How thoroughly awesome is Glenn Close? I mean, yes, you already know that if you’ve seen Fatal Attraction or Jagged Edge or pretty much anything she’s ever done (ever), but last night’s second-season premiere of Damages drove the point home for me all over again. (Read Ken Tucker’s A- review here.) And while the story arcs that took center stage look like they’ll actually improve on the already quite good season 1, it was the smaller Patty Hewes moments that brought me the greatest joy. My three favorites? The way Patty glanced downward, like she was about to choke on her own bile, for just a millisecond, when Arsenault began his explanation for pulling funding from her charity with a puffed-up "let me tell you a story…" The way her eyes lit up with evil glee just a few minutes later, after discovering Arsenault’s daughter had earned herself a spot at Yale. "Well that’s quite an accomplishment," Patty cooed, as the initial seeds of the girl’s downfall were sown. And then, of course, there were her completely insincere instructions to Uncle Pete that he quit spying on Ellen, which ended with my favorite line of the night. "Fine. Watch her. I’m concerned about her well-being." (Ha!) Yes, Patty might be troubled by the memories of trying to have her young associate killed off, but since everyone’s still breathing and (semi-)functioning, might as well stay on top of their exact whereabouts and motivations.
Of course, if Ellen’s being followed, maybe she shouldn’t be holdingall her meetings with those federal agents in parked vehicles,sometimes in broad daylight. How long before Patty gets wind of herprotégé’s traitorous intentions? And what will she do to make her pay?Then again, given last night’s starting point of Ellen holding someone– Patty? Frobisher? One of the feds? The stalker dude from griefcounseling? — at gunpoint, and presumably bound and gagged (sincethere was no responding/struggling/escaping going on), it looks like ourlittle law associate might be gaining the upper hand as the seasonprogresses. And I was glad to see Rose Byrne, while alarmingly thin,seems to have exponentially increased the number of facial expressionsin her repertoire. I gave her grief for too many blank stares lastseason, but this episode, Byrne was able to hold her own alongsidethe rest of the heavyweight cast, particularly during that scene whereEllen passive aggressively questions Patty’s intentions for startingthe children’s hunger charity. That said, do power attorneys reallywear sleeveless blouses with giant bows at the neck (not the one pictured here, BTW)? Legalprofessionals, weigh in!
Speaking of the show’s all-star cast, I loved seeing Ted Danson’sFrobisher bed-bound and incapacitated, but still grotesquely scheming.(Asking his nurse to reinsert unnecessary nose tubes to garner sympathywith his wife? Day-um!) I was not as pleased, however, to see theterrific Zeljko Ivanek (who completely deserved his Emmy last season)return in a macabre and kinda silly flashback/daydream sequence. Ninety-nine percent ofthe time, I think it’s cheap and stuntish to bring back deceased TVcharacters, and seeing good ole’ Ray Fiske taunt Patty from the beyonddid nothing to change my mind. As far as newcomers go, William Hurt wasquietly effective in a role I expect will get bigger throughout theseason (given his wife’s brutal murder!), while Timothy Olyphant was creepy/sexy as Ellen’s stalker/loveinterest. If I have to quibble, though, if adude from your therapy group (the one for folks who’ve lost loved onesin violent ways) learned your last name and how to find you on anyrandom weeknight in Manhattan, wouldn’t you call the cops rather than engage him in a discussionon whether/how to purchase illegal firearms?
Anyhow, I leave it to you guys to discuss the remainder of theextremely packed premiere. But I do have to give a shout-out to Patty’sterse "Except for the vagina" as the episode’s best line. Also: Dohospital doors have locks on the inside? And which made you giddier:Patty’s victorious appearance with Regis and Kelly or Ellen’s bloodyrevenge fantasy about Frobisher? Reveal all, people!
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I thought Damages would lose some of it’s first season luster. Wow, was I wrong. Slezak already highlighted a lot of my favorite things about the premiere. I will give mad props to Rose Byrne though. She’s really stepped up her game. I can’t wait to find out who’s on the other end of her gun muzzle. She really does need to eat though. She’s dangerously close to Lara Flynn Boyle territory.
