In the new issue of EW out today, TV critic Ken Tucker makes a plea for viewers to watch NBC’s eccentric-detective drama Life (Fridays, 10 p.m. ET) starring Damian Lewis: "Life is currently dying a ratings death opposite crap like Numb3rs and 20/20," Ken writes. "Help save the charming redhead, won’t you?"
Let’s do it. If you’ve never given the series a chance, watch or record it tonight. Especially you, my Bones-loving friends. It’s not that the shows are as similar as they’ll look in the clip below; it’s that you recognize good characters when you see them, and Charlie Crews, Lewis’ layered cop, back on the beat after serving 12 years for a crime he didn’t commit, is one. Also, you might find yourself attracted to a ginger particularly when he’s trying to have sex with his ex-wife in the backseat of her husband’s car. I’m just sayin’.
Fingers crossed, tonight’s episode is as good as the first four of Season 2* — which are the ones that hooked me.
* You can catch them, and all of Season 1, on Hulu.
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“Life” is a wonderful show. I missed it last year, but caught up by watching it all on Hulu. The writing is really good, and the relationship between Damian Lewis and his female partner (and Damian Lewis and Adam Arkin) is wonderful.
I love this show! And I think NBC did it a great disservice by putting it on two nights a week. It was so confusing to try to figure out when to watch it.
I definitely will watch it. But I agree with Ken, WATCH THIS SHOW!
Life is a fantastic show! I was annoyed to see that NBC put it on Friday nights. It was like they just sent it there to die. People definitely need to watch it!! Don’t let it get screwed over by NBC!
I’m a Bones fan, so I’ll take your recommendation seriously. I did watch a few episodes recently when they ran directly after Heroes. I need a good summary/website to catch me up. I know he didn’t commit the crime and got a big $$ settlement out of jail. What’s the deal with his partner’s dad being involved? Why was he set up? Anyone have any good fan sites I can check out?
I watched it last year, and it was great. Now they have put it on Fridays where all shows go to die. NBC, pick a night where people will actually watch, and it may live to see another day.
My husband got me hooked on this show – and he is like Mikey; he hates everything. Damian Lewis is great and the relationship with his partner is entertaining. I also like the character Donal Logue is playing, haven’t generally liked him in the past, but he is good here.
I LOVE this show. It has smart characters, good weekly stories, and a back story that keeps you watching week after week. I was happy when it got to live to season 2, but was sad when it was moved to Fridays. People watch this amazing show!!
They’ve really put the “conspiracy” on the back burner (with Dani’s alcohol problem), now the show seems more like Hunter with a nerd. I like Lewis and Shai and Logue, but I think NBC has been hexed by some sorcerer that when it develops good shows, they don’t draw ratings. But I’m a Lifer.
Are people just used to NOT watching NBC? When was the last time an NBC show drew 15 million viewers?
I love Life.
Been watching since the pilot and I can’t recommend Life enough.
What’s the deal with his partner’s dad being involved?
Slowly throughout S1 we learned that Jack Reese was involved somehow. In general he is just not a nice guy. It somehow relates to him being part of the Bank of L.A. shootout (he was running SWAT team drills at a good vantage point) which led to him being suddenly infused with cash those many years ago. Honestly, I would recommend watching “Dig a Hole & Fill It Up” not only because they’re awesome but you’d be pretty much caught up to speed.
Why was he set up?
We/he don’t know. That’s the rub.
Anyone have any good fan sites I can check out?
Eeek, I don’t know any. The thread at TWOP is pretty active.
http://forums.televisionwithoutpity.com/index.php?showtopic=3154453
I am not a fan of procedurals in general, but after joining in on ‘Bones’, I gave ‘Life’ a try last year. It is an excellent show. Smart, sexy and different from a lot of the identical cop shows out there. PLEASE, PLEASE, give it a try. I hust love it!!
