Episode: “Find Your Happy Place” – Season Premiere (Season 2)
Premiere Date: Monday, September 29th, 2008
Rating: 3 out of 4 Stars
Quick Synopsis: Sentiments for all occasions.
Long Synopsis: Three trunks with bodies inside are found at three different places around Los Angeles. Each trunk has been numbered. They begin searching for the killer, believing there may be more trunks and dead bodies to follow.
Review: Life is a show that I was happy NBC gave a second season. Although, given the choice, I would’ve kept Journeyman. Life is a procedural, but one that revolves around a thoroughly interesting central character and back-story.
That central character is Det. Charlie Crews, played by Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers). The story of him having been sent to prison for a crime he didn’t commit and how that changed him, makes for a great character. Also, his searching for the truth behind his being set up to take the fall for that crime.
The story is also interesting because he has been partnered up with Det. Dani Reese, played by Sarah Shahi (The L Word), the daughter of the guy he believes was behind setting him up.
But, even with all that back-story, I think you can still jump right in and enjoy the show, whether you watched the first season or not. Because the reason to watch is Lewis’ Det. Crews and the way he goes about solving whatever the case of the week is.
With the new season comes a new Captain for them to answer to. But, after one episode, I’m not sure about Donal Logue’s (Grounded for Life) Capt. Kevin Tidwell. His having been a New York cop could become something fun to play with.
Overall, Life is the best option in the third hour of primetime tonight. It will be a tough choice when it plays in its normal time period on Fridays up against Numb3rs on CBS. I like them both about equally, but for different reasons. The comedic aspect of Life may push it to the top spot in the time period. As for the cable competition, at this point, I would choose Life over Sanctuary on Sci Fi, Crash on Starz, and The Starter Wife on USA.
Life premieres tonight, Monday, September 29th on NBC and new episodes will play Friday, next Monday and next Friday again. Life will then continue to play on Fridays, as My Own Worst Enemy will begin playing on Mondays in two weeks.
Check out some episode and promo photos
Life S.2 Ep.1 & Promo Photos
Is it just me, or does LIFE suck this time around. None of the sharpness of dialogue is there anymore and Charlie is coming off more as an a-hole than a quirky character.
Oliver, Well, I don’t know if it’s just you, but I know it’s not me. I think the first two episodes of this season have been great and am looking forward to episode three tonight.
I agree with Oliver. Since moving to NBC, the zen is gone, Dani’s promiscuity and cocaine abuse seem to have been forgotten/ignored, and the series as a whole seems really “dumbed down”. Disappointing.
Bob, Life has always been on NBC, it didn’t move there. Also, we are three episodes into the season, so it’s a bit too soon to say something is being ignored. I’ve really enjoyed the season so far and am about to watch episode three as soon as I finish typing this response.
Thanks for letting me know that “Life” began on NBC…
I actually watched the entire first season on DVD (and loved it!) and assumed that it must have switched networks in order to have become so completely disjointed mid-stream.
It’s sad that they’ve pandered to the lowest common denominator and have chosen to “sex up” a crime drama a la CSI.
For me, the series jumped the shark when he “shattered” the frozen victim at the beginning of one of the more recent episodes and so I won’t be watching any more anyway. :-)
Thanks for providing this space!
bob
I have mixed feelings about this season….season 1 was excellent, cos you got thrown right into the story, and knew each
each character’s individual dilemma and where they fitted into Charlie’s “Life”
Season 1 ended with drama and excitement (He finally caught the killer, but empahsised to Connie that somebody else set him up), so it sort of set the scene for season 2….but season 2 so far hasn’t latched on to where season 1 ends, kinda killing the dramatic effect of the season 1 ending.
I agree with Bob on the whole Dani Reese Character losing the gripping stuff that made her character interesting…but on the other hand, Ted Earley is becoming more focused on….interesting to see where that goes…
Also, I’v been wondering about Constance Griffiths…has she suddenly turned on Charlie? In season 2, she claims that she never heard the name Jack Reese in Hollis’s confession…in “Fill it up” we know she did hear the name while listening…what’s the deal?
Khalid, I can understand what you are saying, but I’m in no hurry to find everything out. They have a whole season to fill. It’s not like it has been completely dropped. He found the girl and she is living with him and Ted. He’s gotten info from his tap on Jack Reese and the wall has started to be used again.
Good point…I am an avid fan, so definitely going to give it a chance and see how it pans out…I am yet to watch episode 6 though, and definitely glad that the wall is being used again…
Any thoughts on Constance’s failure to back Charlie up?
Khalid, I’m not sure why she didn’t back Charlie up on that, but I’m sure it will come back up again.