Damages, by far, is one of the most dramatic and suspenseful television shows I have come to watch. Each episode is filled with flashbacks, clues, and surprises. Up until recently, I had gotten into the habit of passively watching the episodes and walking away with confusion, shock and perhaps a little bit of fear of what’s to come.
Through Fr. Gary’s classes and with his encouragement, I have begun to actively watch the series. Little did I realize that there are so much to analyze in Damages. There is so much material; it would take months to get through everything. That’s what makes it work – the complexity of characters, plot, premise, EVERYTHING.
At this point, I have begun to look for clues, to try and see if I can figure out what will happen in the last 10 minutes of the episode. Fr. Gary has said quite a few times that in every movie and television show, everything you need to know about that particular episode is given in the first 5 minutes. Unable to believe Fr. Gary, I set out to prove him wrong.
I watched the “Blame it on the victim” episode. Amazingly, no matter how hard I tried, I got sucked into the drama of the series. I was able to pick out a few things that seemed to connect with the beginning of the episode. For instance, the inability to choose was emphasized in the beginning and end – only the situation has changed. In the beginning, she had to decide which kind of cake she’d like to have for the wedding (a much happier situation) and in the end, Ellen is forced to decide between David and her job. The situation is much more intense and dark compared to the wedding cake choices.
Another example is the discussion Tom and Patty had in their office; they were trying to figure out the next move because Gregory Malina has disappeared. Because Gregory is no longer available for trial, Patty has no case. In the end of the episode, we find out that Patty now has a move to make.
I can easily say this – it will be awhile before I am able to really keep my eyes open for clues. The plot becomes thicker and more complex as the episodes unravel. I can only imagine how much more dramatic everything is going to be when I get through the season.
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