Top attorney Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and her protegee Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne) are back for Season 4 of “Damages,” premiering Wednesday at 10 p.m. on DirecTV. Joining the power duo this season, which focuses on the ethics of private military companies, are John Goodman, Dylan Baker and Chris Messina.
“[Co-creators] Dan [Zelman], Glenn [Kessler] and I feel very lucky that each season we’ve been joined by amazing actors who have wanted to jump off the edge of the cliff with us,” co-creator Todd A. Kessler remarks. “This season in particular was one where there was a mystery at the center of it and Dylan, John and Chris were all game for that exploration.”
Season 4 marks the return of Byrnes’ character to Patty’s firm, Hewes & Associates; and Close was quick to offer praise for the move.
“I really missed it when Rosie was at the DA’s office,” Close says. “We missed her on the set. And even though she’s there just to borrow an office and use the resources, Patty has her, as she thinks, under her wing again. And the relationship is much more complex than it was initially.”
Canceled by FX, the show found a new home on DirecTV and can thus make use of profanity and some extra violence that may not have been appropriate for FX. “Damages” is also a huge hit internationally, and regardless of its original cancellation in the U.S., Close was able to speculate as to why that may be.
“I’m just a believer in good writing,” she says. “We don’t have the largest audience on television, but I’ve always been very impressed with how smart they are, and I think that’s a huge compliment.”
Goodman gave some details about his controversial character, the head of a security group providing the U.S. with defense in Afghanistan.
“He’s extremely religious and patriotic,” Goodman says. “He’s doing God’s work on earth by helping the United States of America.”
Baker says, for the most part, he enjoyed working with Goodman.
“The first couple of times that John and I had nude scenes, though,” Baker jokes, “we felt that they were a little gratuitous.”
