"Damages" Recap - Episode 13: Because I Know Patty
In honor of the "Damages" finale, this is a special live blog of the finale of "Damages" as it happens. I'm losing sleep over this guys, so I hope you enjoy it.
We start this final episode the same way we started the first episode. The operatic music cut with the stylized shots of New York and the ringing of the elevator bell as we cut to the entrance of Patty's apartment building.
Ellen listens to David's message about the videotape.
Ellen's attacker opens the door with a key and lures Corey out to the patio with a treat. This guy's well-dressed and doesn't look like Scruffy the Killer's accomplice, but okay.
He's looking for something but what? Corey starts barking and Ellen gets up. She fights with the attacker and he falls on the knife. She runs out.
Scruffy the Killer is sitting outside with...his accomplice! The elevator bell rings and there's bloody Ellen running out. Right past Scruffy the Killer and the accomplice. The accomplice gets back in the car and as they recognize Ellen, they beat it out of there.
So if it wasn't Scruffy's accomplice, who was Ellen's attacker?
What do you want to bet he has something to do with Devil Child "Don't Tell My Mom I Was Here" Michael?
Ellen goes to her apartment only to find David. She climbs out the window when the police knock at the door and...she's in jail.
They repeat the scene with Hollis Nye where the cops find out who she is. The new scene that's added is we see Nye calling someone and saying they have a problem because the police came to talk to him about Ellen.
Flash forward ten days later. Ellen's being watched by a guy in a car. She's at her Mom's house with a man and a woman I assume are friends. Her Mom baked cookies. Ellen sees that as ironic. So do I.
Ellen tells her friends she doesn't know who attacked her, but Patty's representing her. They ask is she's going to David's funeral, but Ellen can't leave town. Plus David's family might have a problem with his accused killer attending. Ya think?
Opening credits. I finally looked up the opening credits song. It's called, "When I Am Through With You" and it's by VLA, a local LA band.
Patty's in the freaky glasses driving to the cemetery. She asks a cemetery worker directions and tells him it's been 35 years since she's been there. She goes to that same head stone. We still don't know what's on it.
Three days later she's back at her apartment with hubby Phil, pacing around, unable to go to bed.
The next day she's back at the office. First there's a meeting with the DEs and they want to know if Fiske's suicide will affect their case. Marshall Phillips will take over for Fiske but the suicide should not affect the case at all. Tommyhawk tells the DEs there's been no other offer since the $500 million.
Uncle Pete shows Patty into her remodeled, Fiske-free office. She glances around until finally she looks at the wall where Fiske ended up. She almost expects to see him there, and so do I. He's not though and she and I are both relieved.
Patty meets with the DA and Hollis Nye. She's trying to get the charges against Ellen dropped. There was blood found in Patty's apartment and on Ellen's clothes which Patty says proves Ellen was attacked. Patty does a full court press on the DA, threatening a publicity blitz that will throw him out of office if he doesn't reopen the crime scene. So he does. Patty informs Ellen and then asks her again if the tape is safe. Ellen says it's safe.
Nye is meeting in a car with the two guys that were watching Ellen. He tells them Ellen dumped him for Patty and Patty got the DA to reopen the murder investigation.
Scruffy the Killer is meeting with Frobisher in a stairwell. Frobisher wants to know if David's murder can be traced back to him. Scruffy says no. He also says maybe Patty doesn't have the tape. Frobisher is pissed things have spun so far out of control
The cops, Patty and Ellen go to Ellen's apartment. The cops want Ellen to point out anything that's out of place. Anything that didn't belong to her or David. We go by a table and it has a red flashlight on it.
Outside the buliding Scruffy is watching the police. We flashback to Scruffy searching the apartment after kiilling David and leaving a flashlight on the table. We cut back to him crossing the street. Then to the apartment's clean bathroom and Ellen looking around.
Then Scruffy walks in the front door of Ellen's apartment. What the...? That's ballsy!
He picks up the red flashlight and one of the cops comes up behind him.
"Excuse me..."
I'm thinking he's busted, and then...they know each other! He's a detective! Scruffy the Killer is a freakin' detective! He even has the nerve to tell Ellen he's sorry for her loss. You scum-sucking, freakin', judas, detective killer!
That was really good.
Now that I've got my breath back after the commercial break we flashback to May 24, 1972. We're in a hospital and a doctor is talking to Patricia, saying he's sorry. Terribly sorry.
Flash forward to Patty at the head stone looking sad. Obviously the head stone belongs to whoever died that day.
Cut to Frobisher and Larry meeting together. Frobisher is pissed that Larry doesn't have any info for him. Especially any info about a videotape. Larry doesn't have a clue and Frobisher takes out his frustrations on Larry telling him he's been useless and he's not paying him a dime. Larry's like, I don't need you anymore, jerk.
