24 LIVEs ANOTHER DAY

Article first published 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY Review on Seat42F.

Jack is back. This week brings the revival of the popular series 24, four years after it went off the air, in a twelve-episode miniseries, 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY. Set in London, Jack Bauer (Keifer Sutherland) emerges from hiding to stop a threat on the president’s life, as only Jack can.

WARNING: The following contains some spoilers, but does not ruin any big twists, concentrating mainly on things revealed in the first thirty minutes or in already-released press. Please read this article in real-time.

Anticipation is high for the adrenaline-fueled show, and I have to admit, watching the two-hour premiere is a bit like getting a fix of an excellent drug, or so I imagine, not being a drug user myself. That’s because 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY releases the same endorphins and chemicals in your brain that 24 always has, scratching an itch in a spot that no other television program quite reaches.

Right from the start, it’s the same show. Keifer’s voiceover of the “events occur in real time” line and the ticking clock are there. While some installments will skip hours, this day being only half the number of episodes as previous ones but still covering a full twenty-four hour period, the premiere is from 11 AM until 1 PM, providing an unbroken starting point. And while CTU is gone, the CIA office featured and the people that staff it seem exactly like CTU, tonally and stylistically. I’m still waiting to hear if the phones share the iconic ring tone.

The opening act is intense, just as it should be. An American CIA office led by Steve Navarro (Benjamin Bratt, Private Practice) closes in on a suspect. It will come as no surprise to those who remember 24’s series finale that said wanted man is Jack, hiding among the homeless. He’s a high value target and Steve is ecstatic to get him, or as ecstatic as Steve probably gets, being a pretty mild person, emotionally speaking.

Quick to catch the attention of viewers is new player Kate Morgan (Yvonne Strahovski, Chuck). In the process of being forced out of her job because of something her husband did, Kate is the new Jack of this CIA branch, smart and wanting to make up for past wrongs. She is the only one that figures out what Jack is up to, and she butts heads with her would-be replacement, Erik Ritter (Gbenga Akinnagbe, The Wire), much to Steve’s dismay. Plus, there’s a tech guy, Jordan (Giles Matthey, True Blood), who likes Kate, but also doesn’t want to lose his job. Here is our familiar, messy dynamic.

Jack is brought into the CIA, but as soon as the president’s office is notified, Chief of Staff Mark Boudreau (Tate Donovan, Damages) orders that Jack be handed over to a special squad that is more versed in torture. Mark has a personal stake in the matter at hand, being married to Jack’s former love, Audrey Raines (Kim Raver), now released from the mental hospital. Mark is also serving under Audrey’s father, President James Heller (William Devane), who is losing his mental abilities. But what is Mark’s plan for Jack? Is Mark a good guy protecting his family or a bad guy manipulating vulnerable people?

It’s gratifying to have Heller and Audrey back on 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY. Audrey is a loose end for Jack, someone he hurt and who suffers a lot. 24 likes to bring recurring players onto the scene over and over again until they die, so admittedly, their re-appearance could spell danger for them. But considering Jack’s history here, Heller and Audrey are ripe for exploration.

It’s also a nifty way to tie in the POTUS, whose office has almost always been a part of 24. Sure, 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY could have staffed the place with a bunch of newbies, but there are enough fresh characters already, and the pacing doesn’t have time to introduce all new people in every aspect. On these two, we can just jump back in.

Jack is beset by many personal concerns. His return is for a mission, of course, but who he cares about hangs so heavily on these first two hours, promising pathos. Chloe (Mary Lynn Rajskub) does figure prominently in this premiere, though for the sake of preserving some mystery, I won’t reveal how she plays a role, other than to say she currently works for an Anonymous-esque hacker organization.

The politics of 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY feel a bit more liberal than past seasons, which have skewed conservative. In the opening, the morality of killing people with drones and whether it’s OK to release classified government documents is debated. The writers may ultimately come down on the protectionist side of things, of which Jack has always played a part, but by casting people Jack respects on the other side of the debate, and I’m talking about more than just Chloe here, it is sure to make Jack and the audience at least consider their stances.

