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.
So now Hendrick is back in, and Claire is out on the street. Or rather, in Patty’s office, playing the last angle she’s got — getting Patty to go after Hendrick and UNR with everything she’s got.
It’s just bizarre to me that Claire wouldn’t have any inkling that her boss is a crook. She’s worked for the guy for 20 years, and yet she had no clue that he’s really Tony Soprano in disguise? That just seems weird to me.
Anyway, on to the end scene. My theory is that the FBI guy was in on the shooting from the beginning, even though he seems shocked as he’s listening in the van outside. After he finds Patty in the elevator, he hauls Ellen out saying she’s under arrest.
But he and Ellen have been working together to bring Patty down. So my guess is that Ellen really isn’t under arrest. Maybe it’s just a show for whomever is watching, and she’s really being taken somewhere for … safe keeping or something …
Any thoughts on this?
Clacked by Jane Boursaw 
on Mar 23, 2009 @ 12:00 EST5EDT
I want to believe that bearded cop is involved somehow in the gunfire off the FBI guy’s hidden camera. Later on is when Wes blows the guy’s head off to play his harp in the sky with Mel.