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Life season 1 thread

post #1 of 85
9/26/07 at 5:49am
Thread Starter 
Life airs on NBC at 10 p.m. EDT.

Sneak peek review:

Just when you thought they couldn't find another spin on police procedural dramas, "Life" offers viewers the offbeat lead character of Charlie Crews, a police officer convicted of a grisly murder, and sent to prison with a life sentence, but 12 years later, he's exonerated, received a hefty settlement from the city, and gets a job as a homicide detective on the police force. He doesn't have to work, but chooses to work in law enforcement for his own reasons. He's got a zen attitude toward all things, and being gone for 12 years offers a few laughs at all the Jetson-like gadgets and technology we all take for granted, but manages to surprise Charlie when progress rears its head in everyday life.

I liked the character of Charlie Crews, and it hints at a longer subplot to tie over the episodic cases of the show. It doesn't hurt that the cast includes Sara Shahi (Charlie's partner and immediate superior on the police force) and also Brooke Langton (the lawyer who never gave up on him). Alan Arkin plays a financial advisor/friend.

I'll give it at least half a season, but I suspect I'll be in it for the long haul. I liked this pilot moreso than Journeyman's.
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post #2 of 85
9/26/07 at 3:47pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

I really enjoyed it. It's on my must watch list. In my book his lawyer and partner are supremely hot women. Hint, partial to brunettes.
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post #3 of 85
9/26/07 at 3:51pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Hmmmm... I wasn't going to watch this. Now I might give it a try
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post #4 of 85
9/27/07 at 6:35am

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Great episode that nicely sets up the premise and characters. I love that the main character, Charlie, is out of touch with modern day advances, such as the camera cell phone and the internet ('what's IM?'). It's also nice to see Sarah Shahi again after missing her in last season's the L word. Her backstory is a bit iffy, but the chemistry between her and Charlie more than makes up for it.
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post #5 of 85
9/27/07 at 8:27am

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

I wanted to see this because I liked Lewis from Band of Brothers and isn't Robin Weigert from Deadwood in this? Does she have much of a part ? But I also Liked Last Seasons RAINES, and NBC axed that quickly.
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post #6 of 85
9/27/07 at 1:07pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

I thought it was pretty good. I've never seen House, but it kind of felt like "let's make a cop version of House." Maybe that's totally wrong, though. I wasn't really comfortable seeing a dead boy scout lying there. They could have kept that off camera.

I don't see it having much staying power. For example, I doubt if seven seasons from now, they'd be referencing his time in prison too often. Maybe if they treat it like Prison Break was supposed to be treated at first and end it after the people who framed him are taken down, it could work.
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post #7 of 85
9/27/07 at 3:40pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Charlie showed more sensitivity in one episode than House has shown in 3 seasons. Charlie's got a retro way of looking at things since he missed out on the past decade of technological "progress", which gives him a way of working problems outside the box.
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post #8 of 85
9/27/07 at 6:02pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
Charlie showed more sensitivity in one episode than House has shown in 3 seasons. Charlie's got a retro way of looking at things since he missed out on the past decade of technological "progress", which gives him a way of working problems outside the box.

I just figured they are both quirkier than normal characters. I like Charlie better than House, but I've never seen House, so that doesn't mean anything.
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post #9 of 85
9/27/07 at 8:31pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Recorded it last night and watched it tonight and I really like the show. Definetly will be watching it, and the whole thing about him finding out who framed him well that alone will probably keep me watching.
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post #10 of 85
9/28/07 at 12:14pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Greg_S_H
I thought it was pretty good. I've never seen House, but it kind of felt like "let's make a cop version of House." Maybe that's totally wrong, though.

To be honest, it felt more like Monk rather than House, with everyone having to deal with his odd behavior.

Personally, I found it to be a bit too odd and not what I was expecting. Maybe I'll get used to it after a while.

Jason
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post #11 of 85
9/30/07 at 10:13am

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

I liked the pilot and it is now on my DVR season list. I certainly hope NBC gives this show a full run.

Just as an interesting side note, the state of California shields itself from being sued for wrongful conviction. There is a set payment schedule so for 12 years in prison the most a person would get is 120K. It certainly is nice to be able to make all the rules.
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post #12 of 85
9/30/07 at 2:31pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

That would seem applicable to state liability. Was it ever established which government body Crews sued? I just assumed it was the city or county of Los Angeles.
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post #13 of 85
9/30/07 at 3:48pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Garrett Adams
That would seem applicable to state liability. Was it ever established which government body Crews sued? I just assumed it was the city or county of Los Angeles.
Actually it applies to all parties involved.
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post #14 of 85
10/3/07 at 8:16pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Life season 1 thread

10/03/07

I like the way this show is balacing Charlie's hunt for who framed him, the current police case he and his partner are working on, and his philandering ways.

