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« Roush Dispatch
A New Lease on Life
Sarah Shahi and Damian Lewis in Life by Trae Patton/NBC Photo
I’m still not convinced that NBC’s Life is a great series, but tonight’s episode (Nov. 13) is the best I’ve seen to date of a show that has toned down some of the elements that irritated me when it premiered. Detective Charlie Crews (the charismatic Damian Lewis), who is still trying to unravel the circumstances of the unjust murder conviction that kept him behind bars for 12 years, remains something of an acquired taste. But he is indulging his quirks (spouting Zen aphorisms, munching fruit) with far fewer mannerisms. There’s not quite as much of the aren’t-I-just-adorable mugging that turned me off in the first episodes.
It helps that tonight’s case is a doozy, involving a corpse that would make TV’s various CSI teams do a double-take. Crews and his typically skeptical partner Dani Reese (nicely underplayed by Sarah Shahi) are called to a house that’s nearly as empty as Crews’ own mansion — his settlement after his release earned Crews a fortune, as well as the resentment of a police department that only reluctantly welcomed him back. Inside the house’s kitchen is a man literally blown in two by a booby-trapped stove. Below the belt, he’s altogether missing. The top half, shielded by a refrigerator door, is unscathed and sits upright on the floor, sans legs. It’s grisly but not gory, and the more we learn about this mystery victim, the weirder the case becomes. In the guy’s wallet: two IDs with different names and different addresses, leading to two wives who had no idea of the twisted secret life their hubby ("the most ordinary man I’ve ever met," says one coworker) was leading.
Following this mystery is great fun, and for the first time this season, I truly enjoyed being in Crews’ company. The episode also takes some pivotal twists in the show’s larger story arc involving Crews’ extracurricular investigation into the murder case that sent him to jail. One fatal twist won’t be much of a shock to anyone who watches TV regularly, but a climactic reveal did manage to surprise me.
Still, this serialized aspect of Life seems to me the show’s Achilles heel (not unlike the backstory finally taking shape on Journeyman, a much less compelling NBC newbie). The lesson from last season, when so many serialized dramas failed (The Nine and Kidnapped in Life's same Wednesday time period), appears not to have been learned. I get that Crews is seeking answers and wants revenge — that’s ingrained in the premise of the series — but does his imprisonment have to involve a deadly conspiracy (which certainly seems to be the case after tonight’s plot turns)? Loyal Life fans, of which there aren’t nearly enough to ensure the show’s survival, may be thrilled by all of this, but it’s the sort of thing that’s likely to keep more casual onlookers at arm’s length. Which seems like a shame, and a waste of a terrific actor like Lewis.
As tonight’s episode amply demonstrates, Life has the makings of a solid and enjoyable crime procedural. It has certainly developed more effectively than either Bionic Woman or Journeyman. And yes, I’ve tried to keep up with both of those hardly fantastic fantasies. (Of NBC’s new-season underperformers, the delightful Chuck remains my favorite.)
Anyone who has been thinking about giving Life another look should watch tonight’s episode. Better late to the party than never, and who knows if it will even be around in the new year (strike or not)?
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Nov 14, 2007 12:44 PM
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Wow. Seems like every show I love, you dislike. Oh well such is Life (hahaha). I love this show but I do hope they don't drag on the "who set me" storyline. I don't want to even think about Kidnapped. Oh how I miss that show....
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Nov 14, 2007 1:29 PM
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Me too; Kidnapped was fantastic.
Life is the perfect example of a show that I have grown to like more and more as it has stayed around. I've even noticed it keeps moving higher and higher on my TiVo in terms of how soon I watch it - often the same night it airs. It makes me wonder how many other potentially "good" shows got axed before they had a chance to earn their sea legs?...We'll never know, but I think Kidnapped was definitely one of them.
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Nov 14, 2007 2:33 PM
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Well I admit to really enjoying both LIFE and JOURNEYMAN. Both shows are original and quirky which is my I probably like them!
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Nov 14, 2007 4:07 PM
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Thanks so much for this review and for showcasing the development of the program over time. As a loyal fan, I too would like the conspiracy aspects to be handled quickly and to lead somewhere we can follow and then conclude. There is so much beyond "who framed Charlie Crews" that I would like to know about these characters.