Well my, how did we go from that warm-hearted, blue collar, our fathers could have been brothers bonding to this? I think the relationship is broken beyond repair.
Frobisher's at his apartment with Marshall. Marshall thinks Art's hiding something. You know Marshall, a blind man with no law degree could tell Art's hiding something. Marshall wants to know why the case hasn't settled. As answer, Frobisher gives Marshall the pictures of Ray with One Night Stand Greg. Frobisher says Ray brought Greg to Florida, and Greg was a sleaze who strung Ray along.
Look who's calling who a sleaze.
Anyway he tells Marshall, Greg made a videotape with all kinds of lies about what happened in Florida. Marshall's like, now that you mention it, what did happen in Florida?
Flashback to Florida 2002. Grandpa George is bitching to Ray Fiske and Frobisher in his limo about Katie seeing him at the condo. Frobisher says he'll take care of it. Grandpa then gives all the SEC info to Frobisher and tells him the government has evidence he artificially boosted profits and they're coming after his butt. Turns out Grandpa has known Frobisher forty years. I guess that didn't mean much to Frobisher when he had him killed.
Flash forward to Frobisher telling Marshall nothing happened in Florida. Marshall asks about the tape and Frobisher says he doesn't know who's seen it or who has it. Marshall suggests having the judge rule on the case now and if Patty has the tape, she'll have to present it. Otherwise he thinks the judge will dismiss the case for lack of evidence.
Marshall goes to Patty and tells her what he's going to do. Patty says, "We're going to trial." Now I guess it's up to the judge.
After Marshall leaves, Patty tells Tommyhawk Marshall's desperate. She then tells Ellen she needs the tape or they might lose the case if the judge rules against them. Ellen's like, ain't that too bad. Get me off the hook first Patty. That's our deal. Go back to the DA and make it happen.
Frobisher's with Biff on the land he wants to develop. Biff wants to know if he can live with Dad instead of moving with Mom and Bitsie out west. Frobisher's like I gotta focus on "making things right." Whatever that means. He then actually admits he made a mistake. When the kid asks what mistake, Frobisher says, "I trusted too many people." Oh yeah, Art. That was the source of all your problems. That stealing billions from your employees and having people killed had absolutely nothing to do with it.
Patty's with the DA and proposes cutting the bullsh*t and getting down to business.
Cut to Patty meeting Ellen sitting on someone's steps---I have no clue where, but it's in New York City.
Patty smiles broadly and says, "You're a free woman. They'll be a press conference later today. You can go to David's funeral now."
Ellen thanks her, Patty says you're welcome. Now, where's the tape?
Ellen says, "I don't have it." What?!
Patty's like, you told me that you had it. Ellen's like, "I told you it was safe." See Patty, it's all in the details.
Cut to someone carrying a box in what looks like a police holding room for evidence. Tommyhawk gets the box and opens it. He's told he's got five minutes. Tom reaches in the box and takes out...the murder weapon! The ugly Statue of Liberty bookend. Prying open the bottom, he reaches inside and pulls out the videotape. And the wedding bands. Sniff, sniff. Another big wow!
I have to catch my breath during the commercials, again.
I don't know if I can take anymore shocks or surprises.
We're back. Arthur Frobisher is eating dinner alone in his massive penthouse apartment listening to classical music and there's a knock on the door. Hereeeeeee's Patty! Is this another one of those sex fantasies off his? I hope not. When Patty holds up a DVD, I know it's not. Unless of course it's a porno film.
Nope, turns out it's a DVD copy of the tape. Patty and Frobisher watch as poor One Night Stand Greg tells the whole sordid story. Frobisher turns it off before it's over. Frobisher says, "Tell me what you want."
Patty's like, she can turn the tape over to the Feds and Frobisher will go to jail. When he gets out, she'll still be waiting to sue his butt. The other alternative, Frobisher can settle now for her price and the tape goes away. For good. She'll even sign a non disclosure agreement. None of her evidence will ever come to light. He has until the end of the tomorrow to make a decision.
Frobisher: "You really enjoy this don't you?"
Patty: "It's my job."
Frobisher: "Why do you hate me so much?"
Patty turns and walks away.
Could it be that Patty was related to that girl from Arlington? Or knew her? Hmmm.
Cut to Phil and Devil Child Michael in their kitchen. Hubby Phil says Ellen saw Michael and told them about it. Michael says he came back to the apartment for his laptop. Phil wants to know why he's lying .
Michael's like, isn't that what we all do? The kid's got a point.
Marshall's going over how Frobisher will need to liquidate his assets if he settles for the amount Patty proposed. He'll have to sell at least 93% of his assets. Marshall tries to convince Frobisher they can still win, but all Frobisher cares about is keeping the land he wants to develop and getting the whole damn thing over. He tells Marshall, "Pay her."