The episode was amazing. I thought the hallucination was terrific because Glenn Close was (naturally) terrific. I love this show.
This show rules. Captivating from the 1st scene to the last. I agree whole-heartedly w/ the review & look forward to another great season with Patty & Co. Please don’t let them kill my Glenn Close.
I have to confess, I loathed the Regis and Kelly bit, which went on far too long. Yes, it was supposed to show the star quality of Patty, but it is extremely unlikely that R&K would have an attorney on the show. It was silly, unnecessary, and completely took me out of the show. Other than that, I thought the episode was fantastic, and has me eager to see more!
Yay — we have Slezak! So far, I’m happy with how this season looks like it will go. You’re right about Rose Byrne, she’s actually starting to seem like she may belong in this cast, and she does need a few cookies. As for what power attorneys wear — Patty Hewes was right on the money, Ellen wasn’t completely off. Generally, if you want to know what female big firm associates wear just flip through a Banana Republic catalogue. Oh, and a serious shout out to whoever is currently styling Glenn Close’s hair. Fantastic!
This show deserves the full-on EW TV Watch treatment. Great premiere! Love how the new characters mesh so seamlessly with the regular cast (Timothy Olyphant = YUM). Wish Rose Byrne would eat something, though.
I seriously wish everyone would drop the weight comments about Ellen. She’s not sleeping, and under extreme mental stress over everything that’s going on in her life.
Loved this episode. Loved the dream of Ellen killing Furbisher. I was really surprised she didn’t confront him in the hospital room. Not kill him–just confront. I’m sure their paths will meet again. Love Glenn Close. She’s fierce. I’m really excited that W. Hurt has joined the cast, it can only get better. I do agree, how long will Ellen be able to meet with these detectives w/o being seen/caught? So Patty was lying about the guy coming for her instead of Ellen, right? B/c I remember she was on the phone with the old guy, he’s like her right hand man, and he said it was done…I guess she’s playing mind games with her. Or just wanted to play it safe. I’m wondering too who is it that she shoots in the forward flash. Will it be Furbisher or Patty? or someone else altogether? Can’t wait!
Compared to the savagely compelling season opener last year, I thought this one was kinda slow and boring. Still, looking forward to future shows. Why are reviewers so hard on Rose Byrne? I think she’s terrific — not as good as Glenn Close, but who is?
I think that Timothy Olyphant’s charachter is a plant who is spying on Ellen and will be at the end of that gun. Glenn close and Ted Danson are too predictable.
I have to agree, loved Glenn’s hair, hated the Regis and Kelly bit and not sure who is in front of Ellen’s gun! Damages is off to a great second season.
Why do people say “she needs to eat” about someone who is on the thinner side? I look exactly like this woman – but shorter in height probably – and I eat regularly and mostly fast food, tv dinners and the occasional big meal with steak and whatnot. I’ve just always looked like this and yes, occasionally get the same kind of ignorant comments about needing to eat. Do you all not realize that is hurtful? You are more or less claiming thinner people are starving themselves or making themselves sick other ways.
Now, as for Damages – I still have the pilot episode sitting in my iTunes from a year ago. Sounds like I need to get to it and catch up. I am always hearing wonderful things about this series.
Did you really need to get so much “work” done, Glenn? OK. Just don’t go the “Sally Field route,” with regular touch-ups.
On the subject of Ellen’s wardrobe: as a law student, I can say that lawyers, especially lawyers who work at firms, wear suits or business casual at the least. The wardrobe people should remember Ellen is not a fashion editor. I found her clothes distracting. And does Ellen’s hairstyle have to change in every scene? She’s looking like too much of a Hollywood star and not enough of a young lawyer. Also, I think Rose Byrne has lost half her body weight since she was in the movie Troy.
The show is great, but I think it has lost a little of its mystery from the first season. Last season, I always felt a little off, a little confused, a little in the dark. This season seems a little more straightforward.
“And I was glad to see Rose Byrne, while alarmingly thin”…..I noticed also!
