Damages – Season 1 [Blu-ray] [2008] [Region

Set in New York’s world of high stakes litigation, Damages follows the lives of Patty Hewes (Glenn Close), the nation’s most revered and most reviled litigator, and her bright, ambitious protégée Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) as they become embroiled in a class action lawsuit targeting Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), one of the country’s wealthiest CEOs. As Patty battles Frobisher and his attorney, Ellen learns what it takes to win at all costs — and that lives, not just fortunes, are at stake.

Glenn Close continues the exodus of terrific movie actors and actresses who are finding the more fulfilling and meaty roles on the smaller screen. And with Damages, she’s struck gold in an engrossing legal thriller.
Close plays Patty Hewes, an experienced and high profile litigator. She’s then joined by the eager, and considerably more wet-behind-the-ears Ellen Parsons (played by Rose Byrne), who fits into the role of her protégé. Damages then sees the pair fighting a bitter and prolonged case against Ted Danson’s high-profile and very rich businessman.
Where Damages differs from many in the genre is that its first season effectively covers one single case (albeit with many, many strands), much as Murder One did all those years ago. And this makes for an increasingly layered and intriguing drama, with a healthy number of twists to keep you on your toes.
The entire first season is presented in this Damages set, and very gripping it is too. Superbly acted by its cast of high and lower profile actors, it brings with it a real compulsion to find out what happened next. This is where the DVD set comes in handy, as there’s no longer a week between episodes to get to the next part of the story!
Damages may not have been the highest profile export from the States of late, but it is one of the very best. And this set is an ideal opportunity to find out what all the fuss is about… –Jon Foster