Damages (TV series)

Damages

Company type	Television series
Industry	Entertainment
Founded	July 24, 2007 (2007-07-24)
Founder	Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, Todd A. Kessler
Headquarters	United States
Area served	United States
Products	Television series

Damages is a U.S. legal thriller television series developed by writers and producers Daniel Zelman, Glenn Kessler, and Todd A. Kessler. The show debuted on July 24, 2007, on the FX network, where it aired for three seasons before transitioning in 2010 to DirecTV’s Audience Network, which broadcasted two additional seasons until the series finale in 2012.

The narrative centers on the cutthroat attorney Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and her mentee, recent law graduate Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). Each season revolves around a significant legal battle managed by Hewes’s firm while delving into the shifting relationship between Patty and Ellen. The initial two seasons are set within Hewes & Associates in New York City, whereas the subsequent seasons highlight Ellen’s attempts to distance herself from the firm both professionally and personally.

Celebrated for its season-long litigation arcs presented through multiple viewpoints, Damages has been praised for its intricate storytelling, marked by unexpected twists and a non-linear timeline. The series garnered critical acclaim along with numerous award nominations, including wins for Close and Željko Ivanek at the Primetime Emmy Awards. Its ensemble cast also includes notable actors such as Ted Danson, Tate Donovan, William Hurt, Marcia Gay Harden, Timothy Olyphant, Martin Short, John Goodman, and Ryan Phillippe.

Season one

The main ensemble features Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, Ted Danson, Tate Donovan, Željko Ivanek, and Noah Bean.

The story opens with Ellen Parsons, a young attorney, discovered half-naked and bloodied, while her fiancé David is found murdered, leading to Ellen's arrest.

Six months prior, Ellen, freshly graduated from law school, turns down a position as a defense lawyer to join Hewes & Associates under the leadership of the formidable Patty Hewes. Despite warnings from Hollis Nye about Patty’s ruthless nature, Ellen accepts the role.

Patty undertakes a high-stakes class action lawsuit against billionaire Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), who faces allegations of insider trading and misleading employees about his company’s financial status—drawing parallels to the Enron scandal. Patty employs aggressive and occasionally questionable tactics to secure victory. Ellen becomes deeply enmeshed in both the case and Patty’s methods.

Personal connections complicate matters: Ellen’s fiancé’s sister emerges as a pivotal witness. Ellen skirts ethical lines and ultimately breaches them. Her relationship with David deteriorates further when Patty betrays his sister. Feeling disillusioned, Ellen departs from Hewes & Associates but stays involved with the ongoing case.

The season unfolds through time shifts—interweaving past events with present-day scenes that reveal David’s murder and an assault on Ellen at Patty's residence.

By the finale, past events catch up with current ones: Ellen’s charges are dropped; the identities of David’s murderer and Ellen’s assailant are uncovered; and the Frobisher lawsuit concludes. Frobisher agrees to a $2 billion settlement for employees to avoid criminal prosecution but is later shot by a disgruntled former employee he had wronged.

Season two

Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan reprised their roles as series regulars in the second season. Anastasia Griffith, who had a recurring role in the first season, was promoted to the main cast, while Ted Danson made a return for a five-episode arc. New additions to the principal lineup included William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant, and Marcia Gay Harden, with John Doman appearing in a guest capacity.

Set six months earlier, scientist Daniel Purcell (William Hurt), an old acquaintance of Patty’s, persuades her to take on a case involving a conspiracy between his company and energy conglomerate Ultima National Resources (UNR). Patty initially declines, complicated by Purcell being the father of her son Michael—a connection she previously exploited in court. Purcell is engaged in an affair with Claire Maddox (Marcia Gay Harden), UNR’s lead attorney and Patty’s adversary in the courtroom. Concurrently, UNR partner Dave Pell (Clarke Peters) collaborates with Patty’s husband Phil, who is also involved in an extramarital relationship, plotting against Patty. After Patty anonymously exposes Phil’s infidelity to the media, she forces him out of their home. Ellen, convinced that Patty attempted to kill her, copes through grief counseling and partners with the FBI to undermine Patty. Patty’s colleague Tom Shayes remains unaware of critical case details; Ellen manipulates Tom into assisting the FBI investigation, which eventually leads to his termination.

As in season one, the storyline alternates between past and present timelines, revealing that Patty was the individual Ellen held at gunpoint to extract a confession. After Ellen fires two shots, Patty is discovered wounded inside an elevator.