To be honest, the London setting isn’t much used yet. We meet Prime Minister Alastair Davies (Stephen Fry, QI), who will likely figure into the political proceedings, and the initial villain, Margot Al-Harazi (Michelle Fairley, Game of Thrones) seems British, but that’s it, the flavor of the city barely glimpsed. One wonders if moving the production overseas is important or a gimmick, as the answer is not made clear in the premiere.

A lot happens in these two hours, but I’ve said more than enough. Suffice it to say, 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY continues the proud tradition of a great series. If you liked 24, you’ll like this, and if you’ve never seen 24, it seems accessible enough for newbies to jump in at this point. 24: LIVE ANOTHER DAY premieres Monday at 8 p.m. ET.

Blu-ray Review: ‘Argo Extended Edition’

Article first published as Blu-ray Review: ‘Argo Extended Edition’ on Blogcritics.

By now, most lovers of cinema have seen last year’s Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, Argo. Based on the true story of CIA specialist Tony Mendez (Ben Affleck, who also directed the film) and his plan to sneak American diplomats out of Iran during the hostage crisis of 1979 with the help of Hollywood players, it boasts an impressive cast and a compelling story. Now, just in time for the holidays, Warner Brothers has released the Argo Extended Edition.

For those who haven’t seen it, at the start, Iranians attack the American embassy and take a bunch of people captive. A small handful escape and hide with a friendly dignitary. With the noose closing in, and the American government unable to sanction an official rescue, Mendez comes up with the ingenious idea to fake a movie being shot in the area and get the sextet out of danger.

Now, Iran is keeping a close watch on visitors from the U.S., so with the help of Lester Siegel (Alan Arkin in an Oscar-nominated role) and John Chambers (John Goodman), filmmakers in L.A., Mendez sets up a Canadian production with an actual script and full cover identities for each of the people stranded. Then, he himself sneaks into Iran, makes it look like he’s actually scouting locations, and smuggles them back home.

It’s an unbelievable story of courage and ingenuity, one that is inspiring and inspired. Even with the outcome certain, viewers are sure to be kept on the edge of their seat as the tense situation plays out. Yes, some liberties are taken to build suspense, but in general, Argo is about real people, which definitely makes it easy for the movie to make viewers care about what’s happening.

Besides the aforementioned actors, the cast also includes Bryan Cranston, Victor Garber, Tate Donovan, Clea DuVall, Kyle Chandle, Chris Messina, Kerry Bishé, Zeljko Ivanek, Titus Wellivar, Scoot McNairy, Rory Cochrane, Bob Gunton, Richard Kind, and more. It’s a very impressive call sheet, and together, they act the hell of of Argo, delivering some really authentic performances. Combined with an Oscar-winning script, it’s a heck of a movie.

The presentation is fantastic in Blu-ray high definition. The detail is excellent, especially in darker scenes, with rich layers. The soundtrack is great, too, with a full surround effect and a nice mix between background noise, dialogue, and score. It’s definitely on par with most recent releases of modern, big budget films, which are quite good.

As the set title implies, this cut of the movie is longer, about nine minutes more than the version released in theaters. Most of the fresh material concerns Mendez’s relationship with his family. This is nice, perhaps not completely necessary, but still welcome.

Better is the wealth of extras that are included with the Argo Extended Edition. There’s a hardcover book about the production with some neat photos, a CIA ID card for Mendez (as he looks on screen), a map of Tehran so you can better track the setting, and, my favorite, a poster for the movie-within-a-movie.

There are three features exclusive to this disc. One shows the real CIA honoring this operation as part of the agency’s fiftieth anniversary. Another looks into how Affleck brought the various elements of the piece together into this finished product. The third is a mashup of the catchphrase “Argo fuck yourself,” used over and over again in the movie. Besides all of this, a number of previously-released bonuses are present as well. There’s a picture-in-picture to compare what really happened with the film, an audio commentary for the theatrical cut, interviews with Jimmy Carter, Tony Mendez, and others, and a discussion with the cast. Affleck talks about why they shot Argo in Istanbul, documents used for the mission are examined, many of those actually involved in 1979 give their perspective, and more. Basically, it’s a really nice mix of stuff about the movie and insight into the real events.

