Damages A Pretty Girl in a Leotard
Original Air Date: Feb 11, 2008
Tom R. - TwoCents Staff Writer
tom@thetwocents.com
During the course of the episode, Ellen is given a package that was classified “undeliverable”. That unopened package serves as a metaphor for the show itself…Something from Ellen’s past returns unexpectedly, and although it’s wrapped in nice paper, and it comes with a friendly note, there’s an overwhelming sense that when it’s opened, everything will change. The series has built a reputation for attaching those metaphors to the simplest of glances, phrases or everyday objects.
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[photo: FX.com]
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During the course of the episode, Ellen is given a package that was classified “undeliverable”. That unopened package serves as a metaphor for the show itself…Something from Ellen’s past returns unexpectedly, and although it’s wrapped in nice paper, and it comes with a friendly note, there’s an overwhelming sense that when it’s opened, everything will change. The series has built a reputation for attaching those metaphors to the simplest of glances, phrases or everyday objects.
ReplyDeleteThe same can be true about Patty’s decision to hit the airwaves, publicly accusing Kendrick of murder and exposing the dangers of aracite. She keeps Tom off-balance with her reasons as Claire files a defamation suit. By the time Patty settles the case and gives five million dollars to a West Virginia charity, UNR stock has dropped in value and a major stockholder has filed suit against Kendrick.
Last season, Katie was stalked and almost attacked by one of Messer’s associates. In this episode, her purse is almost stolen. She arrives at the police station to file a complaint, and as she waits, she recognizes a cop as the earlier attacker. Since the FBI tells Ellen they are not authorized to investigate, she turns to Patty for the research. The research pays off at the same time that Katie talks to Internal Affairs. To keep the connection untraceable, Messer kills him. Flashing forward four months, we see Messer enter Ellen’s apartment, ready to kill her.
The title comes from the ballet, the one bit of New York culture that Kendrick can stand. At this performance, he runs into the freshly scrubbed Arthur Frobisher, who warns him against getting into the ring with Patty. Kendrick takes this as a challenge, pressing the defamation suit. As they settle that suit, Kendrick is feeling cocky until Claire is served papers for the lawsuit. As Patty returns to her office, we find out that the plaintiff in the case is Frobisher. Patty conveniently hides that fact from Ellen. Although it’s never spoken, the move seems certain to reveal to Patty who Ellen’s target truly is.
In another take on the unopened package, the enigmatic Mr. Powell buys a Cadillac SUV. He passes the keys to Kendrick, who in turn passes them to his agent. Again we wonder where this is leading. The fact that we’re wondering and not shrugging is, of course, what sets this show apart. The follow-through on this strategy is even stressed in the trailers and teasers. There are key phrases and moments that make you wonder what happened before and after the half-second that is shown.
And I think it’s safe to assume that Ellen didn’t get a toaster.
So there’s my TwoCents... I’d love to hear where your thoughts. Drop in your comments or send me a note at: tom@thetwocents.com.