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5 stars
I am Hooked On "Life"
October 6, 2007
After watching trailers for the show all throughout the summer, when it came time for the show to air, I decided to watch the show to see what all the hype was about, although it was with a very critical eye because I was very skeptical about the show and it's premise. After watching the pilot episode, I am pleased to say that I was wrong. This show is very different and refreshing from your ordinary run-of-the-mill TV cop show.
Damian Lewis, who I only knew from the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers" (which The History Channel endlessily shows) plays Charlie Crews, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department who was wrongly convicted of a double homicide of friends that he did not committ when he was a uniformed street officer and was sentenced to a serve a life sentence at the Supermax prison Pelican Bay. After his lawyer played by Brooke Langton ("Melrose Place") found out evidence that he was framed through DNA evidence, Crews was cleared of the crime and was released from prison with a pardon and a multi million dollar settlement.
Instead of enjoying the easy life courtsey of his settlement, Crews got his old job back with the department and was immediately partnered up with a seemingly straight laced female detective named Dani Reese played by Sarah Shahi ("The "L" Word", "Rush Hour 3", "The Sopranos"). Reese was ordered by her superiors to keep a tight watch on Crews. Because he was surrounded by hardened criminals while he was in prison, Crews has insight on the criminal mind and whether or not a suspect is guility. And that causes Reese to get annoyed with Crews' sometimes unorthodox tactics on questioning a suspect and unconventional Zen like investigative skills Crews picked up by reading books on Zen Buddhism while he was in prison. However, it seems that Reese isn't so straight laced herself because she herself is on a short leash because she did a stint in rehab for drug abuse.
While investigating homicides cases he and his partner are working on, Crews real job is to find out who set him up for the crime, why he was set up and how. He had put up a huge flow chart like diagram puzzle on the wall of his mansion filled with photographs of people in the department and many obiviously shady criminal characters. He doesn't know who is involved but he is bound and determinded to find out who, how and why.
This show is very refreshing. The writing is well paced, the directing is good and the acting is excellent. This show is a wonderful companion show to the remake of "The Bionic Woman". "Life" is one of the few new network tv shows that I will keep watching.
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5 stars
Coming on again in January -- Hoorah!!!
December 6, 2007
Last night's episode was just great. I love this show and when it concluded and they announced new episodes will be on in January I was elated. As one person wrote --- why do really great shows sometimes get overlooked. This is not a show to be overlooked. There are so many dumb sitcoms on. I won't watch them, but LIFE is compelling and the acting is wonderful on the main characters' parts. Thank you for keeping the show going.
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5 stars
Great show ...so it will probably get cancelled
November 30, 2007
I recently read that LIFE is already in trouble because of poor ratings. That is too bad because this is such a well written, well acted series. Compelling characters and intriguing, ongoing story-line.
Let us hope LIFE gets an opportunity to live - and find its audience before the honchos pull the plug.
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5 stars
I did not want it to end
October 22, 2007
I loved this show. I find it a little tough to describe. The script was off the charts. It is smart, funny, sad and a very introspective look at the important things in life. The show revolves around a damaged cop who has just spent the last 12 years in jail for something he did not do. In a way the main charactor is kind of like vic macey of the shield but where vic is dark and trying to redeem himself this charactor is trying to find meaning in life. He is just as intense. I loved the show and it will be @ the top of my tivo list.
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5 stars
Best New Show
November 14, 2007
It's often hard to tell how well tv shows are doing. It's easy to look up information on the shows in the top 20, but that usually gets you a list containing shows with dancing in the title or one of several versions of CSI. I think 2007 is the best year of tv in a long time. At times, it's hard for me to watch all of my DVR'd shows before the next week's episodes are on. Shows like Damages and Burn Notice are showing that the non-major networks are making shows that are superior to most of those offered on the big 4. But, in my opinion, Life is the best new show on tv. The overall plot, the characters, and the weekly stories all working together really draw you in. If you haven't started watching, catch up online because this is the one to watch.
