Last week I managed to score some tickets to the Damages panel at PaleyFest. I was super excited, however, I’d never actually seen it. Though it’d been on my radar and I’d only heard good things, I just hadn’t gotten around to it yet, what with the 15 or so shows that I already watch on a regular basis. So I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth and started to download the first season onto my TiVo from Amazon Unbox. Then my boyfriend and I settled in for a three day weekend with Glenn Close.

I couldn’t believe that we powered through all 13 episodes in just three days, but the mystery is so intriguing and the performances absolutely suck you in. It was incredible, and seeing the cast and watching the panel the next day made it an even better experience.

They kicked things off with a clip from the Paley Center archives- 1984’s Something About Amelia, a TV movie starring much younger versions of Glenn Close and Ted Danson, marking the last time they’d been on screen together. Then the creators of the show came out and showed a series of some of the best and most intense scenes from the first season. Afterwards, the whole panel came out, introduced by the moderator Stuart Levine of Daily Variety: Daniel Zelman (creator/executive producer), Todd Kessler (creator/executive producer), Glenn Kessler (creator/executive producer), Anastasia Griffith (Katie Connor), Noah Beane (David Connor), Zeljko Ivanek (Ray Fiske), Tate Donovan (Tom Shayes), Ted Danson (Arthur Frobisher), and Glenn Close (Patty Hewes). Though Rose Byrne (Ellen Parsons) was on the list she couldn’t make it as she was filming a movie in Australia. This was a real shame as I was really looking forward to her and Glenn Close discussing Ellen and Patty’s relationship. Here’s a run down of what the panel had to say:

The creators talked a lot about how the show is hinged on the “social dynamic of power in the workplace” through women. Glenn Close talked about how much she loves playing such a strong female role and “the effort it takes to maintain her power.” She carried over a piece of advice to her role on Damages that she’d gotten while working on The Shield, “It’s about being a women and not letting it matter.”

Glenn Kessler talked about their pitch to FX and how it’s the networks first and only legal show because they had yet to find one that fit their brand of programming. Todd Kessler chimed in that it’s not your typical legal show, as they focus more on the behind the scenes and in the office aspect of the law. They were very proud that in 13 episodes, there’s only half of one scene that takes place in a courtroom. They decided to bring the tension and drama between litigators and clients into a deposition setting instead.

Tate Donovan on whether the cast and writers enjoy the liberties that FX allows with it’s programming, “Sh*t, yeah! Friggin’ love it!”

Close was suggested by FX for the show because they’d had such a good experience with her on The Shield.

Asked why Close switches back and forth from film to TV and which she likes more she responds, “The English do it, why can’t we? Movies take so much longer…with TV you get a fantastic rhythm going.”

For Ted Danson, his interest in the show peaked when he heard Close was attached. He didn’t want to do any more 30 minute comedies as he felt he had overstayed his welcome on that platform.

Danson claims that Frobisher is not necessarily a villain, he’s just “narcissistic and in way over his head. Wouldn’t you be scared?” he added, pointing to Close.

“It’s Tennessee Williams on steroids.” Zeljko Ivanek, on how he created Ray Fiske’s Louisiana accent.

When asked what there was to like about Close’s character, Patty Hewes, she exclaimed, “Her clothes!”

Close’s biggest challenge with the character is that she still doesn’t know where Patty comes from or who her parents are. She offered to create a background for the character and the creators were against it. Close now views it as “an exercise in living in the moment.”

When Close was asked if she’d ever questioned things her character had done, she said that she had trouble dealing with some of the things Patty did to Ellen that toed the line, “I didn’t want to become a psychopath. I’ve done that!”

Regarding David’s stalker, Lila DeMayo, the mod asked if it would end up like the “Russian in the woods” of The Sopranos, in that you’re always waiting for it to come back and it doesn’t. The creators admitted that they did cut a lot of the storyline for time but that it was always intended as a red herring.

“He was the most decent guy of all…and look what happened to him.” – Close on Noah Beane’s character, David Connor. Beane admitted that though a lot of people thought he was dooming himself by taking the part of a character that died in the pilot, it was nice to know his character’s fate from the very first episode, unlike others who found out a few episodes into filming.

Damages is currently in the writing stage for season two and they announced that it has officially been picked up for a third season as well. When asked about their rapidly dwindling cast (due to character deaths), they said they will be casting at least three new characters for the second season. They’d like to stay true to their time jump and mystery format, but also make it easy for new viewers to pick it up. Basically, as far as long-term arcs go, the show will begin and end with Patty and Ellen’s relationship.