TVSquad

(S02E13) "I've been having one helluva shitty month and someone is gonna pay." - Patty

Another great ending to another great season of television. The general consensus seems to be that season two of Damages far outpaced season one. They were pretty tied up for me - that was, until last night's finale. Just like the first season, by the time we got to the end, we'd already seen most of the episode because of all the flashbacks. Same goes this time around - season two's flash-forwards provided us with a pretty solid sense of what to expect. The beauty of Damages is that there was still about 20 minutes worth of plot holes that needed filling. Seeing it all play out, in order, was phenomenal.

Damages has lived up to the hype. After a jaw-dropping debut season that garnered Glenn Close an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her turn as Patty Hewes, the FX legal drama roared back in January amid speculation regarding whether or not the unique storytelling techniques used in season one could be re-created again. The result? Eight episodes into the new season and Damages is as thrilling as ever.

However, after learning that Patty is indeed the person being held at gunpoint in last week's final moments, it proved one thing - Patty isn't the only one in the hot seat. The creative team behind Damages should be sweating too.

(S02E01) "Actually, I take that back. You should be scared. You should be terrified." - Ellen

Payback's a bitch, ain't it? Not if you're Ellen Parsons - then it's a slow, methodical, patience-testing process where it apparently takes six months before you get to shoot a gun. And thus begins the second chapter in the twisted law legacy of Ellen Parsons. After one episode, David Connor's killer is no longer the issue at the top of everyone's mind.

Four or five episodes ago, you might have caught me saying that I was getting sick of Damages. It was getting slow and I was tired of all the questions. But with each week after that, things turned around and last night's finale definitely made up for any shortcomings this phenomenal season had. If FX doesn't renew this show, I'll be more disappointed than when Showtime canned Huff. All the big questions got answered. The ones we were left with won't drive you crazy. Plus, just as Tate Donovan promised us, we got one hell of a set-up for season two.

Gallery: Damages - Season One

(S01E12) "Ellen... I can trust you?" - Patty

I think the best word to describe this episode was safe. Was it bad? No. However, it wasn't outstanding either. Then again, there is something respectable about giving your viewers exactly what they've been expecting all along.

Of course, the inherent problem with a show set-up like Damages is that when you finally reach the pivotal episode when past and present collide, you're forced to re-watch all the scenes from past episodes. Seeing them in order is an added bonus, but Damages is like The Wire. Neither show treats viewers as being stupid and I think most people who watch this show had already pieced together the puzzle and were just waiting for those few remaining holes to be filled.

(S01E11) "You're a baptist, right Ray? Repent!" - Patty

This was the first episode this season since the pilot where I really felt a tense energy. It's definitely because we're getting closer to the point when the past catches up to the future. We went from eight days away, to six, to two in this episode and now I'm just waiting for the point when the toned down colors of the present suddenly change to indicate that we just crossed the line. For those that saw the previews for next week, it looks like that's coming up. This week gave us plenty to discuss though.

It might be a possibility after all. Despite enduring through weeks of abysmal ratings, Ausiello is reporting that FX may actually renew Damages for a full 13 episode second season.

For those of you that are scratching your heads, don't forget that this is the same network that plans to bring back Dirt after the new year. However, look at it this way -- Glenn Close along with Courtney Cox are the only two strong female leads currently in the FX original series line-up. So it's not surprising that FX brass would want to keep them around and develop their shows beyond one season.

(S01E10) "I'm so sick of your bullsh*t." - Ellen

And there it was. The moment that we weren't necessarily waiting for, but definitely were expecting. Ellen strikes back. She went from being timid to bold enough to tell off Patty -- the woman who made her that way. However, despite that and some other stellar moments in this episode, I'm officially frustrated with Damages. It really is one of the best things on TV right now, but it has also knocked off Lost as the biggest culprit in terms of the questions to answers ratio. The one silver lining is that it's a cable show and rather than wait a full 22, we'll hopefully get some results in the final three episodes over the course of October.

