'Damages': Whom can you trust?

After watching Monday's “Damages,” I’m fairly certain the only thing we know for sure is that no one is who they say they are.

For those of us who thought this season took a horrible dip in the drama department and pace, this week and last week’s episodes should have put a smile on our faces. The season’s speed has apparently picked up, and now it’s careening toward its gory end.

In this episode, we saw the mask fall on several characters, which set us up for a very intriguing finale as Patty sets out to destroy the Tobins’ inner circle.

Leonard 'Wiggins' out
Isn’t it peculiar to find that Leonard, the strangest one of the Tobin team, may actually be the one with a moral center? I wrote that and instantly I knew I’d probably be taking it back next week. For now, humor me.

Joe has gone off the deep end, inadvertently had his own daughter killed and showed his most major feat of stupidity in telling Mr. Zedeck that he was no longer calling the shots. Marilyn allowed Joe to kill her granddaughter. Carol killed Danielle Marchetti and then went off the deep end. And Louis, well, he created this entire mess. So, a couple weeks ago when I was sure Leonard would get rid of his extorting father, he decided to pay him off.

He probably regretted not just having him killed, though, when he had to bail his father out of jail. Word got back to Ellen’s reporter friend with benefits. That, of course, made Tom’s plan possible.

Tom redeems himself
It’s not clear to me how far back Tom has been plotting. I venture to say that he saw the error of his ways after realizing Ellen took the fall for his mistake in approaching Tessa against Patty’s orders. Nevertheless, he made up for it this week.

After leaking his connection to the Tobin Ponzi scheme himself, Tom publicly resigned from the firm. That allowed him to contact Leonard when he too was cast out from the Tobins after Ellen informed Joe of Leonard’s carpet-bagging past. With no one else to turn to, Leonard strikes a deal for immunity with Tom (via Ellen’s district attorney connections), a deal which I'm not sure is really happening, and agrees to get him back some of his money.

Tom, cast out by his wife as well, takes up residence in one of Leonard’s apartments where the homeless man finds him. By the way, how did he get into the apartment? Will he have something to do with killing Tom? Like I said, no one is what he or she seems right now.

Patty is fooled
It doesn’t happen much, but Patty hasn’t been as astute as we’re used to. She’s borderline schizophrenic with that crazy horse showing up outside her dreams now. She seems indecisive, such as in the firing of the new associate Alex in the last episode. We also see her on the verge of giving up on the case before Ellen gives her a rousing pep talk. She’s not exactly at the top of her game right now. In fact, she was totally clueless about Tom’s plan and her son’s girlfriend’s deception after Patty paid her off to leave. I do have faith that Patty will pull it all together in the finale, but we already know she’ll lose another person from her inner circle before this is all over. How will that affect her already unstable being?

So, it’s that time now: What are your predictions for the finale? How does Tom die? How will Patty recover the Tobin cash? And, why has the show returned to the conspiracy surrounding Ellen’s fiancé’s death?

-- Jethro Nededog (Follow me on Twitter @TheRealJethro)

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Photo: Tate Donovan in “Damages” on FX. Credit: Craig Blankenhorn / FX

Comments

[tim]

looks like timothy olymphant's character returns next week---he wants forbischer dead, doesn't he?

[Jae]

No, he just wants to promote "Justified," which isn't getting the ratings the network wants.

[Sawe]

Clearly, Olyphant wants to finish his story-arc. Properly.
And to kill Frobisher.

[Shoto]

One would think that Frobisher has to meld into the storyline somehow, but I certainly haven't been able to figure it out yet. The appearances this season have looked like nothing so much as Network Time Killers. So what gives?

[bedtimeforbonzo]

I was figuring the Frobisher stuff was setting up a would-be Season 4's centerpiece: a murder trial.

Ellen would replace Tom, naturally. Her District Attorney boss has underestimated her all season and does not appreciate her ability.

As for this season, I felt sorry for the Winstone character. Sure, he's a con artist. But he's no murderer -- otherwise, his creepo father would be dead. And at least it seems so to me, he has been a loyal and good family attorney for the whacked-out Tobins.

And while this may change next week, Winstone -- after being thoroughly degraded by Joe Tobin -- restrained himself and did not tell that piece of crap that he was responsible for his daughter's death.

The homeless man is too obvious a choice for Tom's killer. What's really murky is the car crash with Patty.

Two straight sizzling episodes after a frustrating and slow middle of the season.

[Carmen]

I for one I'm happy that at least one person, Tom, is uncomplicated in his decency and has some measure of integrity. This season it's the male lawyers, ironically, that appear to be the weakest and 'softest' emotionally. Nice twist!

As for the cash, Zedeck, will turn it over. I don't know, but I kinda of trust him to do the 'right' thing by the victims. And Frobisher is looking for redemption for all his sins and he finally will get it. Only it's going to 'hurt' and real bad.

As for Patty and Ellen, they've fallen back to their complex co-dependent relationship. Ellen is dominate and stronger right now, but Patty won't be down for long. With Tom's death she's again haunted by all her old demons, but she eats other people insecurities for lunch, so she'll be back in top form before too long; ready to rule the world.

[adam]

Olyphant returns from one sinking ship to another. It sounds like things are picking up. I want to watch this show again, but when I read people writing things like "Network Time Killers," it seems like watching this show can not be justified. I don't think I could stay awake long enough to make it through an episode.

There should be a disclaimer onscreen when watching Damages, "Caution: Watching may induce sleep, do not attempt to drive or operate heavy machinery afterwards."

[Joanne]

This season has been the best yet in my opinion. I am so sad it is also the last. The most intelligent mystery type show ever on TV and gone after three short seasons.
I'm also going to miss Tom, my favorite character, I guess there's no chance he didn't actually die.

[AG]

Very excited for the possible return of Timothy Olyphant. He'll be reunited with Keith Carradine and maybe the two will shoot up the joint like they did on HBO's Deadwood.

[KarenJ]

Hasn't 'who killed the fiance' been an open issue between Ellen and Patty? Ellen thought Patty was trying to kill her - but accidently killed the fiance - wasn't that how it was left last season? I thought they were ending that loose thread? And Timothy Olyphant would be a part of that... Maybe I've got that wrong.. I don't know.

Looking forward to the season finale. I haven't found this season to be as bad as others. I think we'll be quite surprised as usuall when this all ends.

[damages fan]

"Ellen thought Patty was trying to kill her - but accidently killed the fiance - wasn't that how it was left last season?"

No, you've got it ALL wrong, KarenJ. It was made crystal clear that the corrupt detective who was working for Frobisher killed David (we not only see Frobisher give the detective the "go ahead" ... we SEE the detective and his thug accomplice murder David.

Patty DID try to have Ellen killed. Ellen knew it and she finally got Patty to admit it at the end of last season.

Do you even know what city the story is set in?

[KarenJ]

Gad! Damagesfan - that's harsh. Hope you don't talk to everyone like that? Do you have a clue how to be courteous? Apparently not...