‘Damages’ wrapped up its second season. But the folks at FX would be crazy to grant this courtroom-crime drama another year on television. This show must end. Ladies and gentleman of the jury, we present our evidence below.

People’s 1: Rose Byrne’s Poor ActingByrne stars as Ellen Parsons, an attorney working for a shady law firm. But Byrne withers under the pressure of performing in a lead role. Even after a full two seasons, she fails to make Parsons come alive or allow the audience to care and connect with the character. Honestly, marionettes show more emotions than Rose Byrne. She has one facial expression of bland disinterest. She speaks in monotone throughout every episode, killing her intense and dramatic lines. She almost never smiles. In the few scenes she does, her smile looks plastered on her face like some gaping jack-o-lantern.

People’s 2: The End Before the Beginning People have told stories in the same way since time began. First comes the beginning, then the rising action, finally the conclusion. For some reason, ‘Damages’ decides to ignore this pattern. Season two’s first scene was also its last scene. The writers (Glenn Kessler, Todd Kessler and Daniel Zelman) receive kudos for novelty value here, but little else. The drama disappears from knowing too much too soon. And unlike other crime dramas, it’s impossible to pick ‘Damages’ up unless you start from day one.

People’s 3: Too Many Twists and Subplots A TV show can’t leave the viewers scratching their heads permanently. ‘Damages’ takes the ‘we’ll keep you guessing’ plotline too far. Even if you come with the mindset that no one and nothing is what it seems, the show’s just plain annoying. You won’t be able to wrap your head around anything, because you’re constantly waiting for the other shoe to drop. The amount of subplots also poses a problem. Miss one episode, and you don’t know what’s going on. Then you have no desire to tune in again. Even the main characters are left confused. In the season finale, a whirlwind of events leaves Ellen Parsons (Byrne) dazed. ‘What’s going on?’ she asks, staring, wide-open eyes around her. If only we knew, Ellen. If only we knew.

People’s 4: Dismal Prospects for Season 3 (Spoilers)The end of the second season left little open for next year. The bad guys went to jail. Patty Hewes (Close) survives a brutal murder attempt and appears to be recovering well. Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) manages to escape prison time. Ellen Parsons finally coaxes Hewes into confessing. It looks like Parsons is moving in with her boyfriend (Timothy Olyphant), and will finally let the memories of her dead fiancée go. She’s also going to take a new job.

Yet the serial drama ‘Damages’ leaves no problems, no big cliffhanger for next season. For a show that prides itself on its twists and turns, its finale was decidedly twist and turn free. Nobody will care what happens next season. The second season finale wrapped up all our questions. In the closing scene of the finale, Hewes muses on life. She says Ellen will be back. One thing is for sure, though: There’s no reason for us to return to ‘Damages’ next season.

Sidebar: The Defendants

Patty Hewes (Glenn Close)

Hewes will do anything to get what she wants. Blackmail, theft, corporate sabotage, murder. You name it, she has probably done it. She runs a successful class-action law firm named after herself (Did I mention she’s a narcissist, too?). In the second season, she pursued a case against energy company UNR, which is polluting parts of West Virginia with a toxic chemical. But various forces try to stop her from succeeding – including right-hand girl Ellen Parsons, who suspects Hewes orchestrated the murder of her fiancée.

Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) Parsons has a serious bone to pick. She believes her boss, Patty Hewes, had her fiancée killed in the first season. This is the main motivation behind all of her actions this year. She hires a private detective. She agrees to give confidential information to the FBI, which is putting together a case against Hewes. She will stop at nothing to wreak revenge on Hewes and lets nothing and nobody stand her way.

Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan)

Shayes is a law partner at Hewes’ law firm. He has worked with Hewes for at least 10 years. He knows Hewes likes to win and will do whatever it takes to win. While he supports Hewes 100 percent, he can’t stomach everything. To win the case the firm pursues against UNR, he almost bribes a witness for her testimony. But by the end of the second season, he and Hewes become estranged, and it’s not quite clear what their relationship will be.

Wes Krulik (Timothy Olyphant)

Krulik proves to be a surprise in season two. He’s introduced in the beginning and quickly becomes Parsons’ love interest. They meet in group therapy and soon have toe-curling sex. But not everything is as it seems, per usual on ‘Damages.’ Krulik has ulterior motives. His orders are to get close to Parsons and then kill her. Krulik’s boss wants Parsons dead before she finds out too much about her fiancée’s murder. But Krulik falls for Parsons, and soon he’s conflicted about whether he can carry out the deed.

adbrow03@syr.edu

Published on April 5, 2009 at 12:00 pm