Damages: Season 4

As I was organizing my DVDs and Blu-rays in folders, I realized I needed seasons four and five of this incredible series. I found season four for a great price. Thrilled with the purchase.

After three seasons on basic cable's FX channel, Glenn Close's brilliant legal drama was given a new lease on life when DirectTV picked it up for a fourth season. The ensuing season was not quite as dramatically gripping as earlier ones but still well above the level of most network television.Damages tells the story of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), a highly successful plaintiff's attorney who specializes in massive class actions against scummy fat cat corporate defendants. Each season, the show focuses on one single major case, but, although it's a legal drama, the show almost never goes inside the courtroom. Instead, we see Hewes and her opponents taking depositions, making settlement offers, and preparing themselves for trials that never actually ensue.Patty Hewes is an antiheroic force of nature, just as ruthless as her corporate adversaries and driven by an almost fanatic will to win. Although she often says she's in this for her clients, in reality, it's her own inner demons (that the show gradually reveals) that drive her. The show's other main character is Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), a younger attorney originally hired as an associate by Patty, but who winds up to a certain extent following in Patty's footsteps. The difference between what Patty does and what Ellen does not always choose to do, as well as the sometimes bitter rivalry/friendship that develops between the two, is the show's dramatic center.In the fourth season, Ellen meets a former high school friend Chris Sanchez (Chris Messina), who is now an Afghan war vet with a bad case of PTSD. Sanchez was most recently employed by Highstar, a Blackwater-like defense contractor. His last mission went badly wrong, killing three members of his squad and leaving him an emotional mess. Ellen is convinced that Highstar was responsible for both Sanchez' condition and the other men's death and brings a lawsuit, but her current firm drops the case and she goes to Patty for help. As the season goes on, both the CEO of Highstar, John Goodman, and a shadowy operative who was involved in their dirty work, Dylan Baker, try to stop the lawsuit.The DirectTV version of Damages has the same high quality writing and ensemble acting as the FX version, but the season is only ten episodes of about 50 minutes each (as opposed to 13 in the first three seasons). The reduced running time means that the story line is somewhat more streamlined, so that there is considerably less of the intricate jumping around in time and place that became the show's trademark. In addition, there are fewer supporting characters and subplots than before. Most viewers will be able to guess the key plot twists well in advance. The show does benefit from being free of basic cable censorship restrictions, with some nudity and a fair amount of profanity (although somewhat less of both than you'd likely see on an HBO series).We don't see as much of Patty's and Ellen's emotional development as we did in former seasons, and Ellen in particular seems willing to cut Patty a lot of emotional slack in her desire to see justice for her clients. Fortunately for viewers, this season offers juicy supporting turns for Goodman and Baker. Goodman's CEO is equal parts right wing patriot, religious zealot, and loving single father to four boys. Baker is genuinely creepy in a role that rivals his recurring guest appearances on The Good Wife.All in all, the fourth season is a welcome addition to the series. Close, Byrne, and the writers are not just going through the motions to milk a few more dollars out of a fading show. Instead, the central story line is as solid as ever, lacking only a little of the glitz and depth, which is primarily a function of the reduced length of the season. Damages is still one of the best television dramas around.

Damages continues on after being canceled by FX and is taken up by Direct TV for Season 4. As observed by others the quality wasn't quite as good as 1-3 but still engaging enough. The target of our protagonists Patty Hewes (excellent Glenn Close) NYC ruthless attorney and her off again/on again associate Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) is a private military security company (think Blackwater or Custer-Battles) and their CEO Howard Erickson (a miscast John Goodman). An old high school boyfriend of Ellen's is a contractor for the company named High Star and is suffering PTSD symptoms after an off the books illegal mission goes bad and 3 other contractors are killed. Ellen who's working for another firm now which lacks the resolve of Hewes & Associates enlists Patty's help in bringing a suit against High Star using her friend as her prime witness. In typical Damages fashion the story unfolds in bits and pieces, there are false trails and partial reveals that deceive the viewer until almost the very end when everything comes together. A rogue CIA agent (Dylan Baker) provides plenty of obstacles for Ellen to overcome in her quest for justice for her friend and the dead men's families. I agree with others that there wasn't enough Patty compared to the earlier season's and the plot line about her grand daughter (of whom she has custody of) first being sick and then when her estranged son Michael reappears and challenges her for custody seemed like a needless diversion. Also the court appointed anger management counseling she has to go through after hitting her building's doorman in the face with a door was pointless filler. Others have complained about the language being worse and perhaps more violence but honestly, this is an adult show and it's 2016 so my advice is don't watch and go back to your re-runs of the Andy Griffith Show so you're not offended. Lastly, other reviewers took issue with Goodman's character being portrayed as devoutly Christian and being the bad guy; well history offers us no shortage of evil perpetrated under the umbrella of organized religion and it's followers so I don't see the problem, it's called reality.