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Nov 14, 2007 4:43 PM
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I like this show and wish it would veer more toward the comedy-type scenes, like more of Dani's annoyances and annoucements about those annoyances about Charlie (like I wish she didn't need to have a drug and alcohol problem, but just maybe be the youngest detective in the office so that is why she is stuck with Charlie) and more Ted. Heck, introduce Ted and Dani. If so, I really believe that minus the sexual tension this show could be a fun as Burn Notice is in the summer. I have similar feelings toward it. And wouldn't it be better for Ted and Dani to be as invested in Charlie's search for answers as Fi and Sam are in Michael's quest
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Nov 14, 2007 4:49 PM
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I like Damien Lewis but this character really turned me off for the same reasons mentioned by Matt. So much so that I tuned out after 30 mins and deleted all the pending episodes from my TiVO.
I'll try it again with tonight's episode.
Love Journeyman by the way (another fellow Brit pretending to be an American).
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Nov 14, 2007 5:07 PM
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"LIFE IS VERY, VERY GOOD" - I wonder sometimes if the columnists are the ones responsible for the deminse of a show simply because they don't like it. They're only an army of one, we are an army of hundreds or more.
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Nov 14, 2007 6:26 PM
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The first couple of eps were marginal, but it seems that the last few have gotten a lot better. I actually look forward to this show now. The one thing I would like to see is a "Life" TV Show Blog. I read all the TV Show Blogs for all my favortites, but I have not seen one yet for Life. Could someone pretty please get a TV guide staffer to recap the show?
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Nov 14, 2007 6:38 PM
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I'm so excited - in the same day I've read positive, relatively, comments from you and Ausiello about Life. This is a show that I enjoyed from the beginning. I've tried Bionic Woman, Chuck, Reaper, Back to You, Private Practice and Life. The ones I've stuck with are the two you dislike the most - Life and Private Practice. But, I'd watch Tim Daly read the yellow pages so, um, yeah I'm willing to suffer through alot for him!
What I've enjoyed the most about Life is how they've developed the characters so well and have handled the evolution of Dani and Charlie's partnership in such a believable manner. I think the performances are excellent. I wonder if the decrease of Crews' tics and annoying mannerisms are due to the character becoming more comfortable in the real world or if it's Lewis becoming more comfortable in the role? If it was the former, and the tics and their slow abatement were intentional would that improve your opinion of the show?
I do hope that they wrap up the Who Framed Charlie Crews mystery this year and then continue on as more of a straighforward procedural that doesn't ignore, or focus, on the personal lives of the cops.
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Nov 14, 2007 8:15 PM
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Oh, and I second the request for Life to be given it's own TV Show Blog.
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Nov 14, 2007 8:16 PM
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I'm really enjoying all four new NBC shows: Chuck, Bionic Woman, Journeyman and Life (in that order). In fact, I'm watching a ton of new shows. This is probably the strongest fall I've seen since 24, Alias, Smallville, Scrubs, Undeclared and The Tick launched in 2001. This writers strike is gonna kill me.
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Nov 15, 2007 12:27 AM
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I had to give up on Bionic Woman but Life is a new favorite. The improvement I'd like to see is the return of William Sanderson.
I'm sticking with Journeyman because I'm pre-disposed to liking its leads-not just McKidd, Diamond and Egolf but the increasingly appealing Brian Howe as well. I'm not that fond of the premise of the show but if they can make the actual adventures little more engaging then it won't get in the he way.
Cannot stnad either Zachary Levi or Chuck. Just way too damn cutesy.
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Nov 15, 2007 2:28 AM
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I'm a big fan of Damian Lewis. I've been a loyal follower of "Life" from ep.1, believing that if anyone could turn the show into a hit, it would be Lewis. Tonight's episode (#8, Farthingdale) renewed my faith in that belief. Of course, I realize that's also due to better writing, editing, etc. But, I believe that Damian gave his best performance, so far in the series, tonight. Thanks, Mr. Roush, for beginning to see (& write about) the more positive aspects of the show & the progress that it appears to be making!
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Nov 15, 2007 3:27 AM
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I've been watching this show since the premiere, mainly because my husband wanted to. I found Crews intriguing, but annoying at the beginning. For one, I got a little weary of his revolving door of women and didn't think it was pertinent to the story line. But over the weeks it's been growing on me and last night's episode really hooked me. I wandered over to the Blogs this morning looking for the recap and alas, there was none. I join with the others in requesting one for this show.
As for Journeyman, I've also been watching this, at first with some disappointment (was a BIG Quantum Leap fan and that's hard to live up to), but it's been growing on me and I'm truly enjoying it now. Bionic Woman? Sorry...the interest meter is going down by the week for me on this one. I wouldn't miss it if it went away.
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Nov 15, 2007 10:24 AM
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