Damages - TV-MA

Dark, criminally good legal thriller. Adults only.

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Common Sense rates it
4
Seen the show?
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details
  • TV Rating: TV-MA
  • Network: FX
  • Cast: Glenn Close, Ted Danson, Rose Byrne
  • Genre: Drama
  • >Available On: Download

Parents need to know

Parents need to know that this legal thriller contains several bloody scenes, including one of a man who's been brutally murdered. The camera lingers on his slashed, mutilated body, as well as the blood-smeared walls that indicate a violent struggle. One scene shows a dog with its throat cut lying in a pool of blood. At least one sex scene; it shows very little but is very intimate, with close-ups on slow kissing and skin. Several characters seem good but turn out to be bad. Overall, the series is dark and tense -- not great for kids.

Families can talk about winning at all costs. Is winning a goal in itself? Can you think of an example of something that's worth winning no matter what the cost? What drives people to compete? Is it ever OK to use people to accomplish a goal without their knowledge?

Message

Social Behavior:

The main character seems to be a good, moral person, but she becomes involved with a cutthroat boss and wrestles with doing the right thing. Her boss fights for good causes but uses underhanded, illegal, and cruel means.

Consumerism:

Mention of Quiznos.

Drugs/Alcohol/Tobacco:

Several social drinking scenes, including a comment about liquor helping a person deal with stress. At least one peripheral bad guy smokes cigarettes.

Violence

Several bloody crime scenes, one showing a dog with its throat cut and another showing a man slashed up. Threats of violence. Motorcycle accident (no blood).

Sex

At least one sex scene that shows very little but feels very intimate, with close-ups on slow kissing and skin.

Language

Frequent profanity, especially "s--t," though "ass," "bitch," and "hell" are also used often.

Common Sense says

What's the story?

Reviewed by Sierra Filucci

This cinematic legal thriller captures the dark, fascinating world of big-time litigation. Glenn Close stars as Patty Hewes, a cutthroat attorney at the top of her game who faces off against allegedly corrupt billionaire businessman Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson). In the middle is beautiful, brilliant young lawyer Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne), whom Patty chooses to mentor.

Is it any good?

4

From the start, viewers know something terrible happens in the end. But the primary narrative occurs in the past and unravels a mystery that is as twisted as it is compelling. The first few scenes show Ellen running out of a fancy New York City apartment building streaked with blood, wearing underwear and a trench coat. The shell-shocked look on her face suggests she's seen or done something horrifying. Only later do viewers see the gruesome scene she's fled.

With high production values, top-notch actors, and a juicy mystery, DAMAGES watches like an hour-long film that keeps viewers itching for a sequel. Luckily for fans, the tense and sometimes frightening episodes keep coming. With several bloody scenes, including a lingering close-up on a brutally murdered victim, as well as some highly intimate moments, Damages is best saved for after the kids are in bed.

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Parents and kids say

All Reviews

There are 3 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/06/08 by solidsnake7993 Kid contributor, age 15

Good Stuff

good show
4

Posted on 10/07/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Very interesting show, but watcher beware!

I watched this show for at least 6 episodes and just decided that was enough. Loved the plot, characters, etc. and the actors were great, but I kept seeing things that I can live without. Violence was definitely borderline in my opinion, but the sexual content was just too much. Not every episode had it, but enough that I decided to boycott. At one point they did reruns of early episodes for those that missed and each one was TV-14. If they would edit the Sunday rerun to TV-14 I would TIVO and continue to watch. Definitely would never want my kids to see it.
5


Posted on 08/07/07 by scenesteeler Adult contributor

THE BEST EVER!

The best ever on TV! Glen Close and Ted Danson are awesome actors and their characters leave you wondering about their "character". I can't wait to watch each week. I watched each episode twice and each time I learned something different that I didn't see the first time. A true mystery!

Adult Reviews

There are 2 reviews.

4

Posted on 10/07/07 by Anonymous Adult contributor

Very interesting show, but watcher beware!

I watched this show for at least 6 episodes and just decided that was enough. Loved the plot, characters, etc. and the actors were great, but I kept seeing things that I can live without. Violence was definitely borderline in my opinion, but the sexual content was just too much. Not every episode had it, but enough that I decided to boycott. At one point they did reruns of early episodes for those that missed and each one was TV-14. If they would edit the Sunday rerun to TV-14 I would TIVO and continue to watch. Definitely would never want my kids to see it.
5


Posted on 08/07/07 by scenesteeler Adult contributor

THE BEST EVER!

The best ever on TV! Glen Close and Ted Danson are awesome actors and their characters leave you wondering about their "character". I can't wait to watch each week. I watched each episode twice and each time I learned something different that I didn't see the first time. A true mystery!

Kids Reviews

There are 1 reviews.

4


Posted on 07/06/08 by solidsnake7993 Kid contributor, age 15

Good Stuff

good show
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