Can even Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons here cause giants to topple? Patty is determined to make a large drugs company accept responsibility and pay hefty compensation for deaths incurred in test trials. Ellen has her sights on High Star, the world's biggest private army - its founder Howard Erickson desperate to keep secret the illegal activities which could sabotage all future contracts. Despite past differences, the two unite in attempts to bring Erickson crashing down.As ever, much movement between past, present and future. (This can be confusing, although less so when episodes are seen in quick succession.) Also as ever, this is very much "call my bluff" time as opponents strive to outwit each other - skills at which politicians and lawyers are so adept.Acting is great, especially whenever Glenn Close is on screen. John Goodman impresses as militant Christian Erickson, faith unshakeable for as long as the money keeps rolling in. (His character blissfully disregarding Jesus's declaration about the rich with no chance of entering heaven). Also worth a mention is Dylan Baker as creepy Jerry - killing "inconveniences" just part of the day's work. (Critics may wonder why whistleblower Chris is allowed to live for so long, it surely simple enough for him to have "an accident".)Creators delight in wrongfooting, which often they do. They also enjoy having characters setting off in unexpected directions, some far more vulnerable than they may seem.Result? Gripping fare. Despite occasional puzzlement, many will be well and truly hooked.Ten episodes (length varying). Interesting bonuses: Disc 1, a look at the new season (no spoilers); Disc 2 a study of how Patty has evolved; Disc 3 out-takes - cast having far more fun than ever seen elsewhere.

The fourth season of Damages lacks the killer punch evident in the three previous seasons. The production values are still very good and the sheer expertise of the film making always holds the attention. That said it is extraordinary that such an experienced production team should go fishing for a plot line in such over tested waters as a rogue security company on the loose in Afghanistan. It is also a surprise that it was felt necessary to introduce such stock characters as an alcholic disbarred lawyer and a bible thumping warmonger. The actual writing is still good but the hackneyed subject of illegal doings in Afghanistan does impose limitations. The script and action flow are not helped by the inclusion of too many and unnecessary dream sequences.As with the previous seasons the acting is at a very high standard. Dylan Baker and John Goodman make good contrasting villains. The well known character actor Judd Hirsch does a good turn as the alcoholic lawyer and Zachary Booth still successfully maintains his cool detachment as Patty's wayward son Michael. The real surprise is th lower key performance of Glenn Close. Always a consummate professional the actress is always watchable but somehow the definitive commitment evident in the first three seasons and also in season four of the Shield now comes across as not so intense. Here it is hard to accept that Patty's excesses are now more muted for the character is as ambitious and manipulative as ever. The flair of the old Patty is fortunately still evident in the complexities of the relationship with Ellen Parsons and here that special interaction has been maintained.Despite the mild strictures set out above the DVD is still a very good buy and will provide much enjoyment for the committed Damages fan. On its own it does not stand up so well as the other seasonsTrottman

Strange how this is being touted as the weakest season as I found it to be better than season 2, and possibly season 3. In truth all the seasons of this superb series are up there, and any drop in storyline or execution is very minimal. Patty and Ellen working 'together' was actually quite refreshing after all the animosity of previous seasons and the all supporting characters were solid and realistic. Sure, there a few little holes in the plot and yes, a few too many dream sequences and flashbacks which deterred from the narrative flow and tension of the show.. Also a couple of times I felt that Glenn Close and Rose Byrne weren't getting enough screen time and the support characters were dominating the show. Other than these tiny quibbles this is an excellent series and season 4 is worthy of four stars. Docked one star for the repeated dream sequences in Afghanistan.

Damages is worth watching for Patty Hewes alone, as she is one heckuva scary lawyer. As usual, sweet Ellen gets sucked back into Patty's web, but it's got to be said that this season is the weakest.The storyline itself, regarding the deaths of three US mercenaries just seems overblown, as I couldn't imagine someone of Patty's stature getting involved in such a relatively minor issue, despite its wider implications. John Goodman is pretty good as the God-fearing boss, and there's a good support in the lead rogue CIA guy, but other than that it's nothing too exciting.There were a few annoying dream sequences, which I hate as you think they're real then you get disappointed when they're not. I just see that a needless time-filling and not worthy of a well-made programme.I'd prefer Patty to get the gloves off again, as once she gets going she's unstoppable, but she seemed to be on valium this series.

Quite certainly the weakest of the five seasons. The intrigue involving Dylan Baker, John Goodman and Chris Messina rather failed in generating as much interest and tension as seasons one and two, or even season three. The storyline was topical, but it all unfolded rather too matter-of-factly. Things will pick up in the closing season five. This season needs to be acquired on the cheap.