Life: Badge Bunny
By fred | November 20, 2008
(S02E09) I think that I might be a bit obsessed with this show, or the way it changed this new season, and maybe because of it I fail to enjoy it the way I should. But I can’t help myself, and I also happened to think I’m totally right. So we’ll talk about it some more, because while this was a good episode, a really good one, I can’t help but feel that it also couldn’t have been one episode of last season.
It’s the same show, with the same characters and everything, and yet there seems to be something missing this season, like it was the result of a decision – for which I blame NBC – to make the show more “normal”, less different, less unique. We all know that last season, this show was like nothing else on TV, just like Charlie Crews was like no one else. All in a good way.
It was different, quirky, unique, and that’s exactly why we all loved it so much. There was an intensity that set this show apart, and that is now gone. And I feel this season there seems to be this force that tries to make the show a lot more like everything else on TV, and Charlie a lot more like anyone else. For instance, the Zen has always been a major thing on the show, and in Charlie’s life. I don’t think it would be any kind of stretch to say that it saved Charlie’s life, it is what kept him sane during all those years behind bars.
And I’m not gonna pretend that, last season, Charlie was spilling out one Zen thought after the other all the time every week, because I don’t believe it was the case. But when during this episode, asked whether he was wearing a settlement or a badge, Charlie responded that “it is not what we carry with us but what we let go that defines who we are” I was happy, happy to hear some Zen again.
But I shouldn’t have been happy, not like that. Last season I also loved all those Zen comments, but they didn’t make me feel like finally I was having my show back, and the Charlie I used to love, they were a normal part of how Charlie is, thinks and speaks, and what this show is made of. It wasn’t an event, it wasn’t special, it wasn’t unique. The whole show, the whole hour, Charlie, was unique and special, not for a moment but all the time, all moments, at any moment.
And I will come back to Dani, because I have always thought that this show was never about Charlie, but about Charlie and Dani, and how they worked together. She’s always been as important to the show as her partner, and not because of her looks. She was a strong detective who would never do any of the things she now does every day, she would never wear sexy clothes for work, or let her hair down for instance. Not because it’s “wrong” or because she was not comfortable with who she was, but because she made a clear separation between personal and professional life.
Just like she kept her meaningless one-night-stand outside of the office, going to a bar and sleeping with a man whose name she didn’t care about, but not with her boss. And while I can make peace with Charlie and Dani having evolve and their relationship being on a different place, as they used to get to know each other and learn to trust each other, and now fully do know and trust each other, their partners, because it makes sense that if we missed months of their lives, they’d eventually have grown and ended up where they are now.
But for Dani, it doesn’t work, there’s no logical explanation that would result in her going from who she was to who she is now, so something happened, and while we’re reaching mid-season we still haven’t one hint of a clue as to why she changed, probably because there’s no real explanation other than the network asking for a different show, less quirky and more sexy.
I hate the Tidwell and Reese thing, I can’t stand it. