There's something about American dramas which makes British broadcasters, Sky excluded, think they can just be shunted around the schedules. I think I've already mentioned Entourage on previous posts, but Damages is another great example.
Now down to its last episode, it began life on a Sunday night just after the 10pm news, but suddenly switched a post-news slot on a Monday, repeated on a Friday.
For a drama which required your complete attention from beginning to end, such a move ran the risk of alienating viewers, who might just give up. Well lets all praise Sky+ for ensuring not an episode was missed.
The sad thing is that people should be gathering round watercoolers and discussing Damages in the same way they chatted about Spooks, or connecting via the web in geek forums to work out what is going on in the same way they do about Lost, day after day after day after day.
It's gripping stuff. Well casted, brilliantly written, excellently shot, and with an opening titles sequence which gets you excited about the next 45 minutes of telly.
For the last 12 weeks, we've watch a drama which appeared to begin at the end. (I've used Wikipedia to help with the next bit). It followed the life of Ellen Parsons, who is seen running through the streets covered in blood. Cut back to her apartment and her partner David is dead in the bath. Ellen is prime suspect.
Then, we shot 6 months further back to when Ellen landed a job with notorious lawyer Patty Hewes, played by Glenn Close. She's ruthless, is Patty, and she's doing her best to bring down
billionaire Arthur Frobisher.
In a case reminiscent of Enron, Frobisher is accused of insider trading and lying to his employees about the health of his company even as he unloaded his stock.
Patty soon employs a variety of extreme, unethical and illegal methods to try and win the case on behalf of former Frobisher employers. For example, she has the pet dog of a witness killed in a manner which makes it look like Frobisher is responsible.
As the series progresses Ellen becomes more and more involved in the case, and in the shady dealings which Patty engages in. Part of this is due to Ellen's personal connections to the case.
Her fiancee's sister turns out to be an important witness in the case. For most of the series, Ellen skirts to edge of what is unethical, but eventually comes to cross that line.
As Ellen becomes more and more devoted to the case, her relationship with her fiancee becomes strained. The situation is not helped when Patty betrays his sister. Eventually Ellen and David tire of Patty and Ellen publicly leaves Hewes and Associates.
However, she still has an interest in the case and soon becomes embroiled in it again.
All the time, we switch back and forth over a six month period, with the key message being things should never be taken for how they seem.
The main plot focus of these flashes was the murder of Ellen's fiancee David and the apparent attack on Ellen that same day when she was staying at Patty's apartment.
According to Wikipedia (I'm just waiting to watch the last episode): "Until the final episode speculation over the identity of the murderer switched between a whole host of characters including Ellen, Patty, Frobisher, and a stalker who David acquired.
Tonight (Monday, 10.35pm), we find out how David dies. No surprise, it won't be Ellen. But who did it? Does Patty win the case? Does she have any morals?
The good news is that Damages is out to buy on DVD if you've missed the series. I'd say buy it. It has the drama of 24 and the gripping edge of West Wing. Failing that, having read this, get a taste for it when the final episode is repeated on Friday - and then look out for series two and three - which the main stars are all lined up for.
It's a great drama, sadly wasted by the BBC.
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