Damages returns to BBC One for its third-season – and fans will be pleased that the show has not taken its foot off the intrigue pedal. The show follows ruthless defence lawyer, Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), as she pursues masterful criminals who have made the lives of millions a living hell. Coming off the back of the previous two seasons, it also follows Patty’s protégé, Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), who has left Patty’s law firm but still continues to play a pivotal role in the plot. The other main character, Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan), was Patty’s fellow lawyer throughout the first two seasons but has now become Patty’s business partner. Anyway. More of that later…
This season sees Patty tackling her biggest nemesis yet – that of the corrupt, yet likeable, Tobin family. Patty has been hired by the US government to recover money from the family who have spearheaded the biggest false investment campaign in Wall Street history – which, over the past few decades, has scammed American families out of 70 billion dollars. Starting the episode, a lovely stylish montage of clips puts together the story of the previous two series.
We see that Patty’s protégé, Ellen, is working for the District Attorney’s office – the prosecution side of things. The clips make it quite clear that the two are, therefore, on opposing sides and are bound to conflict soon enough. Flashing-forward six-months (in the typical Damages non-linear storytelling), Patty is involved in a car accident. We learn that the car which has hit her is registered to Tom Shayes – her partner. Yet he’s been found dead by the docks. So, how could he crash? Who had the car? And what is with a $3,000 Chanel handbag that keeps being mentioned? In the typical secretive style, nothing is revealed. (Though I think I’ve worked it out already).
The first episode sees Patty preparing the case against the Tobin family – through co-operation with the son in the family, Joe Tobin. Unlike his father, he wants to do the right thing and believes that working with Patty is the answer. But, had he watched the first two-seasons, he’d realise that Patty is the female embodiment of Satan and should never, ever be trusted. Although my summation of the plot has been brief, is has to be. That is all that happened. Flash-forwards reveal bits and pieces, and flashbacks reveal bits and pieces.
But this show uses the non-linear technique to infuriatingly good effect, so there’s not really much to gauge from one episode alone. You have to watch the whole series and then, after the final credits have stopped rolling, piece the story together yourself. However, this is a blessing and a curse.
Fans of the show have become familiar with it. The consistent plot twists and unexpected events keep the intense drama flowing.
However, the problem with the show can be summed up by a remark from my flatmate. He’d never seen it before, but sat down with a beer to try and become involved. He lasted ten-minutes. I had to keep explaining who was who, what they do, who they work for. Then he said: “It’s really not gripping me. It’s quite an exclusive story. I can’t watch it because I never have.” And he’s right. As much as the non-linear tactic works, it doesn’t for everyone. That’s not because some of the audience are stupid or idle, but because the links and references to the previous seasons are so complex that a new viewer will find it difficult – if not impossible – to become involved. This, therefore, puts Damages in quite a pretentious position. It does not reach out to new viewers as much as, say, CSI or House. And while it may be argued that these shows are just simpler affairs altogether, at least their viewing figures improve year-on-year. They must be doing something right.
Damages is fast becoming a dead fish – and that’s a reality I don’t like to face. The first season pulled in some six-million viewers in the US. The second failed to pull in half that amount. And the third? Well, many once-avid fans had given up altogether, with the season premiere pulling just over a million figures. It was once claimed that Damages had definitely been extended to a five-season run at the bare minimum. All of a sudden, that claim has vanished has quickly as peoples’ interest in it.
This first episode was gripping and a good sign of things to come. The acting is perfect; the writing is sharp; the direction is sublime. But it all seems a little empty with no pretext. I wanted to write into this article a summary of the previous seasons. But I simply cannot do it. The word count has mounted up to 800 words here already and it will need another load like this to sum up the story until now. So, I’ve had to write another blog entry explaining the characters and the plot.
There is the problem. The characters are too cold, complex and deep to simply describe. The story is too intricate, intertwined and broad to summarise. Overall then, the show is, simply, too confusing for the untrained eye. While the show is as clever as The Sopranos, and as unpredictable as House, it’s not as consistent or as inviting.
But do I love it? Yes, I do. But then I – like the characters in the show – am already under Patty’s spell…
Damages: Season three trailer -
by Ashley Scrace