See Jane Clack – Grace Hanadarko vs. Patty Hewes
In my DVD post this week, it occurred to me that Saving Grace’s Grace Hanadarko and Damages‘ Patty Hewes are a lot a like. Well, maybe not so much alike, but they’re both intense and tend to live life on the edge. Let’s take a closer look at these two chicks and see how they compare … or not …
Hair: Wild vs. Neat. Grace boasts a long mane that flies everywhere and is indicative of her unrestrained outlook on life. Patty, on the other hand, has a cropped ‘do with never a hair out of place unless she’s been stabbed and has collapsed in an elevator. Even then, the hair is still prim and proper, much like her ability to sit through a conversation without letting on she’s been stabbed.
The West Wing got it right
With the 2008-2009 network television season in the bag, and a dreary 2009-2010 season to look forward to, I find my mind a wandering back in time. As easy as it is to stumble back on The West Wing anyway, my stroll was aided by a recent conversation being held over the highs and lows that West Wingers past have been hitting on USA Network’s In Plain Sight.
While the topic need not be revisited (I can only tell Ivey he’s wrong so many times), Modwild got me thinking about just how well some shows cast their guests. Not that certain actors are deserving of a certain level of quality parts, but rather, that there’s a fine art to assigning an actor to a role.
While there are countless examples of how to, and not to, do this right, The West Wing, in particular, stands out as an example of casting done brilliantly. Over its life, guest stars big and small took both short and long turns on the show, and in a world where most things fall into predictable percentages, The West Wing got it right more often than most.
A few of my most memorable: Read the rest of this entry »
Is Damages’ Patty Hewes Ebenezer Scrooge?
After finishing season two of Damages this week something stuck out in my mind. I think that Patty Hewes underwent an experience this season very similar to Ebenezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol. Before you call me crazy, hear me out; I really think there are some interesting parallels.
It first struck me during Patty’s visit to Daniel Purcell in prison. He had some ominous words for Patty, warning her against continuing down the same path of betrayal and self destruction that he followed. It was very much a “ghost of Christmas future” moment in my mind. As I thought about it more and more, it seemed like there might be something to my thought.
Damages – Who dies in the season two finale?
Oh my, my, MY! The season two finale of Damages brought a lot of surprises, but I’m not surprised, because that’s the way it went down in season one, as well. Things didn’t end up at all like I thought they would.
The scene we’ve been wondering about all season — with Patty sitting across the table from Ellen and her gun — involved a lot of twists and turns. And a bunch of characters emerged to help wrap things up, including Uncle Pete’s widow, who managed to fuel Ellen’s quest for revenge with damaging photos of the guy who attacked her, orchestrated by Uncle Pete at Patty’s request.
Damages – Patty goes ballistic; Purcell gets dirty and comes clean
I find myself waiting for that last scene in Damages, because I know we’ll get a few more clues as to how the season ends and who the shooter is. And wow, we sure got some in this episode. For anyone who hasn’t seen the show yet, I’ll wait til after the jump to go all spoilery on you, but let’s just say I can’t wait til next week, where we’ll get an hour and a half finale.
Damages – Claire Maddox gets played
Before I get to my big revelation about Damages this week, I first have to say what a fabulous actress Marcia Gay Harden is. A friend of mine sat four feet away from her two days ago, watching her on stage with James Gandolfini and Jeff Daniels in God of Carnage on Broadway. That Harden can go from stage to screen and back again — and do it all with seeming ease — is astounding.
Harden’s Claire Maddox was front and center in this week’s episode of Damages. She played Walter Hendrick like a grand piano, getting second in command Mitch to try and take over, knowing full well that Mitch had skeletons in his closet which would put Claire in the top spot. But did she really think Hendrick wouldn’t be onto her? Of course, he was ahead of the game, getting her booted out of the company before she could worm her way into the leadership.
Damages’ Patty Hewes’ house of cards
Just when I was thinking how outrageous it was that Patty would be shocked over Phil’s affair with the London trader, she shows me once again that she’s really smart and knows what’s going on around her. Or … does she?
Patty tells Ellen that it wasn’t Phil’s affair that’s got her miffed. “It was that he got sloppy. Let himself get caught. That bothers me.” So, the entire thing about the New York Style magazine article and photo shoot … of course, it was all a fiasco. Patty had Tom and Ellen talking her up big-time, saying there was not a thing wrong with Patty. That she’s pure as the driven snow.
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