Image Credit: Jack Rowand/The CWThe CW’s quiet charmer Life Unexpected finished its short, sweet first season last night with a [SPOILER ALERT] real, yes-they-went-through-with-it wedding. Kate chose her good-guy fiance over her bad-boy babydaddy, and it was, as ever, fraught with drama — but of the relatable, grounded kind, not the frothy, soapy kind. The scene between Baze and Kate on his roof during the rehearsal dinner (when he told her she’d “stepped up” as a mom and almost confessed his feelings for her) was poignant, and the fact that he burst into Kate and Ryan’s wedding a few seconds too late even moreso. And, oh, Baze’s confrontation with his dad: “It’s no wonder that I can’t tell her that I love her because I have never heard it from the one person I’m supposed to hear it from.” Heavy-handed, yes, but well-earned enough that it was more touching than trite. Poor Baze.
Of course, I’m still nervous for Kate and Ryan’s fate. I believe a wedding that so many people had reservations about is not worth having, and I really was rooting for Baze, but I also found it far more realistic — and understandable — that Kate would force her happily-ever-after with the good, solid guy played by Jack from Dawson’s Creek. I’ve always wanted to do a study of the percentage of weddings on TV and in movies that are stopped by some “speak now or forever hold your peace” action and the percentage in which that happens in real life, but statistics are hard to come by. Have you noticed that almost all real-life weddings, however, don’t even do the “speak now” part? That’s an indication of how often that option is activated, though at some weddings I’ve attended I’ve very much wished it would be. So exciting. It certainly would beat having to kill two hours at the nearest Applebee’s before the reception, anyway.
In this case, however, the future story possibilities lay more in Kate and Ryan being together and Baze wrestling with his own feelings about that; not to mention Kate continuing to wonder if she did the right thing, while being forced to see Baze because of Lux, especially now that they’ve gotten official custody of her. (Is the real lesson here not to go to court for official custody of your kid with one guy the day before you marry a different one?) This show may not have the flash of a Gossip Girl or a Vampire Diaries, but it has heart, soul, wit, and surprises — plus now, I’m convinced, plenty of story juice left in it. Here’s to hoping The CW gives it another season.
Who’s with me, PopWatchers? Speak now or forever hold your peace.
love love love this show please save it cw!!
I love this show too but could this reviewer seriously learn to spell Cate’s name. Cate. With a C. They’ve showed it like that on the show several times to emphasize the difference.
I hope they rerun it during the summer, maybe pull new viewers in. I love this show!
Love this show! Kate’s my fav tv character!
No Lux And Eric Are My Favorite Characters And Couple Becaues What They Have On The Show Is Worth Fighting For
I was neutral on this show until the last couple of eps. It is good enough for the CW. I could do without all the dramatic monologues every week but that’s what you get with TV.
I’m with you. I would argue this is the best, most well-rounded show the WB/CW has had in years. I hope it’s back for a second season!
I know what you mean… Ever since Gilmore Girls got off the air i’ve been waiting for something like this show.
I really really really want another season!
USE TO WATCH G/G UNTIL THE LAST FEW SHOWS, SEEMS TO JUST GET SILLY. I LIKE THIS SHOW BUT FEEL A LITTLE GAY ADMITTING IT.
i have to second that. it has been rare for the CW to get a show right that had heart and soul behind it and when they do get it right they go and cancel it too soon (RIP Privileged). so for the gilmore fans that didn’t get the ending they wanted and the privileged fans that weren’t satisfied please please PLEASE give this amazing show another season. it deserves it!
Was kinda on the fence about the show when it started but after the last couple of episodes I really hope that it gets another shot. The scene between Baze and his Dad had me filling up and I’m usually immune to that…
This show is so real and the scene last night with Baze and his dad in the bar was deeply moving. So much more here CW! Please renew!
I love it too!!! Save it!!!
I stopped watching this show after episode three. Maybe if they rerun during the summer, I’ll try it again. They should stop the Gilmore Girls hype though, because it is nothing like it. I was expecting witty, fast paced, nuanced characters and did not get that at all. If I was expecting a kind of cute, slowish, pretty-looking soap then I’d probably have been happier with it.
Agreed Monti. That comparison kind of killed it for me initially.
I know what you mean. I have watched a few episodes and liked what I saw – but it didn’t pull me in the way Gilmore Girls did. I also didn’t quite get the Rory and Lux comparisons. The two characters are quite different (and yes, I understand they grew up under very different circumstances).
It NEEDS to come back. It’s such a good show with some great characters.
I really do hope they bring this show back. Only suggestion I have would be to move it to a different night because of the competition.
What other night could they put it on? I wouldn’t want it on a Tues or Wed because Idol would kill it. The only days I would say would be Mon or Thurs because Fri is a graveyard especially on the CW.
Heck yeah! They better renew it or else. Its a real touching show and its not as cheesy as one might think. CW please keep this one going cause yes there is more to tell here. Baze has to get with Kate for realz yo!
I’m in LOVE with this show – it’s fresh and new but also has that element that made the old WB shows so great (Gilmore, Dawsons etc). It’s grounded but whimsical and all the characters are great. I love Baze and want them together, but Ryan is so great I feel bad for rooting for Baze!
I really hope they give this show a chance to grow into something great.
I love this show! I really hope the CW picks it up for another season. It has a classic WB goodness about it, like Everwood and Gilmore Girls. I wasn’t even planning on getting sucked it to another show, but I caught an episode and was hooked. To be honest, I like it better than Gossip Girl and One Tree Hill this season. It’d be a shame to just let it end here.
It was ok. Not great. Would have sufficed as a TV movie.