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If you are a regular reader of ThinkerViews, you already know that periodically we talk about some good TV Series we found worth sharing about. In the same arena, let us talk about an English TV series named Damages.
If legal drama is your cup of tea then US TV Series Damages can prove a good choice for you.
Daniel Zelman united with Glenn Kessler and Todd A. Kessler (Glenn and Todd are brothers, btw) for this TV Series. They authored and produced this TV Series together. On July 24, 2007 the series was premiered on FX and remained aired for 3 seasons. After the 3rd series it was moved to DirecTV channel and two seasoned are aired there.
Principal Characters and Actors who played them:
| Actor | Character | Series |
|---|---|---|
|
Glenn Close
|
Patty Hewes | 1–5 |
|
Rose Byrne
|
Ellen Parsons | 1–5 |
|
Tate Donovan
|
Tom Shayes | 1–3 |
|
Ted Danson
|
Arthur Frobisher | 1–3 |
|
Noah Bean
|
David Connor | 1-3, 5 |
|
Željko Ivanek
|
Ray Fiske | 1-3 |
|
Zachary Booth
|
Michael Hewes | 1-5 |
|
Michael Nouri
|
Phil Grey | 1-3 |
|
Anastasia Griffith
|
Katie Connor | 1-2 |
|
William Hurt
|
Daniel Purcell | 2 |
|
Marcia Gay Harden
|
Claire Maddox | 2 |
|
Timothy Olyphant
|
Wes Krulik | 2,3 |
|
Campbell Scott
|
Joe Tobin | 3 |
|
Martin Short
|
Leonard Winstone | 3 |
|
Tom Noonan
|
Victor Huntley | 2-4 |
|
Campbell Scott
|
Joseph Tobin | 3 |
|
Lily Tomlin
|
Marilyn Tobin | 3 |
|
Ben Shenkman
|
Curtis Gates | 3 |
|
John Goodman
|
Howard T. Erickson | 4 |
|
Dylan Baker
|
Jerry Boorman | 4 |
|
Chris Messina
|
Chris Sanchez | 4-5 |
|
Judd Hirsch
|
Bill Herndon | 4-5 |
|
Jenna Elfman
|
Naomi Walling | 5 |
|
John Hannah
|
Rutger Simon | 5 |
|
Janet McTeer
|
Kate Franklin | 5 |
It is worth to note that all first 3 seasons were 13 episode longer while seasons 4 and 5 consists of 10 episodes each.
Here is the season wise episode list:
It was a litmus test for the creators to make a fantastic and gripping legal drama. Though when they were initially planning, the legal arena was not in their mind. They wanted to create a thrilling drama focused on two strong women characters, both powerful. The serial starts with a woman running on the street, half naked, have blood spots on her. David, her fiancé was dead in their apartment and she was the prime suspect! The drama takes on from here.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Get Me a Lawyer |
Allen Coulter | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | July 24, 2007 |
|
Jesus, Mary, and Joe Cocker |
Greg Yaitanes | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn KesslerDaniel Zelman | July 31, 2007 |
|
And My Paralyzing Fear of Death |
John David Coles | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | August 7, 2007 |
|
Tastes Like a Ho-Ho |
Larry Trilling | Mark Fish | August 14, 2007 |
|
A Regular Earl Anthony |
Jean DeSegonzac | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | August 21, 2007 |
|
She Spat at Me |
Mario Van Peebles | Mark Fish | September 4, 2007 |
|
We Are Not Animals |
Dan Attias | Aaron Zelman | September 11, 2007 |
|
Blame the Victim |
Guy Ferland | Willie Reale and Davey Holmes | September 18, 2007 |
|
Do You Regret What We Did? |
Thomas Carter | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | September 25, 2007 |
|
Sort of Like a Family |
Timothy Busfield | Mark Fish & Jeremy Doner | October 2, 2007 |
|
I Hate These People |
Ed Bianchi | Adam Stein | October 9, 2007 |
|
There’s No ‘We’ Anymore |
Mario Van Peebles | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | October 16, 2007 |
|
Because I Know Patty |
Todd A. Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | October 23, 2007 |
It is worth to note that through out the season the story plays with the time by showing incidents of past and its impact on the present.
