Brain Damages

The PR team that put this ad together for the new FX suspense/ thriller series Damages must have been inside my head because this image depicts exactly how I feel after viewing the first five episodes.

Is it just me or is this show getting more twisted and convoluted each week? I feel like we haven't really learned all that much more from the first installment until now. I can only hope that all the pieces will come together in the season finale, just like J.K. Rowling did with the brilliant seventh and final installment in the Harry Potter series. All creative types could take a lesson or two from her in learning how to tie up loose ends and careful plotting. But I digress…

I fully intend to stick with Damages until the end because I have to believe that it will all make sense when the screen goes to black at the end of the season. The actors are engaging (with a special shout out to Tate Donovan) and the drama keeps me on my toes. I love intelligent television that forces the viewer to pay attention, whether through plot, dialogue or action. However, I get a bit annoyed when a show is riddled with red herrings and cops out on the pay off moments. Here's hoping Damages doesn't cause irreparable harm to my brain by the end of it.

Image courtesy of FXnetworks.com

C.I.A. - (The) Company Is Awesome

The spy game is back in full force with the success of big budget movies like The Bourne Ultimatum (with Matt Damon) and the hit TNT miniseries The Company (with Chris O'Donnell, who starred with Damon in School Ties). While the Bourne flicks appeal to the audience with non-stop action, The Company's lure is deciphering the clues/red herrings and skullduggery, which works well on TV.

As the miniseries draws to a close tonight, the questions dangling as dangerous as the Sword of Damocles are: who is Sascha, the second secret Soviet mole? If it is Leo, what will Jack do? If it isn't, who else could it be? Will "The Troika" reunite or face off in a fight to the death? If Jack is victorious, will the cost be too much for him to bear? What will happen to "The Sorcerer" (Torriti) and "Mother" (Angleton)? What secrets are they hiding?

With only 20 minutes to go, I hope the revelations live up to my anticipation. Since the production has kept me intrigued thus far, I am certain I shan't be disappointed. In fact, TNT has done such an excellent job (rivaling anything done by HBO and Showtime in recent years) that I'm already willing to commit to the next miniseries they offer up, whatever that may be.

Photo by Nigel Parry/tnt.tv