Marshall visits Patty in her office. She asks what sign he is. Just like with Martin Cutler in the first episode. Heh. Marshall has an offer, but he emphasizes all evidence must disappear. He passes Patty a piece of paper. She says, "Tell him we accept."
In closing, Marshall asks Patty if she knew his father. "I never liked him," she says.
"He never liked you. He always thought your cases had a stink to them."
Patty holds out her hand, "Good to see you Marshall." They shake and it's done.
Patty's giving a pep talk to the DEs and after, they bring out the champagne, music and party. The settlement, how much? I want to know.
Patty calls Larry away from the party to meet in her office. Once there, Larry sees several other DEs who tell him he has to withdraw from the settlement or he's going to jail for spilling secrets to Frobisher. How much is....$2 billion!!! Another wow!
Larry's like, what am I gonna do now? I lost everything. I thought I made amends. Well, evidently not. I kinda feel sorry for him. After all he is an old guy and Frobisher did sucker him in. But the DEs aren't interested in what I think and Larry is out.
Patty then goes to get Ellen and calls her in. This time there are no DEs. Just her and Ellen. They toast to her "first victory as an attorney." Patty wants to know what her plans are. She offers Ellen her old job back. Ellen thanks her for the drink and leaves. That's right Ellen, keep her guessing.
Hollis Nye accosts Ellen on the street and puts her in the car with the two guys who were following her. "They know what you did Ellen," says Nye.
Turns out the two guys are FBI. Okay so Nye's not a bad guy, but he's not trustworthy either.
The FBI has pictures of Ellen leaving HH after Ray Fiske killed himself. They've been investigating Patty, even before the Frobisher case and they want Ellen to spill what she knows. "You talk to us, maybe we overlook what you were doing there that night."
Ellen's like, my fiance was just killed and you're investigating Patty Hewes? I laugh in the face of your so-called leverage. See ya. She gets out of the car.
Commercials
We're at David's funeral and Ellen's there. So is Katie. The priest blesses poor, dead David and everyone mourns. Ellen and Katie exchange a glance then look away. When everyone's gone, Ellen stands next to David's coffin. Katie comes over and says she' been trying to forgive her. Ellen says she doesn't have to because it's all her fault and Katie says no, it's really all her fault and they come to an understanding.
Ellen's sorry about the fight with David and she knows he was right about everything. She thanks Katie for letting her be there. Katie says David would have wanted her there.
After Katie leaves, Ellen sits down by the side of the coffin and leans her head against it. We cut to a long shot of her and the coffin, flowers all around. Nicely done.
Patty walks into the DA's office and...hands him the tape! That's so Patty. She reminds him he didn't get it from her, and he needs to hold it until the next election. Her goal? When the tape comes out there'll be more lawsuits against Frobisher and he'll lose whatever's left of his fortune and he will then go to jail.
Frobisher's once again looking at that land he wants to develop.
He's standing there by himself for a while and I'm waiting for someone to shoot his ass. Sure enough, Larry obliges.
"Now you don't owe me nothin,'" he says as he walks away.
Frobisher collapses. Awesome.
Tommyhawk is walking with Ellen on the street. Tom is saying there's no evidence about David's death they can pin on Frobisher.
Ellen tells Tom, he must have gotten a nice chunk of change from the settlement now that he's a partner. She suggests he enjoy his money. Ellen then asks Tom if he ever found out where Patty went when she left town. Tom says all he told her was she was "visiting family."
Flashback two weeks earlier. Patty's at the beach house in the chair by the beach and she puts down her cell phone. Now is when she has her freak out. Then she's driving her car. Then she's at the head stone.
Flash further back to the doctor who says, "You had a little girl. She died before delivery. Is there a name you'd like on the certificate?"
Flash forward to Patty wiping off the head stone. It reads, "Julia Hewes. May 24 1972."
Flash further forward to Patty at the beach house standing on her boat dock looking at the water. Ellen joins her at Patty's request. Patty then does this whole speech about how she very much regrets what they did. She's sorry and she wants Ellen to forgive her and to come back to work. She's ashamed but she wants a second chance.
Ellen says she's going away for a while. Without David, she doesn't have a reason to be anywhere. "I don't believe in the law anymore. But I believe in justice, so I'll come work for you again. On one condition. Let me use the firm's resources to prove that Frobisher had David killed."
It's a deal. Patty thanks her and Ellen says you're welcome.
This is all a little too civilized to be true I'm thinkin'.
Flashback to Ellen leaving Nye and the FBI guys in the limo. She gets out, looks around, then gets back in the car. And the wow moments keep coming.
She asks what the FBI are trying to get Patty on. Fraud, conspiracy, obstruction of justice. Ellen agrees when one FBI guy suggests she might have her own reasons for taking down Ms. Hewes.
Flashback to the "Do your regret what we did" scene. What the...?
Cut to Patty's car leaving for the beach house.
Cut to Ellen going back inside.
Cut to Patty at the beach house.
