If your only options were revenge or forgiveness, which would you choose?

Ellen Parsons wrestles with these questions among others on this season of Damages. Fans of last season's intricate plot twists certainly won't be disappointed with the Season 2 opener of FX's legal dramystery (yes, that's what I said). Season 2 picks up a month after the end of Season 1, but it wouldn't be Damages if we weren't jumping back and forth to 6 months in the future.

This time sweet little lawyer Ellen (Rose Byrne) is out for revenge on manipulative, murderous boss Patty Hewes, played by Glenn "I won't be ignored" Close. Ellen also has a bone to pick with unethical businessman and self-described "most hated man in America" Arthur Frobisher, played by Ted Danson; after all, since Ellen's fiance's head was bashed in with a patriotic bookend last season, all roads seem to lead back to Frobisher. And then there's Ellen's firm associate Tom Shayes (Tate Donovan)—can he be trusted? What exactly does he have on Patty? Will the undercover cops Ellen's been working with be able to turn him against his mentor? And what the hell is up with creepy Uncle Pete, anyway? As if all this weren't enough to propel you to your DVR, FX has also rounded up some new blood for Season 2, including the likes of William Hurt, Timothy Olyphant, and Marcia Gay Harden. Not too shabby, FX.

Hurt plays Daniel Purcell, an old friend from Patty's past who reappears in her life suddenly when he finds himself with no one else to trust. Marcia Gay Harden plays Claire Maddox, a powerful and ruthless lawyer who aims to give Patty a run for her money. Olyphant plays Wes Krulik, a bereaved guy who meets Ellen in group therapy.

Close has some awesomely disturbing moments as she tangles with Patty's actions from last season, and Byrne, though looking a touch on the scary-skinny side, is always very watchable; I'm also looking forward to seeing what develops between Ellen and Wes. I found Damages highly addictive last season, so I'm just hoping that the writers know where this plot is headed—they're gonna have a whole lot of story to wrap up.

Damages airs Wednesdays at 10 pm on FX starting January 7th.

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