Writer: Various
Director: Various
Cast: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Noah Bean, Ted Danson, Zeljko Ivanek, Tate Donovan
Rating: Not Rated
Studio: Sony Pictures
Release Date: January 29, 2008

FX is seriously becoming the home of the best original series on network television. The problem is that with all the amazing shows that are coming out, so few of them are being noticed right away. I know in my own case, I was not aware of many of the shows they have until I had a chance to review them. Once I did, I was hooked almost immediately.

Of all of the shows on FX I have seen though, Damages takes the cake! Addictive from start to finish, Damages has a solid storyline, a star studded cast, and everything necessary to build a hit show. Despite having a quiet first season, the show has been signed for additional seasons and the star of the show, Glenn Close, has walked away with a Golden Globe.

The first season may have 13 episodes, but it only took one to have me hooked. I had to know what was going to happen. I became increasingly thankful with each episode that I had the box set, because I don’t know how I would have waited each week to see the next episode. This series is fantastic in nearly every way and as you continue reading you will learn just what makes it so fantastic.

Release Information:
Damages was released as the complete first season on DVD January 29, 2008. The set was put out by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Currently there is no word as to when season two is set to begin, due to the writer’s strike. However, the show should be back for a second season in the fall or possibly even before thanks to the strike coming to an end. The set includes three discs, which offer all 13 episodes and special features. You can pick this up at Amazon and all major retailers for $34.99.

The Damages: The Complete First Season Plot
Damages takes us through the life of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close). Hewes is a high powered litigator in New York City and she is involved in one of the biggest and trickiest class action lawsuits that has ever occurred. The lawsuit is against one corporate machine known as Arthur Forbisher (Ted Danson).

Frobisher is a CEO that may or may not have defrauded over 5,000 employees out of their pensions. While not criminally liable, Hewes is certain that she can prove that Frobisher is liable in a civil sense. She will do anything she can to bring Frobisher down, but there is always the question of the motive involved. Is Patty interested in the money, her clients, or does she just want to bring another man to his knees? From the looks of things, in various degrees, it could be all three.

In order to seal the case, Hewes has a small team that helps her get the job done. Her right hand man is Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan). He is an asset because he makes it quite clear that he will do anything that Patty needs. Tom is given the task of working with the newbie on the team, Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). Parsons is a hard worker; fresh to the legal world, who learns daily how to sacrifice her sweet personality to become harder-faced and less morally inclined. It takes a lot to be an attorney like Patty Hewes. This season we will learn just how bad Ellen Parsons wants that.

The absolute beauty of Damages is that it is a well written tapestry of ups and downs. In other television season reviews I would reveal favorite episodes and plotlines. With Damages, I fear that revealing too much will take you further than a review needs to take you. Part of the extreme beauty of this addicting show is giving in to the pleasure of peeling the onion. There are so many layers and all I can truly tell you is that nothing is ever quite what it seems, but the torture of not knowing has never felt so good.

The acting does a beautiful job of fueling the story and making things even more interesting. It is easy to see how Close not only grabbed a nomination for the Golden Globes, but won, as well. Meanwhile, Byrne is absolutely stunning. She stole the show with her passion and intensity. Meanwhile, Danson is disturbing as the ticking time bomb Frobisher.

Of course, all of the actors really do a wonderful job. Zeljko Ivanek delivers a powerful performance as the tortured and confused attorney of Frobisher, Ray Fiske. Noah Bean, who had a much smaller role in comparison to some, gave a wonderful performance as Parsons’ fiancé, David Connor. Anastasia Griffith, Philip Bosco, and Peter Riegert also give standout performances that deserve to be mentioned.

Damages starts out strong and ends on an amazing note. There is little, if any, weak spots in this series. The intensity level remained high throughout the show, which is rare, especially in television. However, Damages makes it look easy. The biggest problem that you might have when watching this is the morality issue. Shades of black and white do not exist and even the shades of grey are often tinted to be darker, offering a higher agenda and another level of imperfection by the characters.

Storyline/Plot:
Replayability:
Acting:
Directing:

Audio/Visual:
The video and audio for Damages is absolutely fabulous. The video is presented in the same quality that was used for the television viewings. Using 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen allows you to see the best of everything the show has to offer. The video is crisp, vibrant, and free of any noticeable flaws.

The audio is just as stellar as the video. The audio comes in the form of Dolby Digital 5.1 and it booms to life almost immediately. The music offers that throbbing pulse and dialogue that is clean and easy to understand at all times. There are no flaws in the audio track. You would be hard pressed to find a better audio and visual presentation in a box set, of this quality.

Visual:
Audio:

Bonus Features:
There are quite a few special features here in this three disc set. For starters, there are two audio commentaries. The first is with the creators of the show, Glenn Close, and the director. This commentary is on the pilot episode. The other is on “I Hate These People”, episode 11, and includes Todd and Glenn Kessler, Zeljko Ivanek, and Daniel Zelman. On the first and second discs there is a total of six deleted scenes.

The third disc holds the last three episodes and a slew of bonus features. There are several trailers for movies including, Across the Universe, The Jane Austen Book Club, We Own the Night, Rescue Me, Close Encounters of the Third Kind: Ultimate Edition, and This Christmas. Other features include some behind the scenes goodies, though I have to admit I love how all things are marked with spoiler warnings, where appropriate. There is a 23 minute featurette, “Willful Acts: The Making of Damages”, a 13 minute featurette, “Trust No One: Insight from the Creators of Damages”, and an interactive guide that is mean to help you understand class action lawsuits.

Bonus Features:

Bottom Line:
The complete first season of Damages is a must see. In fact, if you buy one DVD box set this year it should be this show. Offering a fresh concept to a scenario that has been presented before (the courtroom drama), Damages is fresh, funky, and will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat begging for more. While you wait for seasons two and three, there is no better option than this box set to keep you satisfied. This comes highly recommended so if you haven’t seen it, you definitely should.

Overall Rating:

Technorati Tags: Sony Home Entertainment, Damages, The Complete First Season, Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, FX Network, Drama, Law, Mystery, TV on DVD, DVD Review, Box Set

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