Image Credit: David Russell/DirecTV
When Damages debuted on FX in 2007, I was fully prepared to love it. I tuned in to the premiere to see what the buzz was all about, and the show impressed me immensely. Glenn Close and Rose Byrne were superb as dueling lawyers, the story was gripping, and the production was impressive. I thought I had found my new Lost, but my excitement proved to be short-lived. As the weeks went on, my enthusiasm for the legal thriller quickly waned, and I quit watching after about a month.
You see, Damages just got too dang complicated for basic cable! Everyone started spying on everyone else, and a dozen characters were dying and spilling secrets every episode, and though the dialogue and acting remained top-notch throughout, I had no idea what was going on. Keeping track of the complex plot lines and characters (most of whom are rather nondescript suit-wearing businessmen) week-to-week was a chore, and even the commercial breaks were long enough to confuse me. Damages, with its layered, flash-forwarding structure, was just a tough show to watch on TV. Perhaps that’s why the ratings fell every season it played on FX (the show has now been shifted over to DirecTV, where the fourth season will premiere on July 13).
But I recently rediscovered the legal drama on DVD, and I am so glad that I did. Watching Damages is an entirely different experience without the commercials and long waits for answers. When played back-to-back, episodes of Damages feel like part of an expertly crafted mystery film. The story flows smoothly from episode to episode, and minor players that only appear for an episode or two don’t cause so much head-scratching. Cliffhangers get answered quickly, and the complicated story arcs are much easier to follow when viewed in close proximity to one another.
Basically, Damages is sensational DVD-viewing. I can’t stop watching it! (Or tweeting about it!) I started the first season just four days ago, and I’m already well into the third. Is that embarrassing? (Answer: No.)
What about you, PopWatchers? Have you ever given up on a TV show, only to rediscover it on DVD later?
Read more:
‘Damages’ sneak peek: War and (a sleazy?) John Goodman — EXCLUSIVE VIDEO
‘Damages’: Watch the season 4 teaser — VIDEO
‘Damages’ casting scoop: Chris Messina joins web of intrigue when show debuts on DirecTV
Yeah… Lost. I got kinda frustrated in the very beginning and never finished the first season. Then a friend had the DVD set and I ended up getting really sucked in right before the second season began. I ended up becoming a full blown “Lostie” just in time for the second season premier.
I actually tuned out on 30 Rock and am now playing catch up on Netflix.
Curb Your Enthusiasm (though re-runs pulled me in and DVD’s caught me up)
I saw Damages 1 on DVD, and loved it. I was so excited for Season 2, then halfway through the season, I lost interest. Maybe it’s time to rent Season 2 DVD.
LOST well, lost me when it was first on TV. Then I spent an entire week of 8 hour days catching up on DVDs and my emotional psyche has never been the same since.
I just finished season 1. It’s in the Instant Play on NetFlix.
Oh, and the same thing can be said for The Shield.
Mad Men and Breaking Bad.
Entourage……didn’t get it in the begining but someone got me the dvds of season one and everything clicked so I became a huge fan.
Avatar: The Last Airbender!!!!
THIS!
I think I enjoy that show more than my 8 year old daughter.
To clarify: I enjoy the show more than my 8 year old daughter enjoys it. Not “I prefer the show to my 8 year old daughter”
I find this is true with a lot of shows with how crazy the tv schedules are now where sometimes there are weeks between new episodes. One stand out was Grey’s a couple seasons back where I gave up because it felt like a storyline I hated was eating up the whole season, but let the episodes build up on my Tivo. I got bored during the summer and decided to see whether it was worth catching up. I found that when I could watch the episodes back to back the unbearable storyline actually only lasted a few episodes but had occurred during the holidays where you get an episode before Thanksgiving, then nothing in December, a couple new in January and then have to wait for sweeps. I find that’s true with a lot of shows now where I’m willing to let them build up on my Tivo so I can watch more at a time rather trying to remember what is happening because it’s been so long since a new episode was on. I’m sad a show like Dexter is only on for like 12 weeks, but at least you get back to back new episodes and it keeps me hooked.
Amazing Race, and Survivor.
Well, this is pre-DVD, but “Buffy.” It sounded stupid to me when it premiered, but then I started dating someone who really liked it so I started watching it – in season 6. I kind of liked it, but it wasn’t until I set my VCR (an ancient technology for you kids out there) and recorded old episodes off of FX on VHS tapes that I really got hooked. Now I’m a full-fledged citizen of the Whedon-verse.
This happened with me with FRINGE. I thought (and still think) the pilot and first few episodes were lackluster…stopped watching, but caught up on DVD when friends kept telling me how good the show was.
Agreed! The pilot bored me to tears, but a friend kept insisting I’d enjoy it, so I gave it a chance on DVD. Now, it’s my favorite show on TV!
Yep, same with me. I watched the first few episodes, enjoyed it, but there was so much else on at that time period I gave it up. Now that everyone talks about how brilliant it is, I am catching up with it and loving it.
Me as well. I gave up on Fringe halfway through the first season, but have gone back and rediscovered it, and now I’m completely hooked.
Same. I watched the entire pilot and second episode then quite watching. It was only when I happened to see the episode “Grey Matter” on TV that I went back and started it over again. It’s my favorite running show right now.
Two geeky sci-fi shows for me: Deep Space Nine and Battlestar Galactica (new one).
Wow, why oh why did it take me so long to pick up on these two. They’re seriously great.
Deep Space Nine leaves Enterprise and Voyager in the dust. So good, and it’s great to see on DVD (soon on Netflix) since it was impossible to find on my local affiliate when it aired.
Also, marathoned Mad Men before season 3 started. Been hooked since.
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