Cut to Uncle Pete letting Ellen's attacker in Patty's apartment building.
Cut to Uncle Pete in the lobby leaving and telling someone on his cellphone, "It's done!"
Who's on the phone?
Patty!!!
She hangs up.
Cut to Ellen being attacked.
Cut to Patty's freak out
Cut to the apartment being cleaned up.
Cut back to Patty's freak out.
Cut to Ellen telling the FBI, "She tried to kill me."
They want to know how she knows that.
"Because I know Patty."
Cut to Patty on the boat dock, "See you Monday."
Cut to the FBI, "You'll be working for us."
Cut to Ellen walking away from Patty on the boat dock. Ellen in the foreground, Patty in the background.
And James Brown singing, "Got to pay back! Revenge!"
Wow! WOW!!!
I know I went crazy with the exclamation points, but I think they were all justified.
What an awesome episode!
I'm going to bed now.
you recaps have been terrific. i'd like to hear comments on some points that i can't seem to tie.
how did ellen know it was patty who tried to kill her and not the same pair that killed david?
why would patty kill ellen especially if patty didn't know where ellen had the tape?
what was the point of the dead baby?
Posted by: denise | October 24, 2007 at 11:44 AM
Hi Denise,
Thanks for the kind words.
In answer to your questions: Ellen had a lot of time in jail to think about who might have tried to kill her and why. And though I'm sure she suspected it might have been Frobisher's people, I'm also sure Patty was at the top of her list as well. Eventually I think she went with her gut feeling as she said last night, "Because I know Patty."
Ellen was smart enough to deduce how threatening it would feel for Patty to have her secrets in the care of someone who had a conscience and who was having serious regets. Remember after Fiske kills himself and Ellen comes to her office? Patty was very worried about trusting Ellen.
Which brings me to your second question. Patty tried to have Ellen killed because Ellen said she regretted what they did to Ray Fiske. (Episode 9: "Do You Regret What We Did?")
Patty took this as a direct threat to her career. Knowing Ellen, she must have felt Ellen would eventually expose them both. And neither Patty nor Ellen knew about the tape at this time. Ellen only found out about the tape after she listened to the voicemail from David, and that was after Patty left for the beach. In fact Patty only learned about the tape after she got Ellen out of jail.
I think the point of Patty's dead baby was to set up a plot line for a possible second season and also to give us more insight into Patty's character. After seeing last night's finale, I think Patty had her freak out at the beach house not only because of Ray Fiske, but because she had just ordered Ellen's death. Patty sees Ellen in some ways as a surrogate daughter and ordering her murder must have brought up feelings about her own lost daughter.
I hope this answers your questions. Have a great day.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 24, 2007 at 02:06 PM
Yes, your recaps have by far been the best of any available on the Internet for this series!
My loose end, which was never tied up to my knowledge, happened the day Tom went out to the beach house looking for Patty (when she was MIA). He found pictures of Patty as a young woman on the coffee table and then looked up at the wall and found blood stains. What was that about?? Am I just imagining things?
Thanks again for your great work!
Posted by: Jennifer | October 24, 2007 at 04:53 PM
thank you megan. i completely missed the fact that patty and ellen didn't even know about the tape when ellen was attacked. i'm glad someone is on the ball!
Posted by: denise | October 24, 2007 at 07:34 PM
Thanks Megan for the recaps. I appreciate how you give me a different perspective on the show, and also point out things that I overlook. I'm still confused by one thing, maybe you can clarify: So if Scruffy and his accomplice were working with the police, why did they kill David?
Posted by: Monique | October 24, 2007 at 10:05 PM
I loved your play-by-play, Megan. We got to see that interesting mind of yours in action as one stunner after another unfolded. Thank you so much for the work you put into all thirteen episodes.
Monique, Scruffy the Killer was a cop, but he had a second job as a hitman for Frobisher.
Now, on to reading the recap of Desperate Housewives. What a change of pace from Damages!
Joy
Posted by: Joy | October 24, 2007 at 11:41 PM
Hi Guys,
It's great to know my humble electronic scribbles are appreciated. Thanks so much.
It seems last night's episode of twists and turns has got everyone buzzing and filled with questions about plot details. Let's see if I can clarify some things.
First for Jennifer: After seeing last night's flashbacks about Patty's miscarriage, I think we can assume that Patty was at the beach house and feeling nostalgic. That's why she was looking at the pictures. Especially, since as I said in my response to Denise, she had just ordered Ellen to be murdered and part of her---the part that didn't order her to be murdered---sees Ellen as a surrogate daughter.
At the end of Episode 9, Tom finally goes to the beach house to look for Patty and Jennifer you're right he does find some liquid on the wall and broken glass on the floor. To me it doesn't look like blood, but alcohol. Something with a dark color. It looks like Patty threw a glass of alcohol against the wall and the glass broke.