In the season finale, Ellen convinces Patty to bribe a judge to admit evidence that would otherwise be inadmissible, using this as a setup to implicate Patty. Meanwhile, Patty negotiates with Pell to stop the FBI probe by providing evidence of UNR’s use of toxic chemicals, agreeing to abandon part of her case. She also frames Ellen for bribery. Before confronting Patty about her past misdeeds, Ellen destroys FBI surveillance cameras with a handgun; Patty admits responsibility for the attempted murder during their confrontation. It is revealed that Fin Garrity stabbed Patty prior to this encounter. When Ellen attempts to bribe the judge, her FBI contact arrests both women; subsequently, US Marshals apprehend the corrupt agent collaborating with Ellen, securing her release.

One month later, Patty recuperates at home, Tom returns to the firm, and Ellen receives a new job offer. Patty predicts that Ellen will come back.

Season three

Glenn Close, Rose Byrne, and Tate Donovan continued as regular cast members. Ted Danson, a season one regular, appeared in five episodes once again. New cast members included Martin Short and Campbell Scott, with guest appearances by Lily Tomlin and Keith Carradine.

Patty is involved in a car accident involving Tom Shayes’ vehicle; Tom is later discovered dead in a dumpster. Ellen becomes implicated when her blood-stained purse is found near the crash site. A detective questions Ellen about her connection to Tom; she responds that "We were starting a law firm together."

Six months prior, Patty is appointed by the US government as trustee tasked with recovering billions lost in an enormous Wall Street Ponzi scheme orchestrated by Louis Tobin (Len Cariou), who resembles Bernie Madoff. Patty suspects Tobin’s family—including son Joe (Campbell Scott), daughter Carol, wife Marilyn (Lily Tomlin), and lawyer Leonard Winstone (Martin Short)—are withholding information. Tom has personal involvement due to losing his savings and family investments tied up in Tobin’s fund, creating a conflict of interest. Ellen, now working at the District Attorney's office, has avoided Patty's firm but struggles with handling a drug-related case. After Ellen’s case concludes under suspicious circumstances and she receives an expensive Chanel bag from Hewes & Associates—the same bloodied bag found near the dumpster—she secretly begins cooperating with Patty and Tom, drawing them further into the Tobin family’s web of deceit.

The complex dynamic between Patty and Ellen resurfaces as they collaborate; Ellen attempts manipulation through Alex, her replacement at Hewes & Associates, but Patty remains wary.

Both women confront personal crises: Patty discovers her son Michael and his significantly older girlfriend Jill are expecting a child. Jill is subsequently arrested on statutory rape charges and risks losing custody of their baby. It is revealed that Michael was driving the car that struck Patty during his anger over Jill’s arrest. Meanwhile, Ellen’s sister faces arrest on drug charges. Additionally, flashbacks disclose that Patty secretly induced a miscarriage involving her daughter Julia in order to focus on her legal career. Following Tom's funeral, Patty indirectly confesses this secret to Ellen, who questions whether it was worth it; Patty remains silent.

Season four

Glenn Close and Rose Byrne reprised their roles as main cast members, with John Goodman and Dylan Baker joining the ensemble, while Chris Messina appeared as a guest star.

The fourth season opens with Ellen starting at a new legal firm, taking on a wrongful-death lawsuit against Howard T. Erickson (Goodman), who leads the private military company "HighStar." Despite accusations of wrongdoing in Afghanistan, Erickson’s connections to government officials shield him from accountability. Ellen calls upon her former colleague Chris Sánchez (Messina) to serve as a crucial witness, but the firm declines to pursue the case out of fear of potential consequences. After witnessing Ellen face intimidation from a HighStar supporter, Patty intervenes by offering support and resources. Meanwhile, Dylan Baker’s character Jerry Boorman—linked to Erickson and the CIA—actively works to hinder the lawsuit.

Following the case’s resolution, Ellen confronts Patty about endangering Chris. Patty proposes forming an alliance, but Ellen refuses, bringing their collaboration to an end.

Season five

Glenn Close and Rose Byrne returned for the concluding season, joined by Ryan Phillippe. Guest appearances included Chris Messina, Jenna Elfman, Janet McTeer, and John Hannah.

The final season revolves around a tense legal conflict between Patty and Ellen concerning Channing McClaren (Phillippe), founder of McClarenTruth.org—a website dedicated to exposing government and corporate secrets reminiscent of WikiLeaks. Patty accuses McClaren of murder and theft of data following the death of Ms. Walling.

