01.08.2009 10:39 am
‘Damages’: hooked again
St. Louis Post-Dispatch
Rose Byrne as Ellen.
Lots of things about “Damages” annoy me. I think Glenn Close overacts as if she were in a huge theater playing to the back balcony. I find the changing time frames (I know, they’re intended to increase the urgency and suspense) generally manipulative. I rarely feel as if I’m keeping up with the plot. Perhaps all this — the theatricality, the melodrama, the byzantine plotting — is part of the charm, because I’m clearly not going to be able to stop watching.
I was a huge fan of last season. The show kept my attention and paid special attention to detail.
Unfortunately, the show might have jumped the shark going into season 2. Isn’t the FBI going to run into issues entrapping Hewes by bringing a case for her to try? Certainly they or Parsons would know this. Also, won’t their be privileged conversation issues with taping conversations between the two of them? Parsons would also know this.
Why did Frobischer survive, what is this, some kind of 50’s serial where they show the car blow up off the cliff then the next episode, it hasn’t even gone off the cliff yet?
Lastly, shows that rely heavily on dream sequences to create the suspense should have their writers taken out and shot. Its a cop out. Sopranos started jumping the shark when Tony’s dreams would take up entire episodes. All on screen action should be canonical; the entire thing taking place in flashback is a bad enough trick to drum up suspense that does not exist, incessant use of dream sequences is even worse. The viewer isn’t sure what was part of the action and what was some stupid dream.
The only hope I have for the season is the William Hurt sub-plot.
Herb,
I trust nothing on this show. We have never even seen the FBI credentials. Would not Ellen’s tail notice her sulking around with these guys. I buy none of it. I am along for the ride. Last season was crazy with its twists and turns. Last season left Danson’s character gut shot that was all, we were left to think he was dying. I hope they can keep it up as they have already been renewed for a third season.