Now for Monique: Last night we found out Scruffy is a crooked detective in the police department but we don't know if his accomplice is a cop as well. The reason they killed David is because they are on Frobisher's payroll and Frobisher said to get the tape back no matter what.
Once they confronted David, they were going to have to kill him whether he gave them the tape or not, because he could identify them and also trace them back to Frobisher.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 25, 2007 at 12:10 AM
Hi Joy,
You are so right, writing "Desperate Housewives" recaps is a definite change of pace from "Damages."
Maybe I'll have to start thinking of Katherine Mayfair and Bree Van De Camp as the Pattys of Wisteria Lane!
Enjoy.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 25, 2007 at 12:18 AM
Thanks for an excellent season. I think these cable shows with their short seasons are definitely at an advantage when it comes to planning out a storyline. In this case, it was done exceptionally well. Just my opinion.
When I read your latest recap, I stopped at some points where I was thinking the same thing, e.g. whether or not Patty had any connection with Frobisher's DUI victim. And when she handed over the tape to the DA, I thought, the way she kept going on it must be something personal.
I love how you can never be quite sure who's who or who's with whom - and of everybody's intentions. Although, I didn't see the Scruffy thing coming, it was a little cheesy for me. Kind of an easy way out there, I don't know.
I'm not sure if I like the premise for the second season (you know, Ellen and the FBI), but I'm sure looking forward to seeing it. I understand the ratings haven't been very favorable but maybe they will decide for a second season just because of the quality of the show.
See you next season, hopefully...
(If you ever decide to recap House, I'll be back earlier ;o))
P.S. Poor David crept back into your recap when you're talking about Michael with his mother and father in the kitchen.
Posted by: Chris | October 25, 2007 at 03:21 PM
P.P.S. Sorry about this. One more question: Fatal Attraction? Where does she fit in? I know she was supposed to provoke the fake fight for the neighbors. But who paid her?
Posted by: Chris | October 25, 2007 at 03:27 PM
Hi Chris,
Funny how David wormed his way into that kitchen scene at Patty's! I must have had David on the brain. :)
(For those of you who don't know what Chris is referring to, I wrote "David" instead of "Michael" in the scene in Patty's kitchen with Phil and Patty's son. I've since corrected it.)
I don't think Fatal Attraction was on anybody's payroll. I think she was a legitimate whack job who was coincidentally in the wrong place at the wrong time for Ellen.
If there is a second season of "Damages" I'll definitely be recapping it. And if I could quit my day job and blog full time, I would recap "House" as well. I'm a huge fan of Hugh Laurie's, but I've been so busy I've only seen the first two shows of the season. The rest are waiting patiently on my DVR.
In addition to my "Desperate Housewives" recaps, I'll be commenting from time to time on shows I enjoy like "Ugly Betty," "Grey's Anatomy," "House," "24," and "Lost." And of course, "American Idol" recaps will return in the new year. Along with my usual ramblings about the media and the world at large, I'm hoping to keep Megan's Minute growing, and I would hate to lose you as part of that community.
So please, don't be a stranger!
Posted by: Megan | October 25, 2007 at 04:08 PM
Hey, back to check what you answered. So, Fatal Attraction was a mere red herring? Somehow, for me that's not satisfactory. Don't you think this will come up again when Ellen investigates David's murder?
Of the shows you mentioned I love House and Lost. The rest I can't seem to aquire a taste for. I have the first season of Grey's and I liked it then but after that it was just too much whining, in my opinion. They are supposed to be professional women, surgeons for crying out loud, not train wrecks. But I understand the argument that professional women have personal lives. I just don't want to see them fall apart like that all the time. I like strong female characters. (They seem to be rare in tv land. Either they're whiny, relationship-challenged "girls" depending on a man to define who they are or they're immoral, mean bitches.) I also checked out the first season of DH but their mixture of dark comedy and soap drama just doesn't appeal to me. (My favorites are House (Hugh Laurie's acting, the dialogue, the characters), Bones (the fact that she's a non-convertible atheist), Lost (but only if they never reveal some supernatural conclusion) and now Damages. Oddly, I also liked FX's Dirt.) Sorry for the off-topic rambling. Seems like I could go on forever about this...
Anyway, I'll check back from time to time, I promise. I got you bookmarked. ;o)
Posted by: Chris | October 25, 2007 at 05:11 PM
This is the first time I've seen your write-up, and I agree that it is GREAT!
I missed the finale (no more cable). You really conveyed to me exactly what happened.
Good job, and thank you.
Posted by: TRW | October 26, 2007 at 05:40 AM
Hi TRW,
It was my pleasure. I hope you'll be able to get hold of a copy of the finale, because it was definitely worth seeing.
And Chris, glad to hear you've got me bookmarked! The only way Fatal Attraction will come back into play is if she and David were really having an affair. Which by the way would make me extremely disappointed in David.
