The many strengths of Damages

Season 4 of "Damages" on F/X much like the other seasons has a really complex plot right from the start with two separate timelines that, over the course of the first few episodes, gradually and slowly converge - we hope toward a sharp and clear conclusion, but, if experience is s guide, enjoy the pleasure of this series episode by episode - it always has an improvisatory sense, as if the writers and producers start off with a lot of mysterious elements and they're not clear themselves how everything will resolve - and it doesn't always do so. That said, each season is truly exciting, provocative, and engaging - all that we hope for from a quasi-legal thriller - and more, in that Glenn Close is awesome as the ruthless anti-corporate lawyer we love and hate, Rose Byrne as protegee Ellen has gotten better season by season: as her character matures, we have also watched her mature as an actress (in contrast with this serious dramatic role, she did a great comic turn in Bridesmaides). Each season has a main guest star so to speak, and with Season 4 it's John Goodman, excellent as the CEO of a company that does military ops in Afghanistan on a contract basis: Ellen (and maybe Close/Patty) building a wrongful death suit against the company. Goodman is a devout patriot and trying to be a good man - one excellent aspect of all seasons of Damages is the refusal to make the "bad guys" into cardboard props - they're complicated characters, just like Close/Patty, just like everyone.