In watching this week's episode of Damages, I can't help but think that the producers are trying to be too clever. By adding in so many different mysteries they find themselves this week with a twist that is no twist at all, a surprise that fails to in any way be a surprise.
The entire plot this week revolves around Katie Connor (Anastasia Griffith) and her "one-night stand" in Florida on the weekend of Arthur Frobisher's (Ted Danson) trip down there.
The other basic problem with Damages should now be apparent. If you are a regular watcher of the show you know exactly what weekend I am talking about, and if you are not it would take me an incredibly long time to explain it. It is a basic problem with serialized dramas - a serialized drama needs to generate a high enough interest level on the part of the viewer that they tune in every single week, because missing even one episode can leave the viewer hopelessly behind. I am not against serialized dramas as such, long-time readers will know that I'm a fan of Lost as well as other serialized shows, but the serialized legal thriller Damages does not generate the same enthusiasm for me.
To be sure, I think Damages is often well-written and well-acted, but I'm just not that enthralled. To help me explain why I need to, in detail, discuss this week's episode and Katie's boyfriend, so, be warned:
HERE BE SPOILERS…
Was there ever any doubt in anyone's mind that Greg, Katie's not-so-married guy was lying about who they saw with Frobisher in the parking lot? Was it not clear that he was the link? Frankly, from the moment he first appeared it was clear that he was involved in the whole Frobisher thing, the way he was introduced, when he was introduced, and the secrecy around him made any other conclusion untenable. I did not know that he was lying about being married, but his being involved in Frobisher's nefarious doings was clear. Why the producers would try to convince us otherwise I can't fathom.
Then, this week's writing was actually a huge let down. When Katie was practicing being deposed she has flashbacks of how she got to this point. We're only four episodes in and the whole case at this point hinges on Katie. I think that we probably could have figured out without flashbacks what exactly is going on in her mind. It got worse from there though, didn't it?
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