"Damages" Jesus, Mary and Joe Cocker (2007)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Greg Yaitanes

Writers:

Todd A. Kessler (creator) &
Glenn Kessler (creator) ...

TV Series:

"Damages" (2007)

Original Air Date:

31 July 2007 (Season 1, Episode 2)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Ellen convinces Katie to testify against Arthur Frobisher after learning that she was in Florida years...

Plot Keywords:

Law | Female Lead | Trial | Murder | Female Lawyer

Cast

Glenn Close	...	Patty Hewes
Rose Byrne	...	Ellen Parsons
Zeljko Ivanek	...	Ray Fiske
Noah Bean	...	David Connor
Tate Donovan	...	Tom Shayes
Ted Danson	...	Arthur Frobisher
Philip Bosco	...	Hollis Nye
Michael Nouri	...	Phil Grey
Peter Facinelli	...	Gregory Malina
Anastasia Griffith	...	Katie Connor
Francie Swift	...	Holly Frobisher
Donnie Keshawarz	...	Andrew Vida
Marlyne Afflack	...	Felicia Marquand
Casey Siemaszko	...	Detective Dan Williams
Maya Days	...	Detective Rosario Ortiz

Runtime:

45 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

USA:TV-MA

Company:

Bluebush Productions

Quotes:

Bearded Man: Well, there's always a solution.
Arthur Frobisher: What kind of solution?
Bearded Man: A permanent one.
Arthur Frobisher: [shocked] What? Oh, God, no. What, you think that I...?
Bearded Man: It wouldn't get back to you.
Arthur Frobisher: We're... we're talking about a human life here. She's an innocent girl. She didn't do anything. She was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Bearded Man: Sometimes, that's enough.
Arthur Frobisher: You're serious, aren't you? You're actually suggesting...
Bearded Man: Look, Mr. Frobisher, you're insulated. You have resources. This kind of thing is simpler than you'd think.
Arthur Frobisher: [trying to make a joke of it] So, how's that work? You know a guy, you make a call?
[...]

Soundtrack:

When I Am Through With You

Great follow-up to the pilot

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

The pilot episode of "Damages" proved that television is not a lesser medium and, when done right, that a series can trump any theatrical motion picture Hollywood has to offer. After viewing the second episode, 'Jesus, Mary, and Joe Cocker,' I would venture to say that "Damages" is just as good, if not better than any film released within the past five years.

The episode revolves around Ellen's attempts to convince the tense Katie, her best friend and would be sister-in-law, to testify against Arthur Frobisher. Meanwhile, Frobisher is having domestic problems as the lawsuit continues to ruin his and his family's lives. Upset that Katie won't sign his confidentiality agreement, Frobisher begins to wonder how she can be taken care of. After reviewing Katie's timeline, Patty begins to suspect that she is lying about something. Six months earlier, police detectives discover Ellen's fiancé's dead body in a bathtub, and prepare to question her about his murder.

This was a very fine episode: well written, directed, and acted. Glenn Close shows why she deserved every inch of that Emmy in every scene she's in. The supporting players--Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Zeljko Ivanek, and a heretofore underused Philip Bosco--are uniformly excellent.

Like the pilot, the episode makes use of flashbacks and flashforwards. One complaint: I don't think the audience is stupid enough to confuse the events recounted in the flashbacks with what occurs six months later. Therefore, the "6 months earlier" titles are unnecessary. If "Lost" could get on without them, then so can "Damages."