The positive response from the audience for the first season encouraged the makers to go ahead for season 2. Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan carries forward their roles while Anastasia Griffith is now a regular actor seen in this season.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I Lied, Too |
Todd A. Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | January 7, 2009 |
|
Burn It, Shred It, I Don’t Care |
Jean de Segonzac | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | January 14, 2009 |
|
I Knew Your Pig |
Constantine Makris | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | January 21, 2009 |
|
Hey! Mr. Pibb! |
Mario Van Peebles | Aaron Zelman | January 28, 2009 |
|
I Agree, It Wasn’t Funny |
Tate Donovan | Mark Fish | February 4, 2009 |
|
A Pretty Girl in a Leotard |
Greg Yaitanes | Adam Stein | February 11, 2009 |
|
New York Sucks |
Matthew Penn | Jeremy Doner | February 18, 2009 |
|
They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney |
Michael Pressman | Aaron Zelman | February 25, 2009 |
|
You Got Your Prom Date Pregnant |
Ed Bianchi | Mark Fish | March 4, 2009 |
|
Uh Oh, Out Come the Skeletons |
Tate Donovan | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | March 11, 2009 |
|
London. Of Course |
Andy Wolk | Todd A. Kessler & Daniel Zelman | March 18, 2009 |
|
Look What He Dug Up This Time |
Matthew Penn | Daniel Zelman & Glenn Kessler | March 25, 2009 |
|
Trust Me |
Todd A. Kessler | Glenn Kessler & Todd A. Kessler | April 1, 2009 |
This season ends by making the viewers thinking whether Patty and Ellen will be working together again?! Better, to watch for season 3 for that.
In addition to the primary cast members, some interesting guest appearances are found in this season. Even actor(s) from the first season returns for some of the episodes. Started with Patty hit by car crash, the series ends with a question by Elle to Patty. What was the question? Well, better to explore later!
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your Secrets Are Safe | Todd A. Kessler | <Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | January 25, 2010 |
| The Dog is Happier Without Her | Matthew Penn | Aaron Zelman | February 1, 2010 |
| Flight’s at 11:08 | Tony Goldwyn | Mark Fish | February 8, 2010 |
| Don’t Throw That at the Chicken | Matthew Penn | Jeremy Doner | February 15, 2010 |
| It’s Not My Birthday | Daniel Zelman | Adam Stein | February 22, 2010 |
| Don’t Forget to Thank Mr. Zedeck | Timothy Busfield | Aaron Zelman & Mark Fish | March 1, 2010 |
| You Haven’t Replaced Me | Glenn Kessler | Todd A. Kessler | March 8, 2010 |
| I Look Like Frankenstein | Chris Terrio | Daniel Zelman | March 15, 2010 |
| Drive it Through Hardcore | Tate Donovan | Glenn Kessler | March 22, 2010 |
| Tell Me I’m Not Racist | David Tuttman | Todd A. Kessler | March 29, 2010 |
|
All That Crap About Your Family |
Matthew Penn | Daniel Zelman | April 5, 2010 |
| You Were His Little Monkey | Timothy Busfield | Glenn Kessler | April 12, 2010 |
|
The Next One’s Gonna Go in Your Throat |
Todd A. Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | April 19, 2010 |
As noted earlier, this was the last season aired on FX.
There are 5 major characters in this season. It starts with Ellen’s new job at another law firm! And, if you like to connect dots it is the same firm where she offered a job in season 1.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| There’s Only One Way to Try a Case | Todd A. Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | July 13, 2011 |
| I’ve Done Way Too Much for This Girl | Todd A. Kessler | Nancy Fichman & Jennifer Hoppe-House | July 20, 2011 |
| I’d Prefer My Old Office | Nick Gomez | Jason Wilborn | July 27, 2011 |
| Next One’s on Me, Blondie | Timothy Busfield | Joe Weisberg | August 3, 2011 |
| We’ll Just Have to Find Another Way to Cut the Balls Off of This Thing | David Tuttman | Nancy Fichman & Jennifer Hoppe-House | August 10, 2011 |
| Add That Little Hopper to Your Stew | Timothy Busfield | Jason Wilborn | August 17, 2011 |
| I’m Worried About My Dog | Glenn Kessler | Josh Payne | August 24, 2011 |
| The War Will Go on Forever | Nick Gomez | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | August 31, 2011 |
| There’s a Whole Slew of Ladies with Bad Things to Say About the Taliban | David Tuttman | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | September 7, 2011 |
| Failure is Lonely | Glenn Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | September 14, 2011 |
To keep the user’s anticipation alive for the next season, at the end of this season also Patty and Ellen departs (actually Patty proposes however Ellen decides to go).