It was Perfectly Patty when she sabatoged Arsenault’s daughter, then feigned concern. She was able to get top billing on the naming rights AND he gave twice as much money! How do you learn to be that conniving??
Question: do you think the Yale girl really did do coke or did Patty’s son plant it on her?
I agree with Gina and everyone else who is saying “let’s STOP talking about the girls weight”. I’m starting to think that the problem with society is that people hate to see someone skinner than themselves. Just because someone is skinny, it does not mean that they “need to eat”. They may not have an eating problem, they may just be thin…have you ever considered that?? If its not ok to talk about fat people being fat, why on earth would anyone think its ok to talk about skinny people being thin?
Anyway, I think this season might actually be good. It looks like they have a really good cast and plot.
Sorry if this is posted below – I didn’t have time to read all:
Daniel (W.Hurt) has to be the father of Patty’s daughter Julia. What other connection would he have to her to make her feel compelled to help him? The connections to her children are the only true human connections she has. Everyone else is just a pawn.
Was I wrong in assuming that Ellen actually sent the letter to Frobisher’s hospital, posing as his wife and promising a visit, so that the staff would permit her to enter his hospital room without too many questions? If that’s correct, then I thought that leaving before he awoke was masterful, as it’s likely to screw with Frobisher’s head that his “wife” came to visit, but didn’t actually stay to speak with him.
Arsenault’s daughter definitely did coke. Patty’s son just helped her figure out when would be a good time to bust her with it. The whole “it was the first time she ever did anything like it” was definitely a lie.
Well I loved the kick-off for Season 2. I have to say, for me, it seemed far-fetched that a show like Regis & Kelly would have on someone like Patty Hewes.
Does anyone know when Season 1 will be available on DVD? Glenn looks great, I noticed that she no longer has that neck waddle going on. Ellen has such an emotionless face. I guess it is good for her character though.
I agree that the guy from grief counseling group is a plant from Patty..
hmm….i’m not trying to nitpick, but wasn’t Glenn’s hair really long for it to have only been a month since last season? i noticed it in the flashback of her getting into her car and telling Ellen that everything would be okay. her hair was at least 2 inches shorter and certainly not as thick.
Sonja, Season 1 has been out on DVD for a while now.
Love the show and the cast additions!
Two Oscar winners and noone does slightly creepy like Timothy Olyphant.
As for Rose, she did seem to hold her own this season, but I completely agree: her outfits and alarmingly thin arms are distracting!
(Sigh) Yes, Gina and Marie, we’re all just jealous of the skinny girls out there. The reason everyone’s commenting on RB’s stick figure-like status is because she most definitely was NOT that thin last season. Is it because we’re supposed to see Ellen as numb and grieving (and therefore not eating as much), or is it because RB has followed in the footsteps of Courteney Cox, Jennifer Anniston and the entire female cast of the new 90210 and become alarmingly thin for the sake of Hollywood standards? I get that some people have a naturally high metabolism. I used to until I hit 30 and now I have to watch what I eat a bit more. But for someone who was thin to begin with to drop a few MORE pounds…well it does leave you wondering.
I think that William Hurt’s character was the father to the baby that Patty buried when she was young. I also think that the stalker dude is working for Patty in some capacity!
You guys please shut up about the ladies weight. Ellen looks great. Ellen’s weight goes well with her character. She is a depressed young woman who has just lost the love of her life. She feels betrayed, alone and nothing and nobody can feel this void she feels at this point in her life. Again, Ellen looks great, her weight goes well with her character. Glenn looks great. I am a young attorney, Ellen shirt is not an issue.I wear sleeveless dress shirts all the time. When I am in court, I wear jacket over my shirt. What is the deal??
O MY GOSH!!! I was soooo thinking the same thing about the lock on the hospital door. I know that our bathrooms The room doors have no locks. That would be THE most ridiculous thing! How many times have I walked into a room and a patient was passed out? Or in trouble? If the door were locked and something happened to the patient… if a real hospital actually has locks on the doors… well…
ok somehow i managed to erase part of that message. Our hospital bathrooms in the patient rooms have locks, but they are unlockable from both sides.