All of this makes Argo Extended Edition a really nice set. What’s included is pretty much all useful and interesting, without the fluff some releases use to beef up their extras list. Not to mention, all of the additional physical material packaged with the discs, are pretty cool, too. For a fan of Argo, this seems to be the definitive edition to have.

Argo Extended Edition is available now.

Viewers Are HOSTAGES To Popcorn Political Thriller

Article first published as HOSTAGES Review on Seat42F.

HOSTAGES is CBS’s attempt at a drama that is a departure from the procedural, a much appreciated move. It concerns the assassination of the President of the United States, a political thriller with many moving parts and a slew of characters with dark secrets and selfish motivations. Unfortunately, built like an action movie, it falls short of its goal.

The first mistake HOSTAGES makes is starting with a tense scene, then jumping back twelve hours. As I have stated in other reviews, which is evidence that this happens far too often, this storytelling technique is done to death and should be used sparingly. It may be a quick hook, but it’s an unnecessary and unwelcome one.

Another glaring issue I have with that first scene, besides the fact it exists, is that one of the show’s leads, Dylan McDermott (American Horror Story), is incredibly obvious behind a ski mask that sports way-too-big holes. I don’t care what developments happen later in the hour to “explain” why this is OK; what it obvious from the get-go is that this show will choreograph its moves well ahead of itself, and seeing the stars’ faces is more important than logic.

These are two major complaints before the story even begins. Not a good sign, and this trend continues throughout the first installment. We learn “hidden” bits about each of the central family, but they are all easy to see coming before they are officially revealed. Music takes scenes from dramatic to overly so. The action cuts in a certain false way. A main character makes a face on television that she really shouldn’t, and should be noticed by far more people than it is intended to be.

I assume that HOSTAGES wants to be the next House of Cards or Homeland, but despite some terrific actors, it lacks the script, director, and editor to reach those heights. By playing out exactly to formula for a film in this genre, it distracts us from the good moments tucked within the larger cheese.

Things progress in a standard way. We are introduced to Dr. Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette, United States of Tara), who will soon perform surgery on the President (James Naughton, Gossip Girl). Her husband, Brian (Tate Donovan, Damages), is pretty much a caricature of a certain type of spouse, weak-willed and trying to posture to make up for it. Her kids, Morgan (Quinn Shephard, Unaccompanied Minors) and Jake (Mateus Ward, Sports Show with Norm Macdonald), seem like they are pretty well behaved, overall, as far as teenagers go, but also have a shady side.

In the real world, Brian, Morgan, and Jake probably wouldn’t have these vulnerabilities, but they need them here so that they can be manipulated. By extension, so is the viewer. If Ellen’s family were perfect, those who want to pull her strings wouldn’t have the leverage they need. Because the characters are artificially layered in terrible ways, Ellen can be controlled.

Now, HOSTAGES does seek to show Ellen can stand up for herself and will not go along with what she is supposed to do. This should anger the hostage takers who hold Ellen and her clan captive. After which, the bad guys should do horrible things to Ellen’s family. Except, that doesn’t seem to be what this show is about.

The main gang that takes Ellen is led by Agent Duncan Carlisle (McDermott). After the opening, the first time we see Carlisle, he is doing his job brilliantly, catching something everyone else misses. Since he is such a fine, upstanding FBI guy, we know he can’t possibly seem as bad as he first appears to be. The “Pilot” doesn’t get into why Carlisle does what he does to Ellen, but there is obviously more we’re meant to wonder about him, and we certainly won’t believe that he’s evil. Is he being forced to play a part, too? This is the thing that might save Ellen’s family.

