What I’m Watching: Damages

Damages: Season 3, Episode 4 “Don’t Throw That at the Chicken” (B)

After an episode gloriously free of a peek into the future six months ahead, the signature device is back right away, and I stand by my assertion last week that their presence does weaken the show. It’s especially true for the episode-end shouting and looks on characters’ faces that won’t be fully fleshed out for a few episodes. What’s happening in the present is perfectly interesting enough on its own merit. The professional conversation between Patty and Michael represents quite an intense relationship between mother and son, and that scene was pretty extreme and uncomfortable. It was made even more powerful by the subsequent revelation of Michael’s big lie to Patty, and the fact that his much-older girlfriend is pregnant. Ellen’s family drama isn’t as interesting as it was last week, and perhaps it’s best if the two leading ladies return to the pressing case at hand. Seeing the look on Tom’s face when Louis Tobin says it’s nice to meet him was certainly gripping, but it’s not the most powerful look given in this episode. That shot comes from Martin Short, who makes a goofy face on the TV screens while everyone else looks deathly serious as Joe considers taking another drink and the elder Tobin ends his life. For the moment, there are a few too many questions and mysteries up in the air, and given how last week’s episode was so good due to the events which actually transpired during it, I’m hopefully that future installments can mimic that rather than this one.