Damages: Season 3

Resumed watching this fine FX series on DVD after a 5 year hiatus. Season 3 is completely riveting. Glenn Close stars as Patty Hewes, a New York attorney who is ruthless and ethically challenged. She could teach Machiavelli a thing or two. Close brings the intensity and edge dialed back just a notch from the psycho she played in “Fatal Attraction”. Rose Byrne returns as would-be protégé Ellen Parsons who has quit Hewes & Associates and is now working for the DA’s office. Tate Donovan also is on hand as Patty’s right hand man Tom Shayes. The primary plot this season revolves around a Bernie Madoff sort of fraudster named Louis Tobin whose pyramid scheme investment empire has toppled and he’s about to serve a life prison sentence. Patty’s office court appointed trustee tasked to follow the money and try and recover as much as possible for Tobin’s victims. Naturally there’s any number of twists and turns to this tale and they are well told by the Damages writing team. Each season is like deconstructing an intricate Origami sculpture, unfolding each crease reveals a little of how it was made but still hides much. The device of flash forward and flash backs allows small clues to be revealed to the audience but as they’re often lacking context beware jumping to conclusions regarding their meaning. It’s great fun to watch. We start out with the shocker that Tom is dead and Patty is t-boned in a hit in and run accident by a car owned by Tom. Tobin’s eldest son Joe, played by Campbell Scott initially is disgusted by his father’s malfeasance and just wants to make things right but once he gets wind of a huge hidden stash of money his father sequestered for the family he undergoes a tragic change of personality.In keeping with the show’s trend for taking comedic actors and putting them in serious roles this season features two fine performances by Lily Tomlin and Martin Short.The real surprise for me was Martin Short. Long before Jim Carrey made a career out of over the top, creepy and not so funny characters (“Fire Marshall Bill” anyone?) Martin Short was doing the same shtick a decade or more before. I never personally cared for his mugging and disturbing personas and did not find him amusing. Here he’s playing it straight as Tobin family attorney Leonard Winstone conveying a certain degree of menace that’s surprising and utterly convincing. Who knew Short could play a dramatic role so well? Lily Tomlin’s come a long way from the late 60’s and Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In series. She also quite good in the part as the Tobin family matriarch. Is it just me or are she and Shirley Maclane starting to morph into the same person? Ted Danson also returns this season as well reprising his Arthur Frobisher character from Season 2. Although tying up some loose ends from his story arc seemed a little excessive for all that’s going on but it was entertaining seeing Ted in action and we get a brief appearance from Timothy Olyphant as well.When the season reaches it’s exciting denouement much is revealed, we learn more of Patty’s back story in the bargain. This is a twisted show and I’m looking forward to what happens in Season 4.

The third season of 'Damages' is a bit of a departure from the pervious two seasons. Where season one was an extremely tight, maniacal thriller, and season two was a knotty, complex, esponiage-esque mystery, season three takes a cue from classic noir sensibilities. Season three is extremely understated and character driven. They are more concerned with digging into the character's psyches than with the actual court case. A standout aspect to the season is Patty's intriguing dream sequences. As for the case, it's almost non-existant, which is the point. The fact that the true center of the case remains a mystery up until the last episode helps enforce the centerless, surreal world of noir. Like any good noir, you never feel safe when watching season three.My advice is that you need to be patient with this season. It's not as instantly rewarding as the other two, but the ending does pack a punch. I don't want to spell out all the noir connections in this little review because part of the fun is trying to figure them all out. Do some research on what makes something 'noir' and see if you agree with me. What you can expect more of in season three: is stellar acting from the impeccable cast, great dialogue and narrative construction and a very timely court case.'Damages' is a phenomenal show and I think season three will be very rewarding to long time fans and especially to patient, attentive viewers.'Damages' season three comes highly recommended.

I had gotten the first season of Damages as a Christmas gift last year. My husband and I had never seen this show, but the cousin who gave us this gift highly recommended the series. Well, I got hooked on the first season after watching it. So, I purchased both Season 2 and Season 3. I viewed the entire second season and I am on the last DVD of the third season. This show is very cleverly done and they have been able to entice some big talent in Glenn Close, William Hurt, Ted Danson, etc. There are many twists and turns to each plot and I can't wait now to see Season 4 when it comes out. I would recommend this highly to viewers who really enjoy an intelligent, legal drama with lots of intrigue.

Damages is an excellent law drama that sucks you in and doesn't let you go.The 3rd season focuses on a lawsuit based on a ponzi scheme where thousands of people lost their investments. The story line is fast-paced and exciting, and like the first two seasons, shows you snippets of the "ending" while leading you there slowly, episode by episode.The 3rd season is my second favorite. The 1st season was excellent, the 2nd season good, but the 3rd season cranks it back up to the level of the 1st. The only negative thing is you really need to watch the previous two seasons - this isn't the type of show you can jump into the middle of and understand what's going on. That being said, it's totally worth doing. =)

One of the best series I have seen.EXCELLENT

This show is awesome. I find that good writing on tv is hard to find and, sadly, even the good shows start to decline with time. Even Damages is starting to lose its ability to capture the audience with its riveting characters and storylines. But not before Season 3 thankfully. This season is probably that last truly good one. It does not disappoint. Season 4 showed some decline but it was still better than most of the stuff on today. Other shows I have enjoyed but which have showed decline of late are Mad Men, Sons of Anarchy, The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad. However, Damages Seasons 1-3 are truly awesome!

Was as described and am happy with my purchase, would buy from again.

Unfortunately disk 3 of this box set was defective. Stuttering, jamming and then jumping, missing out several scenes. Nothing I did fixed it. As it only cost me just over £1 it wasn’t worth the hassle of returning it and getting refund but it was irritating having to source another copy and then wait days for it to arrive before I could watch the rest of the season, so not very happy customer.

Thoroughly enjoyed Season 3 of Damages. It is entertaining, intriguing and reveals the darker side of legal and business firms. It deals with issues that we presently hear about on the news from American and in the UK/Europe. Family life is one of the main victims as family members come to a bloody end. The characters have their own agenda and end game. Some act inconscionably while others are devastated by guilt. Patti, the main partner in the legal firm, tries to keep the real issue in her sights as the case unravels itself. Eager to see Season 4.

I live in France & because we don't have Sky I was looking for series we might have missed. I came upon this rare gem when doing a search. My husband & I were captivated by the writing & the following series were quickly ordered. Excellent scriptwriting, characters vicious, & well portrayed by the actresses & actors.

Fantastic as always. This series doesn't disappoint. Contrary to other reviewers I find the whole set of series fantastic. This series continues the journey. Not keen on the repeated 6 months ago, 3 months later, to-ing and fro-ing makes it difficult at times to keep up with the story at times but it all comes together at the end. Glenn Close is just fabulous - ice cold.

Whilst it was always going to be difficult to live up to the original and gripping first series, Damages has always remained great TV. Ok, it is not perfect... the plots might get a little over convoluted and the stretch the bounds of credibility, but for sheer entertainment value I give it 5 stars. After the dip in form of the (still watchable) second series, the third series is back on form and it is the strong cast that really holds this show together. Buy and enjoy!