"Damages" Recap & Review - "A Regular Earl Anthony"

Damages
“A Regular Earl Anthony”

Original Air Date: August 21, 2007

Tom R - TwoCents Staff Writer

OK, does anyone else get the reference? A title referring to a professional bowler. How’s that for unique? Yeah…kind of a geek check, isn’t it? Until the line comes up and you realize they’re talking about Tom carrying a couple bowling balls in his trousers.

Thanks to FX for today’s marathon so I could catch this episode.

Past:
This is Tom’s episode as he is courted further by the Cutler firm, who now offer a full partnership, something Patty will never give him. You do get the feeling that it will always be Hewes and Associates, as if only one person matters.

With Katie’s testimony falling apart, Frobisher ignores Fiske’s advice and rescinds the offer. In the Frobisher camp, this leads Arthur’s inside man in the plaintiff pool to confront him, at which point Frobisher presents him with a different strategy. In the Hewes camp, all roads lead straight to Greg Malina, but Patty needs Ellen to discover the connection to make things look more legitimate.

Arthur’s insider coerces the plaintiffs to replace Patty as lead counsel. Since Tom was her second chair, and since he is no longer affiliated with Hewes and Associates, they offer him the case. Fiske reads him for a pushover and tells him to name his price to settle the case. This leads Tom to express that his intent is the same as Patty’s. The case will go to trial. His dismissive parting glance to Fiske is the shining moment this episode. Eventually, he relents and rejoins the firm, handing the case back to Patty, but his negotiating tactics are no match for Patty, so partnership is the only demand he misses.

Present:
Ellen tells Hollis that someone tried to murder her in Patty’s apartment. As the police arrive, we see the past and present collide as we hear Patty’s mantra:

“Trust no one.”

Makes you wonder. Is she warning Ellen? Or is she warning us about Ellen? Oh yeah…like we need another reason to stay tuned!

First minor disappointment comes in this episode. Tom rejoins the firm and gets Patty reappointed as lead counsel, even though we have seen what the case means to him. At the very least, I would have loved to see a scene of him convincing the plaintiffs. Of course, if that’s the only regret after five episodes, we’re doing fine.


Damages airs Tuesdays at 10 PM on FX and repeats immediately and during the week.