Review of "Damages"

One thing you have to credit FOX: they know how to promote their shows. Quality may be tough to come by some times, but the previews are exciting, and you know when it starts. Double that for cable-brother FX. If you watched the network at all this year, you would not be able to avoid their three new shows: Dirt, The Riches and Damages. Dirt was uneven to bad. The Riches was a neat little dark gem. That leaves Damages, which debuted last night.

Kaida and I were talking about the buzz around Damages, which stars Glen Close. Kaida opined: "That woman could go to the bathroom and people would applaud." (I threatened to tell people she wanted to watch Glen Close pee, but then relented.)

The point is, everyone knows with Glen Close you're getting ball-busting awesomeness. I'm not sure she can play any other type. (I'm not sure I'd want her to.) Close is powerful New York litigator Patty Hewes, a character that embodies every cliché of a high-priced lawyer you've ever seen, but somehow makes it her own. That's really the beauty of Close, taking a character you'd think would be fairly straightforward and yet somehow making her fresh.

The main character in Damages, though, is Rose Byrne. I have been high on this girl since TROY. I even liked her in WICKER PARK. Physically she's gorgeous, like a muted Jessica Alba. However, Alba can't act like Byrne. This girl can bring it. What I like about her the most is that the big emotion is played with her eyes. She doesn't have to do much for you to watch her, wondering what she's thinking. Byrne's character (hotshot lawyer Ellen Parsons) is the same way.

Okay, so what the heck is going on with this show and why should you watch it? Well, I'm refusing to tell you anything. This is because, like other FX alumni that came before it, Damages is 100 gallons of awesome in a 50-gallon drum. The opening seconds are done differently than I'd expect. The opening scene is quite a bit different too, as far as resolution by the end goes. It's one of those "start at the end go back to the beginning" openings, except they never get back to the end. In fact, I'd wager it will take the entire season to get back to that very first scene. How cool is that?

Damages also features some stellar supporting work. Ted Danson seems to be loving life as a Ken Lay-esque tycoon who sold his employees up the river while he got rich. Tate Donovan does his thing, as does Hall of Fame "that guy" Zeljko Ivanek. (You know; people you could NEVER name but every time they show up you're like, "Oh, THAT guy! I love him!")

Damages impressed the heck out of me, enough that I am totally excited for next week, and I forgave them the one lame plot contrivance added for drama. (When you're watching, ask yourself this: would detectives in a home that might have a murderer leave one room un-checked before they started their investigation?)

It's a quibble. If you get the chance, check out the encores and jump in to what may be the best show of the summer. (Wednesday at 11:00 pm, Thursday at 7:00 pm, Saturday at 12:15 am and 4:00 pm, Sunday at 10:00 pm, Monday at 11:00 pm.)