Damages

The latest American legal drama to hit our screens, Damages is without a doubt the best TV drama I've had the pleasure of watching.

A star-studded cast guarantees its success, (Glen Close, Ted Danson, Rose Byrne) but the writing in itself is first-class. Damages takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and assumptions, and delivers a gut-dropping twist in every episode.

It begins at the end. Hot-shot young lawyer Ellen Parsons (Byrne) is found covered in blood, and her finace is found dead in their bathtub at home. They don't give too much away, but by the end of the pilot, we assume that Ellen's boss, hugely successful litigator, Patti Hewes is behind it.

It's not even that interesting a case. Billionaire Arther Frobisher is being sued by his 500 employees who have lost everything after an accouting fraud bankrupts one of his many businesses. The twist is that Frobisher took his shares out the day before the company went under. The case falls on one weekend in Florida - where it is thought by Hewes that he met with his Broker. Prove that, and win the case.

Even though it's a complicated lawsuit, it's made in such a way that the viewer understands every turning point, every significance and that's what makes it successful. Perhaps more importantly though, are the characters. We see their every side, we make assumptions, we're proved wrong, we make new ones, again, we question our thoughts. Glenn Close, as always, delivers a fantastically chilling performance as Hewes and Danson makes a very convincing Frobisher.

If I go on about it too much I'll ruin it, but do yourself a favour and watch it. You'll be marking the time until Season 2.