We'll just have to wait and see.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 26, 2007 at 12:17 PM
Megan,
I went looking for Damages blogs because I was sure I was not the only one loving this great show. So glad I stumbled onto yours. Reading all of your recaps now after the finale really helped me put it all together.
Here is a note for you and your readers who might not also be "Deadwood" freaks like I am. The actor who plays the lawyer Marshall, the Peter Krause lookalike (at least in this show) is Garret Dillahunt, a personal favorite of mine and a wonderfully talented character actor who played two different roles on "Deadwood". I was very excited to see him turn up on Damages. He kind of snuck in under the radar this season, but If we get a season 2 I look for him to be key. I expect some dynamite scenes with him and Glenn Close and/or Rose Byrne.
Anyway, thank you for the enjoyable recaps, and I will read your blog regularly now that I have found it.
Posted by: Dawn | October 26, 2007 at 10:22 PM
Hi Dawn,
I knew I recognized Garret Dillahunt (Marshall) but I didn't know from where. I've never seen "Deadwood" but I've definitely seen him guest star in other roles.
I'm thinking you're probably right that if there's a second season of "Damages," he might figure prominently.
I'm thrilled you were able to fill in some of the plot details with my recaps. It makes all those late nights of writing worthwhile!
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 27, 2007 at 04:36 PM
Megan,
Dillahunt is one of those actors who turn up everywhere once you are paying attention! I think he's done Law and Order too. There is near unanimous consent in the commentary on the "Deadwood" DVDs that he is the funniest guy on the set. Apparently he does some killer impersonations. No pun intended - gotta watch throwing around the k-word on a "Damages" blog.
You helped me straighten out the timeline in "Damages" - I couldn't figure out who knew about the tape when.
Also, here is something I noticed when reading the back recaps. Remember in episode 11 there is this line from Patty, with your comment:
-----------------
Patty ends the meeting with, "Make your mother's proud."
Make your mother's proud!? Memo to the "Damages" writers: That line came so far out of left field, it flew in over the fence.
-----------------
Was this comment maybe a subconscious link to Patty's son or miscarriage, or am I really reaching here?
Posted by: Dawn | October 28, 2007 at 12:57 AM
Hi Dawn,
I must be living in an alternate universe because I thought I posted an answer to your comment two days ago (I know I wrote it, because I remember what I said), but all of a sudden I don't see it. So, either I did post it and it disappeared or I wrote it and just thought I posted it.
Either way, I'm sorry it's taken so long for you to get an answer.
To your question about Patty's line, "Make your mother's proud." If Michael had been more prominent in the plot of that episode I might agree with you but since he really wasn't, I think the writer's were reaching a little too deep into the Patty dialogue vault.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 30, 2007 at 10:05 AM
Hi Guys,
This is a copy of a comment from Holly. She posted it in the comment section for my recap of Episode 1 of "Damages," but because several of you have brought up the issue of the date on the head stone, I thought it was more appropriate to be posted here. This is what Holly had to say:
"Just watched the Damages finale (thank God for DVR) and I'm wondering about the date- May 24, 1972- on Patty's baby girl's gravestone. What was the date of Frobisher's wreck that killed his passenger/driver? Could Patty possibly have been in the other car and lost her baby due to him-don't recall them ever mentioning how the wreck happened or if another car was involved? If so then THAT'S why she hated Frobisher so much. Anybody remember the date of the wreck, which was mentioned about 3 episodes or so ago...?"
I thought Holly raised a very feasible possibility about why Patty was so rabid about Frobisher. I'm going to check that episode later today and let you know what was said about the Arlington incident.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 30, 2007 at 10:15 AM
Hi Megan,
in answer to the Arlington question: In your recap of episode 9 you say "25 years ago". That's also what Frobisher says in his dream when he's dancing with Patty, although we shouldn't rely on that. And Patty says, "1983, Arlington, Virgina". Also, the dead girl's name was Cindy Lambert. And there wasn't any mention of another car at all. So no luck there.
But seeing that one scene, where Moore, Fiske and Frobisher meet and discuss the matter, I was thinking, wow, look at the three dead men talking. Makes me wanna go back and watch the whole thing again, and look for further clues that I missed the first time.
Have a good day,
Chris
P.S. I totally agree with you on House.
Posted by: Chris | October 30, 2007 at 12:14 PM
Hi Chris,
Thanks for checking out Holly's question for me. Yep, it was 25 years ago which makes it 1982-83.
Maybe the writers are holding back on a secret personal connection between Patty and Frobisher to expose in a second season. Which I know we're all hoping will be announced any time now.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | October 30, 2007 at 03:48 PM
Hi Megan,
see, how I'm still lurking around?
