Damages

TV review by Sierra Filucci, Common Sense Media
Damages Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Dark, criminally good legal thriller. Adults only.

FX Drama 2007
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Parents say

age 17+

Based on 9 reviews

Kids say

age 13+

Based on 2 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this TV show.

What 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.

Community Reviews

single991
single991 Adult
June 18, 2018
age 16+

Damages

Damages is an interesting and brilliant show with great characters and exciting twists. Going into the show, I did not know how strong the content was, there was a love scene in Episode 1 which was mild and romantic! However, there was a graphic sex scene in Episode 2 in which a man moans loudly as he has sex with a hooker in the back of his car... very graphic. There was another sex scene in Episode 3 which didn't last very long and was fairly mild. However, the final sex scene in Episode 9 was also very graphic. S2 didn't have many sex scene but there was a scene in Episode 8 in which a man has sex with a hooker again. S3, not graphic, some sex is implied. S4 contained more graphic scenes including an implied foursome, the next morning we see a woman's breasts as she wakes up. Episode 4, a man is tortured naked... graphic! Episode 5 A brief sight of a woman's breasts. S5, by far has the most graphic sex, three sex scenes throughout the season which include a man and woman having sex, with the woman's breasts visible. A strong sex scene with a man thrusting into a woman in bed with her breasts visible. Finally, a man, with his buttocks visible, thrusts into a woman from behind who moans. The sex is infrequent but rather graphic. Drug use: quite strong, cocaine is snorted sometimes, characters smoke and drink. A scene where a woman takes ecstasy pills, and a man smokes a bong. Violence: An unexpected suicide in S1, flashbacks in S1 depict a bloody corpse and a woman covered in blood. In Season 4, a man is tortured, a woman's neck is snapped, shootings, fistfights. Season 5 depicts a very violent scene in the beginning where a woman is held down by people and has her wrists cut with lots of blood. S5 is the most sexual and S4 is the most violent... hope this is helpful!

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
jamestgreen
jamestgreen Adult
December 3, 2014
age 18+

Great Story - Gets Sketchy in Season 4 and 5

The plot and the way the story is told are both really interesting. The adult content is uncomfortable but limited in the first three season. Seasons 4 and 5 the content gets really adult and was too much for me. I sadly stopped watching the 5th season after about 5 minutes.

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 9 parent reviews

What's the Story?

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?

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.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • 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?

TV Details

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