My only problem with this second season – other than the Friday “death march” timeslot – is Donal Logue as the new chief of their department – he seems completely different than last year’s chief, who was playing department politics. Should she have been demoted, probably because she did not shut down Crews, but could we get someone who would try to be meaner to Charlie and Dani, as opposed to making them the star detectives of the department. I really love the sho, and would love to see a triangle with Charlie , his ex, and his lawyer, but I don’t like the telegraphing of Dani and the boss thing…..
They put it in the NUMBERS time slot. People are watching that show.
I absolutely LOVE “Life!!” I have seen every episode since it started last year. I think it’s the best, most clever cop show on TV! Damain Lewis is PERFECT for the role! PLEASE folks, give it a try!
This kind f campaign can be used for almost all of NBCs shows. Save Chuck. Save Heroes. Save My Name is Earl. Save Kath & Kim. Save The Office. Save 30 Rock. Save ER (I know, I know). Save Crusoe. So yeah, save Life, but don’t forget the rest of NBC.
I disagree with Ken’s assertion that Sarah Shahi’s acting is “one-note.” Her character just hasn’t come out of her shell yet.
Damian Lewis is such a hottie.
I can’t like Charlie’s ex-wife, she just irks me somehow.
Adam Arkin is great–at first you’d think Ted is a lumbering oaf, but he’s actually a brilliant accountant and loyal friend. Maybe he can get his Oscar-winning dad to guest star?
I found this show in my cable’s On Demand “free” menu, under “Broadcast Primetime-NBC.”
Great show. It’s in my current top 5.
Argh, I love this show! Others out there, please watch Life!
nope dont like wont like it wont watch it.
If only we had this for Journyman.
I agree! I love this show – have since the first ep of the first season. It’s smart, funny and entertaining. IF nothing else, DVR it and watch it back. This show is great. SAVE IT PLEASE!
Agreed!!! Great show with a great storyline thread through all the episodes, with very good acting and writing. Please watch.
I was eagerly anticipating this show last year because I love Damian Lewis, and it was everything I hoped it would be. I don’t think the second season is quite as good as the first, and I don’t like Donal Logue’s character, but I still love it.
I really wish they hadn’t moved it to Friday. It’s the suckiest night of the week. I agree with whomever said having it on twice a week was confusing; my brother thought it was on Mondays as a result and missed last week’s episode. I hope he remembered and caught it this week.
Life is a fantastic show. I watch all my TV online now and have subscribed to it on Hulu. Its such a treat to watch on Saturday when there is nothing else on. Anyhoo . . . the characters are great and the writing is wonderful. Damien Lewis is both mesmerizing and spooky at the same time. I find him irresistably charming. The grumpy female partner Reese is unlike any other women characters on TV today (ie. not always in peril).
The only downside to Season 2 is Donal Logue’s character. I love Donal and think he’s a great actor. But the sleazy way they are writing him creeps me out. I’m sure there are guys like that that exist but that he would advance that far up the police ladder really bothers me. I would think in a major metropolitan PD someone with that attitude wouldn’t get far in such a diverse population.
Love the Crews/Reese partnership. Don’t like Reese and the boss thing, kinda gross but mainly unbelievable. LOVE LOVE Adam Arkin’s character. That man is a genius. Hope the show survives Friday nights.
Life is AMAZING! I watch it every week.
Numb3rs is a much better show. I’d rather watch that.
Life is a great show- I was hooked from the beginning. Everyone should give it a chance.
BTW, I think Sarah Shahi does more with her three lines of diologue each episode than most actors do with five pages.
have checked all the articles and still don’t understand what happelned to Robin Weigert’s character and why Donal Logue was brought in. He’s terrible. He doesn’t fit the show at all. It’s like he wandered over from the soundstage where they were filming some lame sitcom (like the one he was in last year) and stole Ms. Weigert’s seat at the table. What gives???
I LOVE “Life.” It’s definitely one of the better shows on TV these days. How could NBC put on Fridays? It’s like they want to kill it.