Life
November 26th 2008 01:22
If you watch anything this week, then let it be 'Life'.
Come on Auzzies and others - are you really going to tell me that you havnt noticed this show yet? It first came on last year when I had to be up at 4am, and I still used to stay up late the night before (and bugger the consequences) to get my fix. I actually hate and detest crime shows - Law and Order have totally lost their way and seem more interested in the personal lives of the characters than in the plot, and The Simpsons said it well - "Law and Order - Elevator's Inspector's Unit" Like come on. Its just gone too far. Anyone can see they are recycling and stretching now. As for CSI - I once again turn to The Simpsons (Chief Wiggum) for my line - "Lets get a shot from the CAN'S point of view!" Its all a bit heavy handed dont you think?
Life is refreshing in its simplicity, the characters are just real, there for you to leave or take as you like. Its certainly not an hour of prima donnas pushing for screen time and desperate to be on the A list, they just get in there and play the character as needed. Since the characters are startlingly realistic, you get the impression of solidarity from them - they have nothing to prove to you.
Really, this pic just says it all. There's the dead body, and Crews is tossing his trademark apple....Looking all set to solve the crime and enjoy his fruit all at once.
At first, it was the romance of it that drew me. A man, accused of a murder he didnt committ, in jail for 12 years and suddenly released. Quickly, I became enchanted by the character of Crews himself, who comes across as having a child like innocence (how anyone ever accused him of murder is beyond me) and a level head enhanced by his Zen like attitude to all things. Just as quickly we are captured by Crews' partner, Reese, an ex drug addict who went off the rails while deep under cover. She's startlingly beautiful, and her quick temper and judgements, as well as her steady handling of male dominated situations, remind me strongly of myself, so I indentify with her.
I couldnt be happier that they got rid of the original chief of police and brought in the new one, the Captain Tidwell. I told Kman recently, if I had not found him, this would have been the guy I married. Forget that he's over weight, forget he's not traditionally handsome, this guy has a real sense of whats important in life and a killer sense of humour. This is a man that would treat his woman like a goddess but still ask her to take out the trash. My most favourite line of his is in the episode 'Did you feel that?' and Crews and Reese appear at a wharehouse where they are gonna flush out the bad guys. Crews and Reese see its only Tidwell and a few cops there, and say, "Is this it?" Tidwell replies, "Yeah, but I'm really pissed off" Kman roared with laughter - "Baby. Thats what you would say!"
In the beginning, Crews immersed himself in all the things he did not have while in prison. His mansion - empty of furniture as he hates clutter, oh, what a man - was frequented by beautiful women. He grows his own organic fruit and is constantly eating it, and I really like this constant reminder that this is a basic pleasure denied to prisoners. Crews is also up to I think his 4th hot car, as each time he buys himself a new machine it is enivetably destroyed. Perhaps he should learn his Zen lessons better - that which you continue to return to is your greatest illusion!
The loss of car 2 or 3 was the best for me...I believe it is episode 'Not for Nothing' but Im not sure....Where Crews goes all revenge on us. Throws his Zen tape out the window at the point where Buddha says violence against others is not productive to our souls, and shouldnt be followed, even if it feels good. Crews says well, if it feels good do it (not in so many words) and takes off on a revenge rampage that left me breathless. The scene where he is attacked by hitmen is one of the best Ive ever seen on TV or in movies.
Because, despite the childlike innocence and level headed Zen attitude, every now and then we see shadows of the character that Charlie had to develop to keep himself alive in prison. It is regularly reminded to the viewer that Charlie spent the majority of his time in solitary, for his own protection, however we know he was in Gen Pop for at least some of the time, as it is there he met his mate Ted, and according to the story line, extricated him from a bitch like position. When Charlie gets mad, its beautiful to watch. He really is the perfect character - a man who plays at being perfect, but like us all, cant quite manage it.
My favourite line from Crews is from the first episode. They have stormed a drug den, and their criminal is shot. The guy is freaking, blood and drugs all over the place. And what does Crews do? He cradles the head of the criminal, forgets entirely that he's the cop out to GET this guy, right now they are just two humans at the gates of death. Crews whispers to him reassuringly, "It's all just a bad dream....Go back to sleep" and the criminal does, quietly and easily leaving the world. The depth of Charlie's character is shown, a fact that he has understood things about life and death that the rest of us still have to catch up on.
Most recently, with his post prison lust sated, Crews has made a play for his ex wife. This story line is without a doubt the most fucked up on TV right now. Imagine being in Jennifer's position - Your husband is accused of murder, and the physical evidence is inscruitable. Not just a murderer, but he murdered your friends, people you liked. You call him a bastard and move on, have kids with a new guy. Then, 12 years later, he's out and he's INNOCENT....And dont you feel like a bitch for not standing by him? Even worse, it's obvious she still loves him, and never stopped.