I keep coming back to Damages because, obviously, I'm not finished with it. And this just occured to me: Have you noticed how on Damages - with its very high body count - almost all the victims are male? The only two female victims, I hope I'm not forgetting one here, are ones that we have never seen - Julia, Patty's still-born daughter, and Cindy Lambert, Frobisher's crash victim/driver. Even the crazy stalker is still alive. And the most powerful, rich guy succumbed to the women's scheming and, in the end, mortality. What I'm wondering now, is whether the producers are trying to make a statement here about how strong women are (Ellen one-upped death) or whether they're afraid to kill off the women because there fearing some kind of manyfold wrath from somewhere (whom? angry feminists who don't want anymore female victim portraits on TV because there are enough out there already or maybe want to crucify someone for showing violence against women?)or trying to elicit some sympathy for the men dominated by the cunning sly females? But really, look at the men that have made it: Michael, who's still somewhere between boyhood and manhood, Patty's husband whom she has well-trained (as she told Ellen once), Tommyhawk (your term for him says it all) and Hollis Nye (I'm not sure about him yet). I'm not saying they're some special type of male (I'm not fond of these kinds of generalization), but all the big male players are dead. Hello matriarchy!
What do you think this could mean? Could it be a coincidence? I don't think so.
Also, concerning your recap, the "someone's steps" that Ellen is sitting on when Patty comes for the tape seem to be the ones to her parents' house (no?) where she sat on the porch with her friends some nights earlier and her mother made cookies (you know, the wholesome family who even visited the woman they hurt in the hospital despite Ellen's advice not to and who helplessly resort to basic consoling techniques when their daughter is accused of murder).
Just some thoughts I had.
Have a good weekend,
Chris
Posted by: Chris | November 02, 2007 at 09:44 AM
Hi Chris,
Glad to see you're still "lurking around."
In some respects it's not coincidence, all the male deaths, but I don't think it's because of a plan by the writers to kill off all the powerful men. I actually think it's a result of the "Patty against the world" premise that the show set up.
Patty's adversaries in the Frobisher case were all men I think because it helped to emphasize Patty's power in opposition to theirs. How she used her power vs. how they used theirs. Plot-wise it wouldn't have been nearly as interesting or realistic to have powerful women as her adversaries.
The men who are left are the men Patty chose to be part of her life like Tommyhawk, Phil and Uncle Pete. It tells us a lot about who she is, that these are the men in her life.
Hence, I think the deaths were primarily plot driven. Some of the bad guys had to get punished. Though Katie could have legitimately been bumped off at any time for knowing too much, just like Greg was.
I still can't recognize those steps Ellen was sitting on. I had the feeling her parents lived in the suburbs because their house had a porch, and those steps looked like the stoop of a city brownstone or walkup.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | November 03, 2007 at 03:17 PM
Hi,
I hear you on the plot driven deaths. And I agree about the reality or authenticity of it all. But in the end, you've got the dead men, and the women who lived. Of course, the show is about Patty and Ellen. And by taking their point of view, the people who make this show, chose the women to prevail.
I think, somebody is still, in this day and age, making a statement by writing this kind of plot. Sure, Patty could have easily been a man, but it wouldn't have made the show half as interesting and it would have been a completely different dynamic. Adding the female to the main character provoked the viewers' preconceived notions about such characters to be questioned and redefined. More often than not, women are still portrayed as the nurturing, the kind, the reasonable, the peaceful and, ultimately, the victims (mostly of male violence, be it physical or emotional). This show sure put some of those prejudices to rest. Remember "Thelma & Louise" in the early nineties? People were outraged at the portrayal of women standing up for themselves using what many thought to be the male perogative of violence because there just didn't seem to be another way. And women aren't like that... Anyway, I digress. Now women can be high profile attorneys who use just the same tricks and loopholes and dirty paths as male lawyers. But still, we are surprised at the subservient (maybe I'm over the top) husband. What I mean is that (or is it just me?) viewers will still surprised at this kind of image of a woman. But there's always this category you can put her in: bitch. Only in this show there's more than one successful woman. Ellen counteracts Patty's bitch. She's ambitious but she also has a conscience. But she isn't afraid of playing the dirt game either. So the portrayal of women on this show is rather complex, in my opinion. And I really like it.
I know, DH does have the cunning and the criminally inclined women, too. But to me, that show doesn't feel real at all. More like a comic book or something. And they're more or less bored housewives with nothing else to do. And there's always the male partner aspect. That's what I like about Damages. While the partners/relationships were there, they weren't the story (like on Grey's Anatomy). They were there to characterize the women and make them into threedimensional people, and in David's case, to get offed for the greater good of the story.
Do you think I'm overthinking this? Can you tell I've had two or three seminars in women's studies? ;o)
I'll stop now. Thanks for still answering to my rants. This is the only place I know for discussing this show. And I hope what I wrote is comprehensible since English is my second language and it's really late where I am.
Anyway, thanks for giving me this forum or opportunity to speak my mind, because obviously this show does go on after the last episode has been long over. Or is it just me?
