Damages - can anyone explain it all?

The final episode of "Damages" Season II was a bit disappointing - it had to be, you knew it would. You could see this story careening toward its ending, with far to many strands to tie together, even in an "extended" episode. Yes, I admit, I was totally glued and captivated by every word, and couldn't get enough of Close on screen. But the way it unfolded finally, sting upon sting, just strained credibility, as well as straining the brain (mine) trying to make sense of it all: Ellen working for FBI trying to "sting" Patti (catching her asking Ellen to bribe a judge), but oddly she warns Patti that they're under surveillance, shoots (at) Patti so as to draw the FBI guy to the scene he's watching, then Ellen goes off to bribe the judge, FBI shows up to arrest not Patti but Ellen, then Tom miraculously appears, with his sister (a U.S. atty) and arrests the FBI guy - he'd been undercover, too, in some manner. Patti off free, for now, but stabbed by the crooked trader, who also goes off (season 3?), but most other principals caught, arrested. Phil story still not resolved. And most of all what about Ellen? She knows Patti tried to kill her, but how will she deal with this in Season 3? Her boyfriend Wes now seeming OK, but he obviously has a troubled past history. Anyway, so much going on here, but the series saved by some great acting, really provocative story editing to keep you engaged, and if some things don't quite make sense at the end, it's hard to complain - it's been a great ride. But there's too much here for any single mind to contain, let alone explain, it all! (I felt that way about Ulysses, too, for different reasons.)