And poor Crews. He understands why she abandoned him, knows she had no choice. He even admits to the mysterious Rachel (witness to the murder) that at times, even he believed he did it. But now he's out to reclaim his woman, prove to her that all can be as it was....Or even better, with his fifty million dollar payout.
Originally, the big question was, "Who put Charlie away?" and it seems his partner's father was involved somehow. My favourite line of Reese's is at a family dinner. She looks up, squarely into her father's eyes, and just fires it at him, "Dad, did you really send an innocent man to prison?" BAM! Point blank. Told you she reminded me of me. I adore Charlie's 'Wall', after being an investigator myself I see how his ability to lateral think - in any case, not just his own - puts him head and shoulders above the other detectives. Often I notice a process I used to put myself above other debt collectors. The wall is by far the best, where he gathers his evidence.
This plot could very quickly go the way of the X files - conspiracy within conspiracy to the point that even fans become confused, especially now its obvious that Jack Reese is only underneath another, more powerful community of men, and it all boils down to something to do with a bank robbery. Hmm. This plot is getting sticky already, but a lot of Life's plots seem that way until they pan out. They are like real Life - they dont wrap up neatly with all questions answered, they spin and leave loose threads and questions even after you have all the answers. But personally, Im hoping that they get caught up in the cases on a week to week basis and continue to take us on a rough roller coaster ride through the darkest heart of human nature, as they have so far. Whoever is writing up the cases Reese and Crews have to solve is a dead set frig stroke genius, as they are deep, complex and engaging, thats why Im saying, if you enjoy the solving of violent crime, kick Law and Order, burn CSI, and move on to Life, show it your support so we can see that much more of it.
And, I think now, part way through season two, the important thing is not "who put Charlie away?" at all. If these guys are so powerful and the conspiracy is so bad....Why the hell would they let him out?
I for one, cant wait to find out, and I hope it takes us a LONG time to get there, cos I cant get enough of this show. NBC has a great site devoted to it with bios, community, episodes for free and a blog by the real live Ted, which I appreciate greatly.
For Auzzies, please tune in to Channel Ten at 10:30pm on Wednsdays (thats today dudes!) and join me and Charlie and Reese, I promise you wont be disappionted. Americans and others, please see your NBC guide.
Enjoy the show (I know I will) and lets come back here and have a discuss tomorrow, K?
Come on Auzzies and others - are you really going to tell me that you havnt noticed this show yet? It first came on last year when I had to be up at 4am, and I still used to stay up late the night before (and bugger the consequences) to get my fix. I actually hate and detest crime shows - Law and Order have totally lost their way and seem more interested in the personal lives of the characters than in the plot, and The Simpsons said it well - "Law and Order - Elevator's Inspector's Unit" Like come on. Its just gone too far. Anyone can see they are recycling and stretching now. As for CSI - I once again turn to The Simpsons (Chief Wiggum) for my line - "Lets get a shot from the CAN'S point of view!" Its all a bit heavy handed dont you think?
Life is refreshing in its simplicity, the characters are just real, there for you to leave or take as you like. Its certainly not an hour of prima donnas pushing for screen time and desperate to be on the A list, they just get in there and play the character as needed. Since the characters are startlingly realistic, you get the impression of solidarity from them - they have nothing to prove to you.
This is apublic domain image from NBC.com if this picture has been used out of public domain authorization please notify me and I will remove it
Really, this pic just says it all. There's the dead body, and Crews is tossing his trademark apple....Looking all set to solve the crime and enjoy his fruit all at once.
At first, it was the romance of it that drew me. A man, accused of a murder he didnt committ, in jail for 12 years and suddenly released. Quickly, I became enchanted by the character of Crews himself, who comes across as having a child like innocence (how anyone ever accused him of murder is beyond me) and a level head enhanced by his Zen like attitude to all things. Just as quickly we are captured by Crews' partner, Reese, an ex drug addict who went off the rails while deep under cover. She's startlingly beautiful, and her quick temper and judgements, as well as her steady handling of male dominated situations, remind me strongly of myself, so I indentify with her.
I couldnt be happier that they got rid of the original chief of police and brought in the new one, the Captain Tidwell. I told Kman recently, if I had not found him, this would have been the guy I married. Forget that he's over weight, forget he's not traditionally handsome, this guy has a real sense of whats important in life and a killer sense of humour. This is a man that would treat his woman like a goddess but still ask her to take out the trash. My most favourite line of his is in the episode 'Did you feel that?' and Crews and Reese appear at a wharehouse where they are gonna flush out the bad guys. Crews and Reese see its only Tidwell and a few cops there, and say, "Is this it?" Tidwell replies, "Yeah, but I'm really pissed off" Kman roared with laughter - "Baby. Thats what you would say!"