Carlisle is joined by Archer Petit (Billy Brown, Dexter), Maria Gonzales (Sandrine Holt, House of Cards), and Kramer Daly (Rhys Coiro, Entourage). The latter makes the mistake of being nice to one of their hostages, which Carlisle dresses him down for, but not in a cruel way. So these are good guys?

By involving the FBI and people that don’t harm innocents, HOSTAGES wants to make viewers wonder at the real motivations behind the plot. Maybe the FBI must take out this president, as some think they did with prior ones, in the name of protecting the country. Maybe their loved ones are in danger, too. Whatever the reason, though, there’s supposed to actually be a sympathetic cause behind their actions.

I’m not saying HOSTAGES shouldn’t go for the onion-format, constantly peeling new layers. It’s just that what unfolds on screen isn’t of the quality one would expect it to be given the premise. Going just by the production, one would think Carlisle and crew were run-of-the-mill villains, which is why it doesn’t seem right that they aren’t. It’s this disjointedness that ruins this show for me.

HOSTAGES airs Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

Deception brings NBC into the soapy drama game

Grade: 85%

NBC's Deception is the network's foray into the genre of soapy drama. This is usually ABC's territory, as evidenced by Scandal and Desperate Housewives. Considering the field has plenty of this type of series already, with versions spreading throughout the cable landscape, can NBC provide something fresh and original enough to set itself apart?

Yes, and no. Deception benefits from the best cast assembled in awhile for such an effort. It also takes itself more seriously than the average prime-time soap, avoiding the cartoonish and over the top elements of its peers. It's an intricate murder mystery steeped in character history, meaning we get flashbacks. It feels like Revenge with a dash of Veronica Mars, so it's not wholly original.

As the "Pilot" begins, Joanna Locasto (Meagan Good, Californication, Think Like A Man) learns her childhood best friend, Vivian Bowers (Bree Wiliamson, One Life to Live), whom she knew because Joanna's mother was Vivian's family's maid, is dead. It looks like a drug overdose, which would be within Vivian's character, but the feds and police suspect murder. Most of their suspects are members of Vivian's own family, so they send Joanna in, undercover, to figure out what is going on.

While there will surely be plenty of plot twists coming up, the one who looks least guilty right now is Vivian's father, Robert (Victor Garber, Eli Stone, Alias, Web Therapy). Robert is warm and welcoming to Joanna, buying her cover story, and inviting her into their home. While Robert is involved in a pharmaceutical company that could have a drug connected to the motive, he doesn't seem the type.

Less sure is Vivian's brother, Julian (Wes Brown, True Blood, Hart of Dixie). Not only is Julian involved in the business, too, but he also has a thing for Joanna, who returns the feelings. This means that her vision may not be clear around him, as evidenced by her shutting off her wire while they cuddle on the dock, throwing her professionalism out the window. Which begs the question, even if Joanna has an in, is she the right woman for the job?

Then there's Edward (Tate Donovan, Damages), who doesn't want Joanna around, but is too grumpy and obvious to be the killer. He is having marital problems with his wife, Samantha (Marin Hinkle, Once and Again), but we don't yet know what's involved. They will probably be the initial focus of the investigation, and then, if the series is predictable, Joanna's allies.

The wild card lies in Robert's second wife, Sofia (Katherine LaNasa, The Campaign). At first, she seems a nasty piece of work who doesn't get along with Julian, Edward, and Vivian. But then we learn that the daughter thought to be hers and Robert's, Mia (Ella Rae Peck, Gossip Girl), is actually Vivian's child, so Sofia can't be all bad.

Of course, we have to have even more twists thrown in, so Joanna's ex, Will Moreno (Laz Alonso, Avatar), is the one who brings her in on the mission, and he still harbors feelings for her. And the first person to blow Joanna's cover, a reporter named Remy (Christopher Denham, Argo), is killed by two men in a black car. Also, Vivian is pregnant a second time when she dies.