The season begins with Patty addressing Ellen’s mysterious disappearance and probing into an alleged assault against her. Concurrently, a custody battle unfolds involving Michael and Catherine, with Ellen agreeing to testify against Patty once the trial concludes. Ellen’s personal circumstances become more complicated as her mother alternates between moving in and out of her home.

Both attorneys receive intelligence from a hacker known as Samurai Seven regarding Princefield’s role in Naomi’s death; however, only Patty obtains this information before Samurai Seven is found dead. Ellen suspects Patty’s closeness to the judge is suspicious, but it is later revealed that this was a strategic ploy to have him removed from the case. Patty loses some advantage after being compelled to share Princefield-related details with Ellen.

Patty publicly accuses McClaren of rape based on newly uncovered evidence, prompting a gag order against both lawyers. They then collaborate by fabricating evidence to reject a settlement offer, ensuring the lawsuit continues. While traveling for expert testimony, Patty admits that her earlier confession was coerced following an attempt on Ellen’s life.

Rutger Simon emerges as the whistleblower aiming to implicate McClaren and take control over McClarenTruth.org. He persuades Patty to invest in the website in exchange for his testimony against McClaren and his associates Helmut Torben and Bennett Herreshoff. After discovering Simon intends to testify only against McClaren without naming Torben or Herreshoff, Ellen warns Torben—who then arranges Simon’s assassination.

With Simon deceased before trial, Patty withdraws the lawsuit but reveals she leaked witness information prematurely as a test of Ellen’s loyalty, concluding that Ellen has become equally manipulative.

Attention then turns back to the custody dispute where Ellen identifies Patrick as her attacker and offers him immunity in return for testifying against Patty. The storyline revisits earlier scenes depicting Ellen found unconscious after an assault; she later learns she is pregnant. During these events, Michael is killed by Patrick.

The series finale fast-forwards several years: Patty encounters Ellen accompanied by her daughter. In a limousine daydream, Patty imagines receiving gratitude from Ellen but instead watches her walk away, telling her child that she once knew "that woman" when she practiced law—implying Ellen has left her legal career behind. They plan to visit the child’s father at the VA hospital, confirming Chris Sánchez as the father. The final scene captures Patty’s expressionless silence.

Cast and characters

Actor	Role	Seasons
		1	2	3	4	5
Glenn Close	Patty Hewes	colspan="5" Template:CMain
Rose Byrne	Ellen Parsons	colspan="5" Template:CMain
Tate Donovan	Thomas Shayes	colspan="3" Template:CMain	Does not appear
Ted Danson	Arthur Frobisher	colspan="3" Template:CMain	Does not appear
Noah Bean	David Connor	colspan="1" Template:CMain	colspan="2" Template:CGuest	Does not appear	colspan="1" Template:CGuest
Željko Ivanek	Ray Fiske	colspan="1" Template:CMain	colspan="2" Template:CGuest	Does not appear
Anastasia Griffith	Katie Connor	colspan="1" Template:CRecurring	colspan="1" Template:CMain	Does not appear
William Hurt	Daniel Purcell	Does not appear	colspan="1" Template:CMain	Does not appear
Marcia Gay Harden	Claire Maddox	Does not appear	colspan="1" Template:CMain	Does not appear
Timothy Olyphant	Wes Krulik	Does not appear	colspan="1" Template:CMain	colspan="1" Template:CGuest	Does not appear

The narrative centers around the dynamic between seasoned litigator Patty Hewes (Glenn Close) and her protégé, the newly qualified attorney Ellen Parsons (Rose Byrne). During the initial three seasons, Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan) acts as Patty’s associate and business partner. Michael Nouri features in early episodes portraying Patty’s estranged spouse, with subsequent recurring roles. Zachary Booth takes on the role of Michael Hewes, Patty’s complex son.

The first season revolves around litigation targeting entrepreneur Arthur Frobisher (Ted Danson), charged with fraud and embezzlement, defended by attorney Ray Fiske, portrayed by Željko Ivanek. Noah Bean plays David Connor, Ellen’s fiancé, while Anastasia Griffith appears as Katie Connor, his sister and a pivotal witness. After their characters' demise, Bean and Ivanek transition from main roles to appearances in flashbacks. Recurring actors include Peter Facinelli and Philip Bosco.