I'm not saying lay it all out. I still want a good finale... but give me something. It's no fun when a show of this caliber spends a whole hour doing nothing but confirming assumptions that we've had for weeks now.

(S01E09) "I want you to feel the disgust in your children's eyes when they look on you in shame." - Patty

Well, that certainly made up for the last few weeks. It's been slow to build, but I think that most of what's going to shape the rest of this season took form in last night's episode of Damages. Granted, a lot happened. Definitely a blink and you missed it kind of situation. But then again, that was one of the things that made me fall in love with the pilot in the first place. I'm actually starting to believe that the writers may be able to wrap this season up with a logical and satisfying ending.

(S01E08) "Patty Hughes has ears too! Maybe I'm talking to the wrong person." - Larry

Despite the minor complaints about this show that I think most people have been expressing, I tell you what -- it still holds your attention for the whole hour. I'm almost getting used to the fact that Damages has a tighter lipped writing staff than Lost does.

So what does that mean for this episode? Well... not much. One bombshell that I think we all knew was coming got let out of the bag and a few other little tidbits were let loose too. I think one of the most bothersome things for me is that new info doesn't come when you expect it. Stuff gets revealed in conversations that don't necessarily relate to the revelations. If anything, it keeps you on your toes as a viewer. I think I use my DVR remote to rewind scenes from this show more than anything else I've ever watched.

(S01E07) "Is this a hydrangea?" - Patty

This episode concerns me. Remember the promo for last week? It touted this as being the episode that reveals it all, clues you in, and suddenly adds clarity to the otherwise confusing plot we've been accustomed to so far. Did we get that? Sort of... but not really. Nothing Earth shattering was revealed and the stuff that was let out of the bag ended up creating only more questions. A lot of commenters have noted that this show is starting to feel like Lost for that exact reason. I love Lost. I'm thoroughly enjoying Damages too, but there comes a point when viewers need to be rewarded for their interest. This is a cable show. We've only got six episodes left, meaning that we've eclipsed the half-way point of the season. I'm just as confused as I was after the pilot.

(S01E06) "Maybe a chapter on my dyslexia?" - Frobisher

Up until this episode, I've had a hard time deciding who I ultimately wanted to root for. Patty and Arthur are both horrible examples of good human beings, but I still found reasons to like both of them. Not any more. After this episode, I'm finding it incredibly hard to sympathize with Frobisher. Not because he's a bad guy. He's an idiot and doesn't even realize it!

It was pathetic really. He honestly believes that people give a damn about anything in his life other than the current scandal. No one cares about his speech impediment, how he played varsity sports, or his time in the Boy Scouts. All along we've known Arthur did it, but up until this point I at least though he had a brain. The man is delusional. He truly had no idea how that book deal was going to play out. Maybe he does actually think he's innocent.

(S01E05) "Walking out of your own last supper?" - Patty

This was a bit of a split for me. While this was an enjoyable episode, it got a little bogged down with all the Tom scenes. We got the idea pretty early on that he was uneasy about leaving Patty, but it was continually pounded into our heads over and over whether it be through conversation with his buddy (Donal Logue was an odd choice, no?) or through straight hallucinations of Patty with him in the men's room. It just got redundant and took away from the episode as a whole.

(S01E04) "Trust no one." - Patty

I assume we're supposed to find it funny that Patty, of all people, was the one offering that nugget of wisdom to Ellen. I think what's more amusing is that Patty herself doesn't adhere to her own advice. I actually believe that Tom entertaining Martin's offer may be the first thing in this show that's gotten by Patty. She's so involved in the Frobisher case and views Tom as such a loyal puppy, that I don't think she'd ever see this coming. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me in the least if she did know all about it. Hell, she let Katie perjure herself just so she can blindside Ray with an even bigger bomb-shell. Gregory is deeper than we thought.

Well, I shouldn't say that. Of course he has some involvement. Why else would his character exist? Now we have an idea though. He's been in bed with Frobisher and his broker from the beginning. For whatever reason, Greg owned some of Frobisher's stock and then pulled a Martha Stewart days before Frobisher went on his little spending spree. One answer... far too many new questions.