ll never look at SNL funny-guy Darrell Hammond the same way.  But UNR?s general counsel Claire Maddox (Marcia Gay Harden) and her lover (and, critical to the storyline, a scientist, a widower, a possible killer, and the father of Patty?s son) Daniel Purcell (William Hurt) were less believing.  And I thought this year?s season included way too many subplots (e.g., Patty?s husband?s sexual and investment activities, Patty?s son?s romance with a considerably older woman, Uncle Pete?s attempted suicide and death, etc.). 

So I?ll offer five (unsolicited) suggestions on how to improve the show for the third season:

1.  Give us more legal drama and less human drama.  Showcase Patty?s talents as a top-notch litigator.  The show crackles best when she?s on the screen.

2.  Shine the spotlight more often on Patty?s partner, Tom Shays (Tate Donovan).  Put his moral compass to the test by asking him to frequently wrestle with some of Patty?s demands.  (Hey, Patty.  Quit firing Tom in a huff when you can?t easily manipulate him.)   

3.  Ditch Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne).  Kill her.  Fire her.  Convince her to move laterally.  Give her a teaching gig.  But I?m tired of her whiny pouty countenance.  She?s dragging the show.

4.   Bring back lawyer Ray Fiske (Zeljko Ivanek).  Yes, I know he blew his brains out in the first season.  But maybe he has a twin, Roy?

5.  Give us a character we might actually like!  Suggestion: senior partner Hollis Nye (Philip Bosco).  Weave him into more episodes.  Consider making him Patty?s foil next season.

Other suggestions?

Full post as published by The Faculty Lounge on April 06, 2009 (boomark / email).