This is the final season of the series. You will be able to draw parrellels between the content of the season and Julian Asange and WikiLeaks case as well.
| Title | Director | Written By | Release Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| You Want to End This Once and For All? | Matthew Penn | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | July 11, 2012 |
| Have You Met the Eel Yet? | Colin Bucksey | Hans Tobeason | July 18, 2012 |
| Failure is Failure | Jean de Segonzac | Arthur Phillips | July 25, 2012 |
| I Love You, Mommy | Marcos Siega | Jason Wilborn | August 1, 2012 |
| There’s Something Wrong With Me | Tate Donovan | Hans Tobeason | August 8, 2012 |
| I Need to Win | Daniel Zelman | Josh Payne | August 15, 2012 |
| The Storm’s Moving In | Tate Donovan | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | August 22, 2012 |
| I’m Afraid of What I’ll Find | Ken Girotti | Hans Tobeason | August 29, 2012 |
| I Like Your Chair | Steve Shill | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | September 5, 2012 |
| But You Don’t Do That Anymore | Glenn Kessler | Todd A. Kessler & Glenn Kessler & Daniel Zelman | September 12, 2012 |
The series is available on DVD set and its quite well sold.
The TV Series and actors/mucicians/producers/directors/authors and other crew members assoicated with the same were notminated for various awards and won many of them. Here is a compiled list of selected nominations from the same.
| Award | Year | Category | Nominee(s) | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Drama Series | Mark A. Baker, Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Ted Danson | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Željko Ivanek | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Allen Coulter | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series | Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Drama Series | Mark A. Baker, Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, Daniel Zelman, Aaron Zelman | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Won |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | William Hurt | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Ted Danson | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2009 | Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series | Todd A. Kessler | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2010 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2010 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | Martin Short | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2010 | Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2010 | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Ted Danson | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2008 | Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series | Lily Tomlin | Nominated |
| Primetime Emmy Award | 2012 | Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2008 | Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Avy Kaufman, Ross Meyerson, Julie Tucker | Won |
| Creative Arts Emmy Awards | 2009 | Outstanding Casting for a Drama Series | Ross Meyerson, Julie Tucker | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2007 | Best Television Series – Drama | – | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2007 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Won |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2007 | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2007 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Ted Danson | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2009 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2009 | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2009 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | William Hurt | Nominated |
| Golden Globe Awards | 2012 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2007 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2008 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2008 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Željko Ivanek | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2009 | Best Television Series – Drama | – | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2009 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2009 | Best Actress – Television Series Drama | Glenn Close | Won |
| Satellite Awards | 2010 | Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Martin Short | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2010 | Best Supporting Actress – Series, Miniseries or Television Film | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2007 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2009 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2010 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Satellite Awards | 2011 | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2008 | Outstanding Achievement in Drama | – | Nominated |
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2008 | Outstanding New Program | – | Nominated |
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2008 | Individual Achievement in Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Television Critics Association Awards | 2009 | Individual Achievement in Drama | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| ACE Eddie Awards | 2007 | Best Edited One-Hour TV Series – Commercial Television | Malcolm Jamieson | Nominated |
| AFI Awards | 2007 | International Award for Best Actress | Rose Byrne | Won |
| AFI Awards | 2009 | International Award for Best Actress | Rose Byrne | Nominated |
| Crime Thriller Awards | 2010 | Best International TV Drama | – | Nominated |
| Crime Thriller Awards | 2010 | Best Leading Actress | Glenn Close | Nominated |
| Gracie Awards | 2010 | Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role in a Drama Series or Special | Glenn Close | Won |
| IGN Summer Movie Awards | 2010 | Best TV Actress | Rose Byrne | Won |
| IGN Summer Movie Awards | 2010 | Best TV Actress | Glenn Close | Nominated |
Watch out for the episode wise reviews for the TV serial in coming days. The list of the episodes will be kept updated with the links to Episode wise reviews, so don’t forget to bookmark this page.
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