The 1st season of “Damages”, a TV show on the FX channel, starring Glenn Close, along with a group of other good actors, has been terrific.
It took me awhile to figure out whether I really liked this show or not, but, I kept returning to it every Tuesday night. I finally had to admit that I loved it – I just didn’t like the characters. Initially, it seemed to be a murder mystery with a side bar about a crusading lawyer, Close, against a big corporate honcho played by Ted Danson, (he is not being the guy from “Cheers” in this show) who cheated his employees, is maybe involved with company stock shenanigans, etc.
But, over time, it is revealed that there are no white hat/black hat scenarios going on. All the major characters are so smart, so devious, so manipulative and so dishonest, – all done with a half smile. Meanness and intrigue can be so addictive. It’s like watching a bunch of snakes in a barrel. Like seeing an accident and not being able to turn away, no matter how gory.
An apparently simple class action suit has escalated into a complicated, evil conspiracy amongst all these “A” personality types. It sort of undercuts your faith in your fellow human beings (who said, “If you’re looking for loyalty, get a dog”?) Anyway, “Damages” is not “fun, family” TV, but it is excellent TV.
As cable loves to do, there will probably be repeats of all 13 episodes in some sort of weekend marathon event and I will probably watch.
I’ll want to see the wreckage again.