There is a great set up here for the era of class warfare, with the dysfunctional, rich family, and a tangled web of clues. The actors sell their roles. But it also has too many familiar elements, which could hurt Deception if it doesn't come up with something new to toss in. And how long will it take the Bowers family to figure out what Joanna is up to? Too long, and they seem dumb, unworthy of an elaborate killing scheme. Too short, and it kills the momentum of the investigation.

Basically, the jury is still out on Deception, and if it will be a weekly viewing appointment. So, to find out, tune in Mondays at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.

Want to read some of my fiction? It's on my website, JeromeWetzel.com! Also, for the latest updates and article links, as well as commentary on episodes I don't fully review, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first posted on TheTVKing

No Ordinary Family Fall 2010

     It's hard to keep up with all of the television on now, especially with so much worthy of review. So with none of the new pilots this falling knocking my socks off, I decided to just let them all build up on my TiVo until I got around to them, and so I wouldn't waste my time with those canceled quickly. As such, today was the first day I began tackling those new series, and did all ten episodes (including a rewatch of the pilot) of ABC's No Ordinary Family in one day. Here's my overall impression, having given myself about one hour to digest and reflect on all of the TV.

     This show is pretty cheesy. So often there are things we are just supposed to overlook. For instance, in the third episode, we're really supposed to believe that Stephanie's (Julie Benz) engagement ring was just found at the scene of another crime, days later? Really? Or that the guys that J.J. (Jimmy Bennett) invited over for poker would just give up all that money to a kid they're not friends with and who claimed to have never played the game so easily? Or in the same episode, two teenagers could so elegantly break into a high school to fix a sculpture? Or that Jim's (Michael Chiklis) fire proof-ness extends to his clothing? Or that the family can afford the suddenly huge increase in budget for food and sneakers that Stephanie requires, not to mention household repairs, without hardship? There's a lot the writers (or maybe editors) are asking us to overlook here and take for granted.

     That being said, there is so much potential in this show, it drives me crazy. Here is a well defined family, with normal family issues, along with the host of new things cropping up because of their super powers. Each of the Powells is handled by a capable actor, and their family chemistry is solid. Not only that, but George (Romany Malco) and Katie (Autumn Reeser), the parents' best friends, are also so incredibly likable, that they have become my favorite characters. This is a very talented cast put together, and they know exactly who they are playing. Whatever level of cheesiness makes it through, I still want to watch these six people, and what they are going through.

     Equally impressive is Will / Joshua / The Watcher (Josh Stewart, Dirt). His creepy mystery has held my attention beautifully through ten episodes, and the more I find out about him, the more I want to know. His motivations are obviously murky, with some allegiance to his boss, Dr. King (Stephen Collins), but some also to unknown feelings. He has not revealed all he has learned about the Powells, and I do believe he may have genuine feelings for Katie, at least, I hope he does. However, I predict a King / Watcher showdown as a centerpiece in the second half of the season, if not the season finale. It's something I greatly look forward to. And if the Watcher survives it, perhaps an upgrade to full time cast member in season two?

     As far as the major arcs and plot twists, there have been some pretty good ones. J.J.'s nemesis slash math teacher, Mr. Litchfield (Jason Antoon) had an excellent run at trying to prove J.J. was a bad kid. I totally believed he would drop the issue when he did, because as much as he watched J.J., I think he knew that something extraordinary was going on, and knew who saved his life. I've also been really into Stephanie and Katie's research of Dr. Volson, as well as everything that goes with that. I dig the whole back story with Dr. King and Dr. Volson, much of which has yet to be revealed. Could Dr. King be Dr. Volson? Only time will tell. Also, why is Dr. King holding on to the body of the Powell's pilot (Tate Donovan, Damages)? The fact that the pilot was played by such a wonderful actor makes me think there are plans for him. There's no need to waste Donovan.

     I also give the show credit for a heck of a fall cliffhanger. Shortly before the closing credits, the Watcher wiped Daphne's (Kay Panabaker) memory, going all the way back to just before she acquired her powers. The Watcher has been shown killing a number of people before this, and not all (any?) of them deserved it. But here, instead of killing, he simply wiped away some memories. Sure, it's cruel, but it's also a bit merciful, for him. Why did he do it, and what will the consequences of his action be? I am fully intrigued.