In the beginning, Crews immersed himself in all the things he did not have while in prison. His mansion - empty of furniture as he hates clutter, oh, what a man - was frequented by beautiful women. He grows his own organic fruit and is constantly eating it, and I really like this constant reminder that this is a basic pleasure denied to prisoners. Crews is also up to I think his 4th hot car, as each time he buys himself a new machine it is enivetably destroyed. Perhaps he should learn his Zen lessons better - that which you continue to return to is your greatest illusion!
The loss of car 2 or 3 was the best for me...I believe it is episode 'Not for Nothing' but Im not sure....Where Crews goes all revenge on us. Throws his Zen tape out the window at the point where Buddha says violence against others is not productive to our souls, and shouldnt be followed, even if it feels good. Crews says well, if it feels good do it (not in so many words) and takes off on a revenge rampage that left me breathless. The scene where he is attacked by hitmen is one of the best Ive ever seen on TV or in movies.
Because, despite the childlike innocence and level headed Zen attitude, every now and then we see shadows of the character that Charlie had to develop to keep himself alive in prison. It is regularly reminded to the viewer that Charlie spent the majority of his time in solitary, for his own protection, however we know he was in Gen Pop for at least some of the time, as it is there he met his mate Ted, and according to the story line, extricated him from a bitch like position. When Charlie gets mad, its beautiful to watch. He really is the perfect character - a man who plays at being perfect, but like us all, cant quite manage it.
My favourite line from Crews is from the first episode. They have stormed a drug den, and their criminal is shot. The guy is freaking, blood and drugs all over the place. And what does Crews do? He cradles the head of the criminal, forgets entirely that he's the cop out to GET this guy, right now they are just two humans at the gates of death. Crews whispers to him reassuringly, "It's all just a bad dream....Go back to sleep" and the criminal does, quietly and easily leaving the world. The depth of Charlie's character is shown, a fact that he has understood things about life and death that the rest of us still have to catch up on.
Most recently, with his post prison lust sated, Crews has made a play for his ex wife. This story line is without a doubt the most fucked up on TV right now. Imagine being in Jennifer's position - Your husband is accused of murder, and the physical evidence is inscruitable. Not just a murderer, but he murdered your friends, people you liked. You call him a bastard and move on, have kids with a new guy. Then, 12 years later, he's out and he's INNOCENT....And dont you feel like a bitch for not standing by him? Even worse, it's obvious she still loves him, and never stopped.
And poor Crews. He understands why she abandoned him, knows she had no choice. He even admits to the mysterious Rachel (witness to the murder) that at times, even he believed he did it. But now he's out to reclaim his woman, prove to her that all can be as it was....Or even better, with his fifty million dollar payout.
Originally, the big question was, "Who put Charlie away?" and it seems his partner's father was involved somehow. My favourite line of Reese's is at a family dinner. She looks up, squarely into her father's eyes, and just fires it at him, "Dad, did you really send an innocent man to prison?" BAM! Point blank. Told you she reminded me of me. I adore Charlie's 'Wall', after being an investigator myself I see how his ability to lateral think - in any case, not just his own - puts him head and shoulders above the other detectives. Often I notice a process I used to put myself above other debt collectors. The wall is by far the best, where he gathers his evidence.
This plot could very quickly go the way of the X files - conspiracy within conspiracy to the point that even fans become confused, especially now its obvious that Jack Reese is only underneath another, more powerful community of men, and it all boils down to something to do with a bank robbery. Hmm. This plot is getting sticky already, but a lot of Life's plots seem that way until they pan out. They are like real Life - they dont wrap up neatly with all questions answered, they spin and leave loose threads and questions even after you have all the answers. But personally, Im hoping that they get caught up in the cases on a week to week basis and continue to take us on a rough roller coaster ride through the darkest heart of human nature, as they have so far. Whoever is writing up the cases Reese and Crews have to solve is a dead set frig stroke genius, as they are deep, complex and engaging, thats why Im saying, if you enjoy the solving of violent crime, kick Law and Order, burn CSI, and move on to Life, show it your support so we can see that much more of it.
And, I think now, part way through season two, the important thing is not "who put Charlie away?" at all. If these guys are so powerful and the conspiracy is so bad....Why the hell would they let him out?
I for one, cant wait to find out, and I hope it takes us a LONG time to get there, cos I cant get enough of this show. NBC has a great site devoted to it with bios, community, episodes for free and a blog by the real live Ted, which I appreciate greatly.
For Auzzies, please tune in to Channel Ten at 10:30pm on Wednsdays (thats today dudes!) and join me and Charlie and Reese, I promise you wont be disappionted. Americans and others, please see your NBC guide.
Enjoy the show (I know I will) and lets come back here and have a discuss tomorrow, K?
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