[DMG] A pretty girl in a leotard

TV Programme: Damages
Season: 2
Episode: 6
Date I watched this episode: 15/02/2009
Time since I last watched this programme: 10 days.

This was not a bad episode. I really liked the twist about Frobisher working for Patty. I also enjoyed the legal wranglings, including arguments before the judge and particularly Patty's TV appearance. The complex situation created by the writers is laudable. However, I have realised of late that I should really be holding this programme to a higher standard.

I have come to the conclusion that my main issue with this season of Damages is the number of random storylines explored. Some storylines only last across a couple of episodes and then vanish, seemingly a pointless time-filler. For example, the thing about Daniel being Michael's dad has not been mentioned for a while. Michael wasn't even in this episode, and Danny was only in one scene (incidentally I liked how Claire Maddox was manipulative in this scene, making sure Danny didn't have any further information before dumping him - Danny didn't really pick up on this). Then there is the Katie Connor storyline - great addition to this episode (and Anastacia Griffith is looking hot, might I add), but the previous scene with Ellen and Katie in an earlier episode was shown once and for all to have been completely pointless. The whole "Ellen revisits the apartment one last time" thing was also a pointless waste of time. It allowed the editors to cut in a lot of season 1 footage that we have seen before countless times.

From a storytelling point of view, there are a couple of weird things with this episode. Is it really believable that Arthur "the most hated man in America" Frobisher could just waltz into a ballet performance (and presumably the VIP area) without people turning their noses up at him? He is throwing himself into the public eye quite recklessly. Secondly, Ellen, who is supposed to be a master of persuasion, would not have used those words to Katie like "over your head" or "you wouldn't understand" - these are so clearly condescending.

Another thing is the character of Rick Messer. He worked really well in season 1 as a secondary villain to Frobisher, but now he can't really carry the episode on his own. He is too introverted to really be interesting, and the way he goes about things is just so calm and emotionless as to be not particularly engaging. Also, the end sequence here - where he goes into Ellen's apartment ready to shoot her - is kind of superfluous because we know that Ellen ends up with the upper hand.

I think I have started to hold this programme (which after all is currently rated as my 9th favourite of all time) to a higher standard. Maybe this is because I've been watching the season 1 special features and remembering how good it is, maybe it's because I have been watching 24 season 7 so much, which is a lot more convincing.

However there are some good signs for the future. A few questions were left unanswered in this episode - who is the guy "Dave" working for Kendrick; does he have some key involvement with the merger? What is that car for and what is at the GPS co-ordinates given (why is there only one dimension of co-ordinates too)? Who is the tattooed man Clare is seeing? This is along with the countless other questions which weren't even addressed in this episode; in particular, Wes did not appear.

The phrase in the title was said from Frobisher to Walter, something which again I didn't guess and couldn't really have as I didn't know these two would meet. Next week's is called "New York Sucks". Surely this is Frobisher saying this, given what he said in this week's episode? Anyone could be the recipient, probably not Patty but maybe Rick Messer?

I think this episode wasn't bad but wasn't that good either. More cool twists is what this show needs to stay afloat, together with a more consistent (less fragmented) storyline progressing towards a sold conclusion.