The BEST episodes of Damages

Every episode of Damages ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Damages!

Set in New York's world of high stakes litigation, Damages follows the lives of Patty Hewes, the nation's most revered and most reviled litigator, and her bright, ambitious protege Ellen Parsons as they become embroiled in a class action lawsuit targeting Arthur Frobisher, one of the country's wealthiest CEOs. As Patty battles Frobisher and his attorney, Ellen learns what it takes to win at all costs -- and that lives, not just fortunes, are at stake.

Last Updated: 7/19/2026Network: AudienceStatus: Ended
Because I Know Patty
star
8.20
851 votes

#1 - Because I Know Patty

Season 1 - Episode 13 - Aired 10/23/2007

The first season ends with Ellen talking Patty into defending her in exchange for the Gregory Malina videotape.

Directors: Todd A. Kessler
Failure is Lonely
star
8.09
777 votes

#2 - Failure is Lonely

Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/14/2011

Ellen is furious with Patty for violating their agreement about the High Star case. And tempers come to a head between Erickson and Boorman—with Chris' life hanging in the balance.

Directors: Glenn Kessler
The Next One's Gonna Go In Your Throat
star
7.94
793 votes

#3 - The Next One's Gonna Go In Your Throat

Season 3 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/19/2010

Ellen and Tom take matters into their own hands in an attempt to win the Tobin case; Patty Hewes is haunted by the price of her success.

Directors: Todd A. Kessler
Trust Me
star
7.92
854 votes

#4 - Trust Me

Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 4/1/2009

Patty goes to extremes to win her case against UNR, as Ellen's season long quest for revenge builds to an explosive conclusion.

Directors: Todd A. Kessler
I Hate These People
star
7.82
948 votes

#5 - I Hate These People

Season 1 - Episode 11 - Aired 10/9/2007

Patty offers Ellen her job back, however, Ellen declines but volunteers to keep helping Patty with the Frobisher case. Lila is back, and bringing more havoc into David and Ellen's lives. Patty uses the newly acquired evidence to blackmail Ray, and offers him an ultimatum.

Directors: Ed Bianchi
Writer: Adam Stein
But You Don't Do That Anymore
star
7.81
669 votes

#6 - But You Don't Do That Anymore

Season 5 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/12/2012

Patty and Ellen face off against each other in court, and the shocking results alter their lives forever.

Directors: Glenn Kessler
Get Me A Lawyer
star
7.80
1477 votes

#7 - Get Me A Lawyer

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/24/2007

Attorney Patty Hewes hires a new associate, Ellen Parsons, to help her as she tries to ruin Arthur Frobisher. Hewes represents a group of employees that are suing Frobisher after he sold his company, leaving the employees devastated. Ellen is unaware that her best friend, Katie Connor, is working for Frobisher.

Directors: Allen Coulter
I Like Your Chair
star
7.79
661 votes

#8 - I Like Your Chair

Season 5 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/5/2012

McClaren's latest leak thrusts Ellen into the spotlight. Tensions between McClaren and Rutger Simon come to a head.

Directors: Steve Shill
Failure Is Failure
star
7.79
840 votes

#9 - Failure Is Failure

Season 5 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/25/2012

Ellen detects inconsistencies in McClaren’s story. Later, Ellen’s mother requests her help.

Directors: Jean de Segonzac
Jesus, Mary And Joe Cocker
star
7.78
1331 votes

#10 - Jesus, Mary And Joe Cocker

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/31/2007

Ellen convinces Katie to testify against Arthur Frobisher, which has him considering drastic measures. Patty begins to question if Katie is giving honest and accurate testimony.

Directors: Greg Yaitanes
I'd Prefer My Old Office
star
7.78
789 votes

#11 - I'd Prefer My Old Office

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 7/27/2011

Ellen learns that Chris used to hunt down terror suspects; Patty rejects Erickson's settlement suggestion for the High Star case.

