TV Drive By Watch: Life
Nov. 9th, 2007 10:46 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
weewarriorThis is one of those shows that sneaks up on you, seemingly nothing special at first, just another procedural with a quirky lead character, one that you suspect will never really raise above any of its countless siblings. But then, suddenly, it turns out to be this character-driven, atmospheric little jewel that has great acting, good writing, brilliant music, a solid overarching mystery, standalone cases that are not excessively ripped from the headlines and an investigating duo that rivals early Mulder/Scully in chemistry, and before you really know it, you're hooked. Additional bonus - tons of Deadwood alumni keep creeping up, and "Calamity Jane" Robin Weigert has a regular spot as Crews and Reese's Lieutenant.
The story is simple: Cop Charlie Crews has been incarcerated for 12 years, for murders he didn't commit. His lawyer manages to prove his innocence and achieve compensation - a considerable amount of money and the department he used to work for hiring him back, this time as a detective. He doesn't just return for the fun of police work, obviously, he wants to find out who set him up, and there indeed may have been a rather sinister conspiracy, complete with faking evidence and hiding witnesses. This mystery unfolds slowly but steadily in the background, and illustrates both Charlie's character and his evolving relationships to the people around him, especially his housemate, financial advisor and fellow ex-convict Ted, his new partner Dani Reese and his old partner Bobby Stark.
It's extremely well done, and if you don't watch it yet, you should really try it out. I'm sure you won't regret it.
- Michael Kostroff and Sarah Clarke! This show always has such great guest stars. Kostroff really seems to get these "fumbly business expert" roles a lot, but he was funny and charming as usual, and while I had to get used to Clarke's washed out blonde look, it certainly served the character very well.
- Christina Hendricks was also lovely, and I really like Ted's subplot with Olivia. I wonder when Charlie's father will turn up to make things a lot more complicated.
- I am pretty sure I knew hateful white trash boy Jeffrey as well - does someone know who the actor is?
- Proof that product placement works - I'd really like to play some version of Prince of Persia again.
- Speaking of that scene, while I found it hilarious that everyone was getting drawn into the game and cheering the players on, and also loved that it was Little Sister, not Self-Proclaimed Über Geek Programmer, who hit the jackpot, I still thought it could have run for a good few seconds less. I doubt there were really many viewers honestly interested in the Prince's progress in saving Farah.
- Reese's father shapes up to be less than lovely, doesn't he? Forbidding Dani to speak what I assume is her mother's first language when growing up is pretty cold.
- The following probably has to be turned into a macro: I love Reese. I love Charlie. I really need a Sarah Shahi icon.
- no fruit this time, were there?
- Crews bonding with Mary Ann over being technologically challenged was classic. I suppose he got so entranced by her both because she was a stubborn survivor type, and because she looked so much like his ex-wife?
The story is simple: Cop Charlie Crews has been incarcerated for 12 years, for murders he didn't commit. His lawyer manages to prove his innocence and achieve compensation - a considerable amount of money and the department he used to work for hiring him back, this time as a detective. He doesn't just return for the fun of police work, obviously, he wants to find out who set him up, and there indeed may have been a rather sinister conspiracy, complete with faking evidence and hiding witnesses. This mystery unfolds slowly but steadily in the background, and illustrates both Charlie's character and his evolving relationships to the people around him, especially his housemate, financial advisor and fellow ex-convict Ted, his new partner Dani Reese and his old partner Bobby Stark.
It's extremely well done, and if you don't watch it yet, you should really try it out. I'm sure you won't regret it.
- Michael Kostroff and Sarah Clarke! This show always has such great guest stars. Kostroff really seems to get these "fumbly business expert" roles a lot, but he was funny and charming as usual, and while I had to get used to Clarke's washed out blonde look, it certainly served the character very well.
- Christina Hendricks was also lovely, and I really like Ted's subplot with Olivia. I wonder when Charlie's father will turn up to make things a lot more complicated.
- I am pretty sure I knew hateful white trash boy Jeffrey as well - does someone know who the actor is?
- Proof that product placement works - I'd really like to play some version of Prince of Persia again.
- Speaking of that scene, while I found it hilarious that everyone was getting drawn into the game and cheering the players on, and also loved that it was Little Sister, not Self-Proclaimed Über Geek Programmer, who hit the jackpot, I still thought it could have run for a good few seconds less. I doubt there were really many viewers honestly interested in the Prince's progress in saving Farah.
