Customer Reviews

Damages: The Complete Third Season

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(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.

The first season of DAMAGES was one of the best seasons of television i'd witnessed in my many years . Just brilliant to my mind . I was less taken with season two but still think it better than the average bear . I felt that season (two) was kinda repetitive and certainly less inspired that that incredibly hard to match first year . There are a pretty fair amount of absurdities in this third season . The show hugs those to its breast though and really delivers on the entertainment value . My wife and i are streaming this season and last night completed episode eight . I'm thrilled to report that Martin Short does a superb job with the first serious role i've ever seen him do . I go all the way back to SCTV with Martin . I feel it's his best work since then . Tom Noonan is brilliant as well . The whole cast is outstanding in another must have season of cliff hangers , thrills , gasps , laughs and great wit . A huge thank you to the various writers . Better than most theatrical films .

I loved this series. Glen Close is amazing, you have a hard time deciding if she is a villian or hero.

This series is very engaging and keeps you thinking.

(This series set new standards for its kind. They raised the bar. So that two-

star rating reflects disappointment re two seasons of five-star winners.

DAMAGE'S Season's One and Two were so sharp, so starkly realistic in depicting the depths and heights of each principal character; plotting, motivations, sudden twists which were spectacular but remarkably believable and came easily from carefully-drawn, personalities and situations.

Not so in Season Three. Here, characterizations are a great deal thinner, their natures not as developed or believable. It's not the as-always great acting of Close & Co, but the writing. Characters seem cartoon-ish, abbreviated, stereotyped.

There seems to be more superfluous characters. Add to that, central characters were given hasty-seeming melodramatic exit scenarios to wrap up their parts. Those extraneous characters were given quick hello's and then contrived reasons for sudden goodbye's.

There won't be any spoilers in this review, because there are just so many of them; shocking denouements which suddenly usher characters out; most seeming rushed and melodramatic; maybe called for by stereotyped characters there only to justify some plot twist.

Overall it seems this season was designed to end the series. I hope it won't be; I pray that if Damages is to go they go out in a blaze of intelligence and far-more sophisticated plotting, acting, dialogue and sophisticated entertainment. Amen

Once again DAMAGES proves why it's one of TV's finest shows. Season 3 is a labyrynthine mix of greed, deception, lies, revelations, secrets---you name it, you got it. Without setting one foot in the courtroom, DAMAGES is legal drama at its best. The scripts and direction are superior, weaving intense personal subplots into the main plot.

And the acting? Brilliant to say the least. Glenn Close brings a complexity to Patty Hewes that transcends the usual villainess persona. Shrewd--manipulative--ambitious--maybe even evil..but few characters on TV are as multidimensional as Patty and no one could portray her any better than Close. Rose Byrne is equally impressive, a Patty Hewes in the making. Byrne and Close work beautifully together. Given a larger role this season, Tate Donovan is mesmerizing as the doomed Tom Shayes. The guest stars this season are outstanding, especially Martin Short in a rare dramatic turn as the Tobins family attorney. And the rest are perfect: Campbell Scott, Ben Shankman, Ted Danson, Craig Bierko, Dominic Ciani, Timothy Olyphant, Madchen Amick, Len Cariou, Zachary Booth and of course Lily Tomlin as the Tobin matriarch. Ensemble acting at its finest.

While MAD MEN gathers most critical accolades, DAMAGES imo is TV's best drama series.

Glenn Close is phenomenal. She's the reason I watched the show's pilot in 2007 and she's the reason I await each new season with bated breath.

Many fans are enamored with the show's intelligent writing, surprising plot twists and mysterious, nothing-is-as-it-seems quality, but the thing that keeps me tuning in episode after episode is the formidable and fascinating character of Patty Hewes. When I watch "Damages" -- a show that constantly loves to keep its viewers guessing -- I don't normally ask, "Who's behind the door?" or "What's in that box?" Instead, I tend to wonder, "What did Patty mean by that?!" and "Does Ellen know what she meant?" Glenn Close and Rose Byrne have tremendous chemistry together and the evolution of Patty and Ellen's relationship, which is loaded with subtle interactions forever brimming with endless layers of unspoken feelings and hidden meanings, continues to make this remarkable show a delight to experience.

If you like the idea of an unpredictable thriller that features strong, complex, female characters, I highly recommend "Damages." Give the pilot a try to see if it's your cup of tea and, like me, you just might become instantly hooked. As someone who doesn't really care for anything else that's on the air (including most of the movies that Hollywood is currently making), I'm very grateful that a unique and challenging show like "Damages" exists.

As for season three: If you think you know the extent of Martin Short's abilities as a performer, hold on and prepare to be surprised. Lily Tomlin is also delicious in a type of role I've never seen her tackle before. Tate Donovan works his butt off, the lovely and understated Rose Byrne is ridiculously pretty with her heartbreaking doe eyes, the brilliant Glenn Close is an acting genius in every single scene she's in (while looking incredibly sexy in her tailored suits), and the complicated strands of the season's exciting story line which are expertly set into motion in the first episode are dazzlingly tied up by the stunning finale.

As for the extras: I adored the bloopers on this dvd release and I enjoyed listening to the charming audio commentary of Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan. My only disappointment is that Glenn Close did not do audio commentary (though, she does turn up in video segments in order to share her thoughts regarding several episodes). Perhaps Rose and Glenn will comment on an episode together when the fourth season makes its way to dvd. I'm crossing my fingers.

The fact that DirecTV saved "Damages" after it was cancelled by FX (due to low ratings brought about by the show's serialized nature -- most viewers prefer to watch the entire season in one, breath-taking sitting) is a testament to the show's clever, intricate writing and exceptional cast.

I just finished watching the third season on DirecTV. The culminating episode is simply mind-blowing: excellent writing, flawless acting, character development, pacing... I am so looking forward to see the new season. I'm glad this show was not canceled.

At last a tv show that makes you concentrate like an adult, think, deliberate and yet you still cannot predict what will happen next; it's the best tv show since '6 Feet Under'.

I have watched all 3 seasons intently on DVD and THIS is the BEST by far. The cast story, cinematic techniques make it just enthralling addictive viewing ~ some days we watched two !

Rose Byrne and Glen Close are definitely the stars, though Rose's performance has to be more 'muted' to balance their characters.

Thank goodness it's been announced there are to be 2 more seasons!

I saw this series when it was released on FOX early last year (2010). Since the first episode, I have been waiting for it to be released. At this time I do not believe it will ever be released. The producers are making their money by having us watch each episode on line. It is available on TV only on a premium channel on cable systems. Please release this TV show on DVD. There are many who want it that way.Damages: The Complete Third Season

Season 3 of Damages is very good and the powerful ending redeems any quality lost in comparing it to the previous two Damages. I love Glenn Close and her character and want to see more of her in Season 4. The entire cast in 3, was very well acted. The plot,is somewhat lackluster compared to Season 1 of this dynamic TV production, which any of the episodes, so far, can beat any movie I have ever enjoyed. What a faboo and innovative cast of writers, producers, directors and musicians. Love that theme song that weaves it's mysterious magic throughout all 3 seasons, thus far.

I so wish for more of this 5 star type of TV.