Directors: Nick Gomez
There's No 'We' Anymore
star
7.76
861 votes

#12 - There's No 'We' Anymore

Season 1 - Episode 12 - Aired 10/16/2007

Patty finally posts bail for Ellen as Frobisher learns about a tape made by Gregory Malina that could ruin him.

Sort of Like a Family
star
7.71
975 votes

#13 - Sort of Like a Family

Season 1 - Episode 10 - Aired 10/2/2007

Ellen tries to get herself back into the mix as Patty and Frobisher fight it out at the deposition.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
I Love You, Mommy
star
7.70
780 votes

#14 - I Love You, Mommy

Season 5 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/1/2012

Patty and Ellen seek the source of the Princefield leak, while Patty takes on Ellen through the press.

Directors: Marcos Siega
You Were His Little Monkey
star
7.64
1023 votes

#15 - You Were His Little Monkey

Season 3 - Episode 12 - Aired 4/12/2010

Patty and Ellen set out to tear the Tobin family apart. When Tom Shayes' job and marriage unravel, he strikes up a deadly alliance.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
All That Crap About Your Family
star
7.63
1048 votes

#16 - All That Crap About Your Family

Season 3 - Episode 11 - Aired 4/5/2010

Patty's star witness is arrested, forcing her to strike an unusual deal with the D.A.'s office. Frobisher reveals a little too much about his past.

Directors: Matthew Penn
London, Of Course
star
7.63
908 votes

#17 - London, Of Course

Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 3/18/2009

Claire risks everything to oust CEO Walter Kendrick; Ellen discovers a secret about Patty's personal life.

Directors: Andy Wolk
They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney
star
7.61
964 votes

#18 - They Had to Tweeze That Out of My Kidney

Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 2/25/2009

As she copes with mounting pressure, Patty begins to unravel Walter Kendrick's energy scheme. Meanwhile, Arthur Frobisher's past will come back to haunt him.

Directors: Michael Pressman
Writer: Aaron Zelman
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You Want to End This Once and For All?
star
7.61
850 votes

#19 - You Want to End This Once and For All?

Season 5 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/11/2012

A whistle-blower case puts Patty and Ellen against each other.

Directors: Matthew Penn
Next One's On Me, Blondie
star
7.60
788 votes

#20 - Next One's On Me, Blondie

Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 8/3/2011

Ellen meets the son of Chris' Afghan contact; Erickson decides to torture Chris for information about the possibility of an intelligence breach; Patty discovers that High Star extracts terror suspects for the CIA.

Directors: Timothy Busfield
Writer: Joe Weisberg
Hey! Mr. Pibb!
star
7.60
1025 votes

#21 - Hey! Mr. Pibb!

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/28/2009

Patty works to clear Daniel in his wife's murder; Ellen and Tom go to West Virginia to gather vital information in the case against Ultima National Resources.

Writer: Aaron Zelman
There's Only One Way to Try a Case
star
7.59
912 votes

#22 - There's Only One Way to Try a Case

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 7/13/2011

Ellen investigates Howard Erickson's company despite warnings from her boss and from Patty; Patty takes on a big pharmaceutical firm; Erickson goes after defense contracts for his company.

Directors: Todd A. Kessler
I'm Afraid of What I'll Find
star
7.56
692 votes

#23 - I'm Afraid of What I'll Find

Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/29/2012

Ellen begins to uncover the truth about her attacker. Chris Sanchez approaches McClaren with information.

Directors: Ken Girotti
Have You Met the Eel Yet?
star
7.54
807 votes

#24 - Have You Met the Eel Yet?

Season 5 - Episode 2 - Aired 7/18/2012

A hacker claims to have pertinent information about the leak at Princefield; Patty’s former colleague offers her services to Ellen.

Directors: Colin Bucksey
New York Sucks
star
7.54
1142 votes

#25 - New York Sucks

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 2/18/2009

Ellen, furious at Patty's new alliance, provides the FBI with a new lead to bring her down.

Directors: Matt Penn
Writer: Jeremy Doner