     This series will not make any Top Television Shows list at this point, because there are still a number of bugs to work out. However, building blocks have been laid that could really prop the series into something awesome, given the right growth. I'm hoping it gets that. Soon, if it wants a second season. No Ordinary Family will return on January 4th.

For frequent mini-reviews and occasional tv news, follow Jerome on Twitter.


Article first published as TV Review: No Ordinary Family Fall 2010 on Blogcritics.

No Orindary Family has an accurate title

    ABC has a new drama that combines the superhero genre with the traditional family formula.  In the pilot of No Ordinary Family, the Powells, along with a pilot, crash landed in a plane into the Amazon River.  The pilot of the plane, Mitch McCutcheon (Tate Donovan, Damages), died in the accident.  But his body is now in a lab, and who knows what will be learned from the corpse.  Did he develop something special, too?  Will be be revived somehow?

     Matriarch Stephanie (Julie Benz, Dexter, Angel), who is a renowned scientist, had brought her family with her on a research trip to study a rare flower that supposedly has lots of mysterious properties.  I assume that the flower is related to the glowing things in the water, and that is how their powers were developed.  Although she told her boss, Dr. King (Stephen Collins, 7th Heaven) about the flora, she did not reveal to him that she now has super speed, and can run in excess of 700 miles per hour.  Stephanie's power of being extremely fast makes sense for her character, as she never felt like she had enough time to devote to her job, her kids, or her husband.  It was why her marriage was suffering and she felt disconnected from her family at the time of the accident.  The rest of the clan similarly got abilities that matched something lacking in their life.  Son JJ (Jimmy Bennett, Star Trek) was the dumb one, so now he is super smart.  Daughter Daphne (Kay Panabaker, Summerland) was laughed at behind her back for now knowing that her boyfriend was cheating on her.  Daphe obtained the power to look into anyone's eyes and hear what they are thinking, making secrets from her nearly impossible.  Husband Jim (Michael Chiklis, The Shield, Fantastic Four) felt weak after giving up his dream of being an artist to take a steady job of sketching for the police department.  Now he is super strong, and can leap, excuse me, bound a quarter of a mile at a time.

     Jim and Stephanie kept their powers from each other when they first learned of them, but each shared the secret with a co-worker, showing that their bond is at less than full strength.  That's because, despite the comic book arechtypes, this is also a family drama, with real family issues to work through.  The series tries to balance the two, and, at least in the pilot, it did a pretty good job of it.

     Jim quickly learns, while chasing down a perp he heard about on his police scanner, that the Powells aren't the only one with extraodinary abilities.  The bad guy can teleport, making Jim's job of catching him difficult, indeed, but he eventually succeeds.  Jim wants to put his newfound talent to good use, and his Assistant District Attorney friend George (Romany Malco, Weeds) is going to help him.  Accordingly, George has built a high-tech command center in his garage, from where the two of them can keep an eye on the city.  No word yet if Jim will include the rest of the family in his activities.

     It's a strange concept, but it doesn't feel like a strange show.  It's a bit unique, but it has the possibility of going somewhere.  Unlike the recently canceled Heroes, the focus of the stories is not on a comic book situation, but the real life relationships in a family.  It's hard to tell how great the series will be from a pilot, but this one was pretty decent.  No Ordinary Family airs Tuesdays at 8pm on ABC.

Damages drowns in blood

    It began three years ago.  Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) stumbled down a dark street, blood on her hands and clothes.  It was quickly renewed for not one, but two more installments.  Now, after a trio of breathtaking seasons, the series may be at an end.  Currently, FX is in talks with DirecTV to split the cost of continuing Damages, but whether that will happen is still up in the air.  Why does such a critically acclaimed, award winning show have to struggle so hard in the ratings?  Perhaps it is the serial nature of it.  But it's well worth the time.