Greetings from the old world,
Chris
Posted by: Chris | November 03, 2007 at 08:53 PM
Hi Chris,
Very interesting thoughts you have there. And your English is perfectly understandable.
I don't know about in Germany, but I feel like television in the US, especially since cable has come into its own has done a pretty good job of representing a cross section of women in prime time. "Damages" was a good example of that.
What TV here doesn't do enough of is present a range of minority women, especially in lead roles.
That's one reason I love "Ugly Betty." Not only is it funny and touching, it also shows a Latino family as normal, hard working people.
Now shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Ugly Betty" present their women characters with a comic slant, but one reason they're good is there's truth behind the comic fun. The women on "Desperate Housewives" attempt to wield as much power as Patty Hewes, they just do it in a different forum and use different weapons. But their goals for good or ill are often the same: control of their respective worlds and at least as far as "DH" is concerned, a search for happiness.
And I don't know about you, but I wish FX would announce that "Damages" has been renewed. I'm tired of waiting.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | November 04, 2007 at 10:36 PM
Hi Megan,(this is going to be a bit off topic - German tv - and long, sorry)
I wouldn't know about German tv either because I just don't watch it much, especially not German produced tv. I'm used to the big budget shows from the US by now, and the glossy cinematography. That's just how it is. And Germans seem to have a weird sense of humor not shared by me. I'm German but from the East. A lot of German tv is comedy skit shows that bore me to death. The serials just don't draw my interest. They always seem lame, somehow. From my teenage years I remember coming home from school and watching reruns of American shows (Baywatch (yes, I know), Cagney & Lacey (loved it, it's still one of my all-time favorites), Charlie's Angels, MacGuyver, Remington Steele, Heart 2 Heart (how embarrassing), Little House on the Prairie and some others) with my sister. Then I got into The X-Files and stayed with them til the end. That's when it started, my love for American tv. I think, tv on dvd (with multiple language tracks) is the best invention ever - it's like a very long movie.
Anyway, minorities on tv in Germany might be a problem, too. There are many immigrants here as well (from Turkey, Southern & Eastern Europe). The German broadcast system is different from the US one. The first station was federally or state funded. The first private tv station started broadcast in 1984. The distinction is public/ private, rather than network/cable. And because Germany is relatively small (and German isn't spoken in many countries), the production value of tv shows isn't very high. In consequence, the shows aren't as good. I might be prejudiced, because every time I even see a German show, I change the channel. Sometimes I get really bugged by the dubbing of American shows. Just today I watched a couple of Friends episodes on DVD and compared the German version to the original - it's just bad. Yet, American sitcoms are strangely popular despite the fact that only half the jokes
make it into the German version.
About women on tv: After I wrote my little thing the other day, I thought that I might have exaggerated a little with the "no strong women on tv" tirade. There are different kinds of strong, and while they might not all appeal to me, there are probably more shows that allow women to be the leads and to exist in their professional life with ot without the personal. I mean, 24 now has a female president. And crime shows like CSI, Cold Case, The Closer and Without A Trace don't discriminate between men and women (except for the bosses all being male). ER has had a sometimes unsympathetic woman, Dr. Kerri Weaver, who was strong in the workplace and sometimes soft in her personal life. I guess I got a little lost in my own argument there. I just wanted to express my joy at having another show where women are allowed to be a whole person with strengths and (sometimes massive) flaws. I guess it also depends on who makes the shows. Many of the executive postions are still filled with white heterosexual men. So that figures. But that would open another can of worms...
Oh and yeah, I'd love to hear that Damages gets renewed. I'll keep my fingers crossed. I hope FX will recognize what a gem they have there. I mean a show with Glenn Close should never be cancelled ... (they need to attract some other great actors again for the second season). Are you going to report, when you hear/read something? Just in case your readers miss it on the vast web?
Later,
Chris
Posted by: Chris | November 05, 2007 at 07:49 PM
Hey Chris,
Thanks for the 411 on German TV. You can't beat the shared experiences of running home and watching "Little House On The Prairie" to bring people together!
And yes I will definitely post an item as soon as I hear something about "Damages."
Megan
Posted by: Megan | November 05, 2007 at 09:17 PM
Megan, thanks for the *great* recap. I don't get to see the show that often, and I'm a huge fan of Garrett Dillahunt who portrays Marshall Phillips.
Have you seen him in "The 4400" or "Deadwood"? He's one of my favorites.
Posted by: Alexandra | November 17, 2007 at 12:32 PM
Hi Alexandra,
I'm glad the recaps are helping you fill in the gaps.
I've never seen "Deadwood" and I've only seen the first season and a half of "The 4400." But I know I've seen Dillahunt in other guest starring roles.
Now that "Damages" has been picked up, I bet we'll be seeing more of him next season.
Megan
Posted by: Megan | November 17, 2007 at 02:45 PM