It’s no secret that the ratings for Glenn Close and her Damages TV show have not been very good for awhile. If the series hadn’t gotten a two-season renewal, it likely wouldn’t have gotten a third year at all. Tonight’s episode marks the last of the season and very well may be the last of the series — but not if the Sony studio has their way.
There’s been talk of Sony trying to find a partner like DirecTV to share Damages’ production costs with FX. Unfortunately, the series is expensive and the ratings aren’t good so it’s a harder sell than others. It seems hard to imagine that a buyer could be found but Sony says that they’re continuing to try to make it happen.
Sony maintains that international sales of the show will play a key factor in keeping the show going.
According to the NY Times, Sony makes about $2 million an episode from international sales.
Zack Van Amburg, president of programming and production for Sony Pictures Television, said, “International is critical for these shows,” he said. “Five years ago broadcast shows were more valuable. They were thought of as better-produced and of higher quality. Now cable shows have gone out and performed well.” Van Amburg also says that the series has been a labor of love for the studio.
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If Sony isn’t successful, it sounds like Damages fans will be getting some degree of closure. After wondering for an entire season, viewers will find out how Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) died. Of course, they aren’t the only ones who were kept in the dark. Donovan didn’t find out until shortly before he was to shoot his death scene for the finale.
Damages series co-creator Todd A. Kessler says that, because of the format of the show, the season (or series) finale will have closure. He said, “Each season is one case, so the nature of our storytelling is that the story comes to an end. Tom’s death will forever change Patty Hewes’ life and Ellen Parsons’ life, and in many ways, that is where the emotions of this season end.”
If the show does continue on, Patty will be affected by Tom’s death but, co-creator Daniel Zelman believes, “There’s some question as to whether Patty is capable of taking the full amount of responsibility that she probably should take. Because if she did, she would have to stop. That’s a question we have to answer: Is she capable of taking responsibility or is she stuck in a place where no matter what the consequences are, she has to push forward and hold on to her power?”
What do you think? Would you like to see Damages continue on? If it doesn’t, are you satisfied with tonight’s being the last episode?
Image courtesy FX.
Please have a season 4 for Damages, it’s the best show on TV by far!!!
@susan – couldn’t have said it better myself. I’ve told a few people about the show and they went and got the DVDs for season 1 when the came out. Everyone had the same reaction I did, they couldn’t wait to watch the next episode. I certainly hope they come back for a 4th, 5th, 6th… seasons!! One of the best shows on tv by far!!
This is by far the best show on TV! Bring it Back!!!!!!!!!!!
yes yes yes season 4 please , and don’ t make us wait to long
the best watch on tv for years
I would love to see more Damages. I think it would be good if the writers came up with two more seasons and then ended the series, as it would surely be too difficult to stay at the same high standard for any longer. That said, I wouldn’t be disappointed if the Season 3 finale was the end of the series because all of the stories were tied up and it finished with perhaps the two best episodes in it’s history.
I was hooked from day one, my husband claimed it was a show he didn’t like even though he never watched one episode. Well, this past Feb he had surgery and has to stay home for 3 mos lets just say the dvd’s of Damages weren’t coming to the mailbox fast enough. We are quite upset at the possibility of Damages not returning when they have all these stupid comedy and reality shows returning. What can we do to let the network know how much we want to see Damages continue for at least 6 more seasons
This is the best show anywhere on TV–broadcast or cable. I’ll be crushed if there isn’t another season. Patty Hewes is the most riveting female character ever created. No heroine pedestal, men are afraid of her, but she’s not made crazy either (although they started straying into that territory this season). Just utterly ruthless, morally flawed, and smarter than any of her powerful targets. There’s never been anything like her before–that includes film as well as the small screen.
Yes, by all means-DON’T CANCEL DAMAGES, I TOO AM WATCHING it on DVD again. Glenn Close and Rose Byrne are fantastic!
Oh come on!!!!!!!! Don,t cancel Damages. I,m watching it again on DVD. Glenn Close is perfect for this!
I loved damages and am renting the entire series from netflix. How come no one knows about this show? It well written, extremely well acted suspensful and totally believable…and evil. It is brilliant! I can’t get enough of it….it shows the complexity and depth of human interaction, self preservation and self delusion…..the writers are brilliant….what a cast…..Ted Dansen martin short lily tomlin glenn close rosy byrne…..it is a complete mystery to me why more people do not know about this show….i’ve mentioned it to all my friends and associates and no one knows it! very bad advertising….it should definitely be… Read more »
We loved watching all 3 series of Damages on TV night with our best friends!! We mixed it in with Breaking Bad and Mad Men, our 3 favorite shows … not all good things are on a major network and we certainly hope Damages comes back for Season 4!!
I loved Damages. I think the season 3 finale was perfect. If this is the last season I would be extremely satisfied. I would hate for them to do a season 4 that is disappointing.
Damages had a problem from the start, FX. If the series could have been sold to a major network like AMC, NBC, CBS or ABC it would continue for several more years. People are
watching the show because they don’t know about it. FX, Please sell the show, it’s the only way to improve the ratings and keep it going.
I watched every episode of damages and thought they were wonderful.
I’d love to see another season.
I loved watching Damages. I was always on the edge of my seat. Just when you think you get the storyline, then it would take a sharp turn. I just love suspense like that. To me, there is more in other episodes (if the writers choose) to go deeper in Patty Hewes and Ellen’s past with a new set of case loads to work on. I believe that there could be three more seasons just with that.
Glen Close dissolves into Patty Hewes. The writing is be the best on TV. I thought I had the finale figured out, and at every turn I was wrong. Superior drama. Superior acting. I thought Martin Short and Lily Tomlin were excellent. I’m hoping Season 4 will go forward.