- Reese's father shapes up to be less than lovely, doesn't he? Forbidding Dani to speak what I assume is her mother's first language when growing up is pretty cold.
- The following probably has to be turned into a macro: I love Reese. I love Charlie. I really need a Sarah Shahi icon.
- no fruit this time, were there?
- Crews bonding with Mary Ann over being technologically challenged was classic. I suppose he got so entranced by her both because she was a stubborn survivor type, and because she looked so much like his ex-wife?
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(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 02:06 pm (UTC)Although, and I'm ashamed to admit this, I don't quite recall why the Bank of LA shoot out even ties into the conspiracy. I think my friend and I were talking during the scene which originally explained that.
I still thought it could have run for a good few seconds less. I doubt there were really many viewers honestly interested in the Prince's progress in saving Farah.
They also could have not had the CPU go on the fritz because Charlie spilled Red Bull (although not Red Bull, because they don't have a deal!) on the keyboard. Whaaaat?
- no fruit this time, were there?
:(
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 05:13 pm (UTC)He drank O.J. in the last scene with Ted! That was it for fruit. :(
I continue to like Bobby more and more, which is weird, because he annoyed me/creeped me out in the beginning.
Still don't miss the lawyer lady. I wonder if she'll come back.
The Red Bull in the keyboard was fricking hilariously bad.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 05:39 pm (UTC)For me as well! (Sans the Parker comparison, as I never watched the Pretender.)
Although, and I'm ashamed to admit this, I don't quite recall why the Bank of LA shoot out even ties into the conspiracy. I think my friend and I were talking during the scene which originally explained that.
I'm not sure why he already had the information on his board, but his interest grew after next-to-last episode's Russian Rogue Roman, whom I adore purely because he's played by Gareth Dillahunt, told him to ask his partner about the shoot out.
That's why he spend a bigger part of "Powerless" trying to talk to Stark, who had always been boasting that he was right in the middle of the shoot out, but in the end admitted that he wasn't there. This week it turned out that Dani's father may have been involved, since he was definitely at the crime scene.
They also could have not had the CPU go on the fritz because Charlie spilled Red Bull (although not Red Bull, because they don't have a deal!) on the keyboard. Whaaaat?
A case of Weird Science, no doubt.
:(
Honestly, Charlie needs his vitamins!
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 05:57 pm (UTC)Promoting Life is fun!
I agree that the Prince of Persia seen could have been shorter, but I thought it was really pretty.
It was, and this is a version I haven't played yet...
He drank O.J. in the last scene with Ted! That was it for fruit. :(
I think it has to be more edible to count.
I continue to like Bobby more and more, which is weird, because he annoyed me/creeped me out in the beginning.
I feel they have made him more sympathetic somehow, as I had exactly the same experience.
Still don't miss the lawyer lady. I wonder if she'll come back.
I guess she'll come back at some point, but probably only to wrap up plot threads, not as a love interest.
The Red Bull in the keyboard was fricking hilariously bad.
Yeah, very "huh?!" moment.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 09:04 pm (UTC)(Here via
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-09 10:54 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-10 02:32 am (UTC)I've been rewatching it recently, so it's on my mind. I'm a bit sad that they only thing that's really holding up well is my adoration of Miss Parker. The rest of it is surprisingly conservative, and un-surprisingly plot hole filled, and for some reason I'm really have problems watching tv with a blatantly conservative view point lately. Which is one of the reasons Life is so refreshing. I'm not sure I've ever seen a cop show that was so obviously liberal before. Homicide, maybe.
I'm not sure why he already had the information on his board, but his interest grew after next-to-last episode's Russian Rogue Roman, whom I adore purely because he's played by Gareth Dillahunt, told him to ask his partner about the shoot out.
Ah, okay. I knew about the Russian mentioning it and Dani's connection (and oh, they are being cruel, building up the trust between Dani and Charlie like this and then throwing that one at us), but I thought we'd already had an explanation for why it was on the board. It happened before Charlie was even partners with Stark, which is why I'm confused about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-10 08:04 am (UTC)I guess she'll come back at some point, but probably only to wrap up plot threads, not as a love interest. Yeah, I think you're right, and I'm curious about that. I wonder if their plans changed, because it seemed like she was slated to be a love interest at first.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-11-12 01:08 pm (UTC)I am getting more and more interested in Charlie's father. I don't think we've had anything yet about him but I'm starting to suspect that he too is/was a cop.
There's some good icons here (http://community.livejournal.com/life_icons/).