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“Damages” finale delivers

So, was it good for you? Damages ended its first season last night and those (sadly, few) of us who sat through every twist and turn of this exquisitely twisty, turny legal thriller finally got to see all the pieces of this complex moral jigsaw puzzle fit into place. Stepping back and looking at the finished whole, I have to say wow.

***Spoiler alert, so if you haven’t finished watching, what are you waiting for?***

The finale managed to both satisfy and leave you hungry for more. While we found out who killed David in the penultimate episode, last night’s show answered just about every other burning question. And while the payoff of finally finding out who did what and why was great, it almost wasn’t the point. Along the way, the series has morphed from a classic murder-mystery whodunnit to an in-depth character study in morality, or, more precisely, immorality.

From the show’s riveting premiere (which I watched so intently, I almost forgot to breathe) and throughout its 13-episode run, Damages has never ceased to impress with its sophisticated storytelling, nuanced acting and operatic cinematography. But I’ve been most impressed by its inherent trust that the audience was smart enough to navigate its treacherous ethical minefield. Was it perfect? Of course not. The stalker girlfriend red herring was unnecessary and Patty’s lingering grief over a stillborn daughter came out of left field. But the real treat week after week has been watching Glenn Close and Rose Byrne square off as intelligent, powerful and independent women. And, sure, the power suits didn’t hurt either.

How many other shows have given us such strong, albeit it morally challenged, lead female characters as Patty Hewes and Ellen Parsons? Heck, how many other shows revolve around two female characters, period? And what other series allows its rich cast of characters to reveal themselves so completely? While it would be easy to make cartoon villains out of ruthless litigators like Patty or corporate raiders like Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson, showing layers never seen on Sam Malone), the series resisted all such shorthand and instead waded happily into the murky gray area that defines real life. Seldom are we all good or all bad. Even the most evil among us have good qualities, and the most virtuous have weaknesses.

FX has yet to renew Damages, which is a true shame. I don’t know if I’ve seen another finale that so brilliantly tied up the season’s loose ends, yet somehow managed to unravel a whole new set to potentially be explored next year. Throughout this season, I kept wondering how the show could possibly come back for a second season if the Frobisher case got resolved. Now, I couldn’t imagine not finding out what happens next. Patty vs. Ellen Part II? I hope I remember to breathe.

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