     This year's major case centered around the Tobin family.  True to form, twists kept coming left and right in the final hour and a half finale.  After the suicide of Louis (Len Cariou) in an earlier episode, it was a bit of a surprise to watch his wife, Marilyn (Lily Tomlin) jump to her death.  Beautifully filmed, I didn't even see it happening until she hit the water with a splash.  But will Carol (Ana Reeder) get away with murder?  It appears so.  For now anyway.

     Speaking of getting away with murder, it was wonderful to see Frobisher (Ted Danson) finally get arrested for paying someone to murder Ellen's fiance two years ago.  I'm sad that Wes (Timothy Olyphant, who now his own FX series, Justified) had to go down, too, but it proved the kind of man he is, and that he loved Ellen.  It would be fantastic if they could get back together at some point in the future.  Despite their dark deeds, the bad guys on Damages are frequently shades of gray, and I almost felt sorry for Frobisher, since he turned his new leaf and all.  Almost.

     Turns out, Joe Tobin (Campbell Scott) was really the villain, and the man who murdered beloved character Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan).  Because of that bastard, if the show gets a fourth season, long time third-star Donovan will not be able to return.  Or maybe he will.  Dead characters frequently prop up on Damages, among them, Zeljko Ivanek's Ray Fisk, for which he won an Emmy.  Ray popped up as recently as this week to haunt the people left behind.  But not in a cheesy way.

     I would be remiss if I did not praise Martin Short for the brilliant way he handled the serious drama, as opposed to the comedy that I am used to from him.  Also, Glenn Close is a true star, and proved once again how she can handle entire ranges of emotions in just her eyes, without speaking a word.  Her character may be one who deserves to be taken down more than any other, but you still root for her and care for her.  This season's plot concerning her son, Michael (Zachary Booth) allowed her to show yet more layers to Patty Hewes.

     Please, FX.  Find the money.  Give Damages another season.  To do otherwise would be criminal. 

More Damages have arrived

     One of the best dramas on television, Damages, has just returned for a third season on FX.  There was much to like about the season premiere last Monday, including a new, lighter tone with welcome brighter colors.  That's not to say there isn't plenty of twisted stuff still going on.  In fact, one of my favorite characters, and one of only three principal actors in all three seasons, is shown dead in a body bag at the end of the episode.  Of course, much of Damages takes place in flashback, so the character will still be around for at least this year, if the person is actually dead, which I have my doubts about.  Either way, killer way to end the special no-commercial episode!

     As this season begins, ten months after the last, Ellen Parsons, (Rose Byrne) though she has forgiven her former boss, has moved on with her life and now works for the DA's office.  Meanwhile, the former boss, Patty Hewes (Glenn Close, who has deservedly won multiple awards for this role) is just getting around to allowing Ellen's office to be cleaned out, though she is certainly in a better mood than when we last left her.  She is even allowing longtime employee Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan, The OC) to add his name to the door of her firm.  Meanwhile, Tom has remained friendly with Ellen, and when Ellen suspects Patty secretly helped her with a client, the three are entwined further together.  If it wasn't Patty, who was it then?  One of these season's many mysteries, surely.

     The big case of season three deals with a Ponzi scheme of Madoff proportions.  The head criminal here is Louis Tobin (Len Cariou, Into the Storm), and both Patty and the DA are trying to bring him down.  Tobin's family is brilliantly cast, including Lily Tomlin (The West Wing, The Magic School Bus) as his wife and Reiko Aylesworth (24) as his daughter in law.  Joining the cast full time are Tobin's son Joe (Campbell Scott, Royal Pains) and family friend slash lawyer, Leonard Winstone (Martin Short, Primetime Glick, Father of the Bridge, Three Amigos).  Short, usually a comedian, plays this ore dramatic role well, and despite limited screen time in the first episode, he has managed to impress already.  Add to that the promised return of Frobisher, (Ted Danson, Bored to Death, Becker, Cheers) there will surely be no lack of star power.  Yet, unlike other shows, it never feels like stunt casting on Damages.

     This season's mystery will continue tonight and every Monday at 10pm on FX.