Season two focuses on a significant lawsuit against energy firm Ultima National Resources (UNR). William Hurt portrays Daniel Purcell, who initiates the legal action. John Doman assumes the role of UNR’s CEO Walter Kendrick, with Marcia Gay Harden as lead counsel Claire Maddox. Anastasia Griffith returns as Katie Connor; Timothy Olyphant joins as a grief counselor connected to Ellen. Ted Danson and Clarke Peters appear in recurring capacities.

Inspired by the Bernie Madoff scandal, season three depicts Patty's efforts to prosecute the Tobin family for running a Ponzi scheme. Campbell Scott stars as Joe Tobin; Martin Short plays Leonard Winstone, the family’s legal representative. Lily Tomlin guest stars as Marilyn Tobin, the family matriarch. Ted Danson returns alongside Timothy Olyphant in a guest role. Dominic Chianese and Mädchen Amick feature prominently in recurring parts.

The fourth season marks Tate Donovan’s absence and centers on a wrongful death lawsuit involving a military contractor. John Goodman leads as CEO Howard Erickson; Dylan Baker portrays Jerry Boorman, linked to Middle Eastern intelligence matters. Chris Messina appears as Chris Sanchez, a soldier suffering from PTSD. Derek Webster and Judd Hirsch contribute in recurring roles.

In the fifth season, Patty and Ellen engage in courtroom conflict over litigation involving Channing McClaren (Ryan Phillippe), founder of a WikiLeaks-style organization. Jenna Elfman plays Naomi Walling, whose daughter sues McClaren after leaked information supposedly leads to Naomi’s suicide. Janet McTeer appears as Kate Franklin, an ally of Ellen; John Hannah plays Rutger Simon, McClaren's gatekeeper. Judd Hirsch and Victor Garber return in recurring capacities.

Development

The series was created by Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman, who crafted the narrative around the mentor-protégée dynamic between two influential women. Although the initial concept did not specifically involve the legal sector, they ultimately selected it because it showcased women wielding considerable authority and impact. Their inspiration stemmed from personal experiences with supervisors and insights from the entertainment industry. Todd Kessler pointed out that the storyline delves into universal employer-employee relationships rather than concentrating solely on gender issues. The show sets itself apart from conventional legal dramas by emphasizing the characters' personal lives and power conflicts beyond courtroom proceedings. Zelman noted that their fascination with societal power structures served as the fundamental impetus behind the plot.

Screenwriting

Each installment of the series revolves around seasoned attorney Patty Hewes managing a significant legal case. Nonetheless, smaller cases often appear throughout the seasons, with later episodes increasingly focusing on Ellen's legal battles rather than Patty's.

Plotlines and Influences

The first season focuses on a class action lawsuit targeting a deceitful billionaire CEO of a bankrupt corporation, drawing inspiration from corporate scandals like the 2001 Enron scandal. Season two explores themes related to the energy sector and environmental concerns, influenced by U.S. mining litigation and the 2001 California energy crisis. Environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. provided guidance to the writers on corporate and executive viewpoints. The third season takes cues from the 2009 Bernie Madoff scandal, while the fourth season reflects incidents linked to Blackwater Security Consulting controversies.

Narrative Techniques

The show incorporates nonlinear narrative elements including flashforwards, foreshadowing, and red herrings, allowing for versatile storytelling approaches. Multiple story arcs and unresolved threads are managed with defined objectives, enabling improvisational flexibility. Although initially planned for season one, this nonlinear storytelling became a hallmark of the series and persisted into season two. To address declining ratings associated with serialized storytelling, season two introduced more stand-alone episodes to improve viewer accessibility.

Casting

When pitching the series to FX, creators Todd and Glenn Kessler along with Zelman received a recommendation from network president John Landgraf to cast Glenn Close as Patty Hewes. Having previously collaborated with FX on The Shield, Close was interested in portraying a lead character based in New York City. After an extensive three-hour discussion, she accepted the role, attracted by Patty’s commanding position as head of a law firm in a predominantly male profession. Close described Patty as a multifaceted figure and highlighted the challenges women face when wielding power in America. To prepare, she met with prominent female lawyers in New York.

Ted Danson was selected to portray Arthur Frobisher, a corrupt billionaire CEO, partly due to his prior experience in dramatic roles. Danson’s interest grew upon learning about Close’s involvement in the project. For preparation, he researched the Enron collapse through documentaries and consulted Fortune 500 executives. Producers also suggested he train with Close’s acting coach Harold Guskin, an experience he found beneficial.

