Very curious to see what you all thought of last night's premiere of Damages on FX.You can read my original review of Damages' pilot episode from back in June here, but I'm curious to know what you, my faithful readers, thought of the legal thriller's first installment.
Do you agree that Damages can be described as The Firm meets Murder One? Were you riveted by Glenn Close's performance as the so-determined-she's-deranged Patty Hewes? Did you believe Rose Byrne's Ellen was as ambitious as everyone makes her out to be?
And what, pray tell, did you all think of that gasp out loud ending?
Talk back here.
Comments
While I don't normally like flashbacks (or forwards), I thought the editing helped move the story along and keep it taut. There were no useless "passport" scenes, and the viewer was asked to keep up, rather than being coddled.
As for the reveal, I'd just finished telling my wife how glad I was Close is playing her character as ambitious but human. Then the big reveal dropped, and while it was fun(?), I was a bit disappointed that she's "that" kind of character. (I didn't think she was deranged until then.) Still, I'm pleased that the writers didn't think I was stupid enough to need a flashback to tell me what the "souvenir" meant.
Here's hoping it's not canceled in August.
I love Glenn Close, but I don't know if I am yet sold on Rose Byrne. She certainly doesn't have that magnetism that, say, Tom Cruise had in the Firm, where you got why she was so wanted, but then again - she was only wanted because they needed her bf's sister (but then again - clearly she is wanted, as witnessed by her big offer from Philip Bosco at the beginning, so....I still think she's a little disappointing).
Only other big complaint was Zjelko's ridiculous accent. Poor guy didn't get the memo that this wasn't "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil - The Series"
I liked Rose Byrne, yet I'm not sure I buy her in the role. Ellen seems too naive to be this brilliant attorney we are suppose to believe she is (she was courted by another prestigious firm). And while I was actually happy to find out it was the fiance who was killed(the actor lacked screen presence and chemistry with Rose/Ellen), the pilot of 'Alias' immediately jumped to mind with the striking similarity to the murder of Syd's fiance.
This is an example of where the trend of having British and Aussie actors (Byrne's Australian) portraying Americans has it's shortcomings.
The direction and production values are first rate. Beyond that, Glenn Close and Ted Danson eat up every scene in which they play a part. (It should be a real contest when the two of them eventually appear together and share some dialogue.)
The character I'm not as sold on is played by Rose Byrne. She plays the brilliant young Ellen who enjoys a special aptitude for the variety of unscrupulous ambition that Patti Hewes has turned into a high art form.
However, as of now I'm not a believer.
Ellen figures out the obvious when it occurs to her that Hewes had an ulterior motive for hiring her, and then she allows herself to be dissuaded from what that character should be certain of.
So far it hasn't worked to characterize Ellen sequentially as a bright young innocent, and then as someone so devious and determined that Hewes respects her. So far, it's far easier to see the bright young innocent, than the meaner and more substantial stuff of which Hewes is made.