I almost didn't recognize Meredith Salenger. Seeing Christine Hendricks (as Charlie's father's fiancee) on the show was a nice surprise. Dani's still got her "picking up married men" hang-up going on. Charlie was kinda bold getting his real estate agent to get him inside the house where the murders took place (of which he was framed).
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post #15 of 85
10/3/07 at 10:11pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick Sun
10/03/07
Seeing Christine Hendricks (as Charlie's father's fiancee) on the show was a nice surprise.

Was that the girl who played Saffron on Firefly?
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post #16 of 85
10/3/07 at 11:25pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Life season 1 thread

Yup, "Our Mrs. Reynolds".
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post #17 of 85
10/4/07 at 7:00am

Re: Life season 1 thread

Really good show, I also like the whole premise of him working on a current case meanwhile working on his own. I'm more anxious about his case than the others because the way he has it layed out looks like it was a pretty elaborate plan to frame him. I actually like the interview clips of those involved of the framing gives you some history. His ex-partner surprised me with the badge and gun, he has someone else he can trust. Good episode. Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
The plot thickens with the missing daughter who appears to be alive
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post #18 of 85
10/4/07 at 7:58pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Another good one. Hope it stays around. I like how things are not so cut-and-dried just because he's been exonerated - some people sympathize, some people vilify, even those who were your friends.

It was interesting to see Max Greenfield play mean and dangerous after his good boy turn in Veronica Mars. I would be interested in seeing more of what he can do along those lines.
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post #19 of 85
10/5/07 at 7:01am

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jerome Grate
Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)
The plot thickens with the missing daughter who appears to be alive

Personally, that's who I thought the dad's fiancee would be.
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post #20 of 85
10/5/07 at 2:41pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

The plot point with the daughter is not a spoiler -- at least not any more.

I thought the point is that the daughter was in fact home during the time of the murders, and not away as in the police report.

I also (briefly) thought she might have been the fiancee, but that would have been way too "clever". Glad they didn't go there.
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post #21 of 85
10/6/07 at 10:38am

Re: Life season 1 thread

I thought, when Charlie's father's fiance showed up, she told Charlie's house guest that he was her father. Did I totally mishear that?

Heh. Officer Leo.
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post #22 of 85
10/6/07 at 2:15pm

Re: Life series premiere 9/26/07

Quote:
Originally Posted by Abe D
.... Charlie, is out of touch with modern day advances, such as the camera cell phone and the internet ('what's IM?').
1995 had cellphones, carphones, the internet, and even IMs. I'm not sure what rock Charlie had been living under.

And I'll assume the Bentley was only rented for the pilot and in future episodes he'll be driving something cheaper for NBC to lease & insure.

But I do like the character, kind of a cross between House & the guy from L&O C.I.
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post #23 of 85
10/6/07 at 3:52pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
1995 had cellphones, carphones, the internet, and even IMs. I'm not sure what rock Charlie had been living under.
I think the issue is not so much whether those things existed in 1995 but why he's been so cut off from the world that he hasn't been aware of the infusion of technology into everyday life. I don't recall if he was in maximum security and isolated from general population. But even then...
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post #24 of 85
10/10/07 at 8:08pm
Thread Starter 

Re: Life season 1 thread

I about fell off my couch when Charlie pulled a knife on the suspect's nards after the suspect pull the knife on Charlie's neck. It was such a prison life moment that came so natural to Charlie after 12 years in the joint.

Loving Charlie's new ride, and that was a smokin' kiss he shared with his ex-wife.
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post #25 of 85
10/10/07 at 9:09pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Decent new show.

I like the Grand National best.
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post #26 of 85
10/11/07 at 7:14pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Out of all the new shows I've watched, this is my favorite. As long as they don't drag out his solving of the crime he didn't commit for multiple seasons.
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post #27 of 85
10/11/07 at 7:53pm

Re: Life season 1 thread

Still enjoying the show but thought it was strange his ex-wife told him "you need to stop doing this" but then says it's the first time he's seen her in 12 years.
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post #28 of 85
10/12/07 at 3:22am

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cameron Yee
Still enjoying the show but thought it was strange his ex-wife told him "you need to stop doing this" but then says it's the first time he's seen her in 12 years.
I took it to mean that he's been pulling her husband over for innocuous traffic violations, only this time the ex-wife was also in the car.
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post #29 of 85
10/12/07 at 3:29am

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan_F
Out of all the new shows I've watched, this is my favorite. As long as they don't drag out his solving of the crime he didn't commit for multiple seasons.
I'm loving the show. The balance between solving the main crime and the crime-of-the-week is just right. I wouldn't mind if they stretched it over a couple of seasons, but my main fear is that once it's solved it'll be all downhill from there, a la Veronica Mars. I also wouldn't mind if a couple of crime-of-the-weeks were stretched over several weeks and have them tie into the main murder somehow.
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post #30 of 85
10/12/07 at 7:45am

Re: Life season 1 thread

Quote:
I took it to mean that he's been pulling her husband over for innocuous traffic violations, only this time the ex-wife was also in the car.
Ah, thanks.
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