Rose Byrne and Tate Donovan earned their parts as Ellen Parsons and Tom Shayes through auditions. Byrne was initially unavailable due to other filming commitments but later successfully auditioned. Both actors prepared by consulting practicing attorneys and attending court proceedings. Casting David Connor and Katie Connor proved challenging; Noah Bean improved significantly after a second audition, while British actress Anastasia Griffith secured her role by maintaining an American accent throughout her audition process. Though originally minor, Griffith’s character expanded due to positive reception. Željko Ivanek’s initially small role as Ray Fiske grew substantially after producers reviewed his prior performances.

For season two, Marcia Gay Harden was an ideal choice for Claire Maddox, capable of matching Close’s intensity and conveniently located in New York City where filming took place. William Hurt and Timothy Olyphant were late additions; despite initial discussions about merging their characters, producers ultimately kept them distinct.

Lily Tomlin joined in season three as a fan of the series after meeting creator Todd A. Kessler. Dominic Chianese was cast based on previous collaborations with Kessler during The Sopranos. Martin Short, also an admirer of the show despite limited dramatic experience, was included to reinforce the series’ reputation for casting against type.

In season four, Edward Burns and Wentworth Miller were considered for Howard T. Erickson before John Goodman expressed interest; producers then tailored the role specifically for him. Dylan Baker was cast as Jerry Boorman based on his stage work impressions but only joined in season four. Chris Messina avoided typical roles but accepted portraying Chris Sanchez, a character suffering from PTSD, after thorough preparation. Judd Hirsch’s initially minor role as Bill Herndon expanded following his compelling performance.

For the fifth season, Ryan Phillippe joined after discovering his character was inspired by Julian Assange, whom he found intriguing. Jenna Elfman transitioned from comedic roles to take on Naomi Walling, embracing dramatic scenes new to her experience. Janet McTeer, who had previously worked with Close on Albert Nobbs, was offered a significant role as Kate Franklin, a returning attorney and recent empty nester.

Title sequence

The opening credits, accompanied by "When I Am Through with You" by The VLA, showcase various public sculptures from New York City. Among these are The Glory of Commerce crowning Grand Central Terminal, Civic Fame atop the Manhattan Municipal Building, and Asia positioned before the Alexander Hamilton U.S. Custom House. Additionally, the frieze of the New York County Courthouse is displayed, featuring George Washington's inscription: "The true administration of justice is the firmest pillar of good government."

Move to DirecTV

Due to disappointing viewership and substantial expenses, there was speculation that Season 3 might conclude the series. Subsequently, Sony collaborated with DirecTV to share production expenditures through its Audience Network (previously known as The 101 Network). Other broadcasters declined involvement in co-producing, resulting in Audience Network becoming the new platform for airing the show. FX maintained a minor ownership interest, positioning the program as specialized content aimed at an educated, affluent audience—a strategy first employed when acquiring Friday Night Lights from NBC. Glenn Close observed that Damages was somewhat "off-brand" for FX, which had a reputation for male-oriented series such as The Shield. The show debuted on DirecTV on January 5, 2011, with seasons one through three broadcast prior to the premiere of season four on July 13, 2011.

Home media

DVD releases for all five seasons have been made available in regions 1, 2, and 4; however, initially only the first season was offered on Blu-ray. On February 26, 2019, Mill Creek Entertainment released the complete series on both Blu-ray and DVD formats.

Season		Episodes	Region 1 release date	Region 2 release date	Region 4 release date	Special features
	The Complete First Season	13	January 29, 2008 (2008-01-29)	April 14, 2008 (2008-04-14)	December 19, 2007 (2007-12-19)	Deleted Scenes The Shield: Final Season Tease Willful Acts: The Making of Damages Understanding Class Action: Interactive Guide Trust No One: Insight from the Creators Two Episode Commentaries
	The Complete Second Season	13	January 19, 2010 (2010-01-19)	August 31, 2009 (2009-08-31)	November 23, 2009 (2009-11-23)	Deleted Scenes Four Episode Commentaries Season 1 Recap Character Profiles Post Mortem: Reflecting Back on Season Two
	The Complete Third Season	13	July 12, 2011 (2011-07-12)	October 18, 2010 (2010-10-18)	October 27, 2010 (2010-10-27)	Episode Introductions Deleted Scenes Two Episode Commentaries Damages Season 3 Teaser Damages Season 3: A Look Back Bloopers Directing Damages
	The Complete Fourth Season	10	June 26, 2012 (2012-06-26)	July 16, 2012 (2012-07-16)	September 5, 2012 (2012-09-05)	Deleted Scenes A Case for War: The Cast and Crew Discuss the Fourth Season The Evolution of Patty Hewes Bloopers
	The Complete Fifth and Final Season	10	July 16, 2013 (2013-07-16)	July 15, 2013 (2013-07-15)	August 8, 2013 (2013-08-08)	Deleted Scenes Outtakes
	The Complete Series	59	October 29, 2013 (2013-10-29)	—	April 1, 2020 (2020-04-01)	Includes all previous extras

