# Damages (2007)

> A ruthless litigator and her protégé navigate morally compromised cases at a top New York law firm, with a tense conspiracy running beneath every season.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/tv/4671

## Facts

- Seasons: 5
- Episodes: 59
- Episode runtime: 50 min
- Status: Ended
- Genres: drama, thriller
- Created by: Allen Coulter, Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler
- Network: FX, Audience
- Cast: Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan, Campbell Scott, Noah Bean, Željko Ivanek, Martin Short
- TMDB rating: 8.1/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0914387/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: brisk
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: dense
- Violence: mild
- Tone: tense, bleak, intense

## What critics say

Critics broadly praise Damages for its sharp legal plotting and the lead performances of Glenn Close and Rose Byrne, though the later seasons are seen as less consistent than the early ones.

## Synopsis

Damages follows a high-powered New York litigation firm and the cases that test its lawyers' ethics across five seasons. Glenn Close plays Patty Hewes, a formidable attorney whose ambition and willingness to bend the rules drive the show's central tension, while Rose Byrne's Ellen Parsons is a newcomer who gradually discovers how deep the compromises run. Each season is built around a sprawling civil case with corporate villains, wealthy defendants, and vulnerable plaintiffs, and the storytelling keeps the audience guessing about who is telling the truth. The tone is severe, tense, and often bleak, with a steady undercurrent of paranoia and moral unease. Nonlinear reveals and flash forwards tease outcomes before explaining how characters arrived there, creating a sense of dread around every courtroom victory. Its mood is intense and adult, with strong performances carrying much of the weight. Viewers who enjoy character-driven thrillers, power struggles, and shows where no one is entirely innocent will find it absorbing. The series rewards close attention and offers a grim but satisfying look at ambition, loyalty, and the cost of winning.

## Shows like Damages

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