Damages can also be streamed via Amazon Prime Video, iTunes Store, and Disney+.

Critical response

The debut season of Damages was met with largely favorable reviews from critics, securing spots on the top ten lists of notable reviewers such as Robert Abele (LA Weekly), Robert Lloyd (Los Angeles Times), and Alessandra Stanley (The New York Times). The season one finale was ranked #52 in TV Guide's compilation of "TV's Top 100 Episodes of All Time."

Critical praise continued through seasons two and three. Verne Gay of Newsday awarded the third season an A+, describing it as "exquisitely acted, written, paced, structured and conceived," and deemed it one of the most compelling and addictive television series available. When the show returned for its fourth season in July 2011, after being rescued by DirecTV, Maureen Ryan from The Huffington Post commended its tight narrative focus and strong performances. Matt Roush of TV Guide also supported the series, remarking that "Damages is worth it," particularly for those with DirecTV access.

Ratings

The premiere episode, which aired on July 24, 2007, drew an audience of 3.7 million viewers, increasing to a total of 5.1 million when including same-night re-broadcasts, making it the highest-rated cable program that evening. Nevertheless, viewership declined throughout the first season, partly attributed to its serialized storytelling style, with the finale attracting 1.4 million viewers. Despite receiving critical acclaim and winning Golden Globe and Emmy awards, the second season launched with only 1.7 million viewers. FX renewed the show for a third season; network executive John Landgraf noted that strong encore broadcasts and DVR viewership indicated solid overall ratings.

The third season premiered on January 25, 2010, with 1.483 million viewers tuning in, while its finale saw a drop to 960,000 viewers.

Awards and nominations

Damages has earned four Emmy Awards, one Golden Globe, a Casting Society of America Award, and a Satellite Award, along with nominations from prestigious organizations such as the Producers Guild of America, Writers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild, and Television Critics Association.

In its inaugural season, Damages secured seven nominations at the 2008 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series. Co-creators Todd A. Kessler, Glenn Kessler, and Daniel Zelman were nominated for writing, while Allen Coulter received a directing nod for the pilot episode ("Get Me a Lawyer"). Glenn Close was nominated for Outstanding Lead Actress, with co-stars Ted Danson and Željko Ivanek recognized in Supporting Actor categories. Both Close and Ivanek won their respective awards, and the show earned a Creative Arts Emmy for Outstanding Casting. At the 65th Golden Globe Awards, it garnered four nominations including Best Television Series – Drama; Close won Best Actress.

The second season earned seven Primetime Emmy nominations at the 2009 Primetime Emmy Awards. Close received her second nomination for Lead Actress; Ted Danson was nominated as Guest Actor; Rose Byrne and William Hurt were recognized in Supporting Actress and Actor categories respectively. The series was again nominated for Outstanding Drama Series and directing (Todd A. Kessler for "Trust Me"). Close secured her second Emmy win for Lead Actress. The season also received three Golden Globe nominations, including another Best Actress nod for Close.

In its third season, Damages achieved its highest number of acting nominations at the 2010 Primetime Emmy Awards. Alongside returning nominees Close, Byrne, and Danson were newcomers Martin Short (Supporting Actor) and Lily Tomlin (Guest Actress). Despite these recognitions, the series did not win any major Emmys that year; Close lost to Kyra Sedgwick.

The fourth season brought further accolades including a Critics' Choice Television Award nomination for Dylan Baker (Best Guest Performer), a Screen Actors Guild nomination for Glenn Close (Outstanding Female Actor), and Close’s fourth consecutive Lead Actress Emmy nomination.

For its fifth and final season, Glenn Close earned her third Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress – Television Series Drama following a two-year hiatus from the category.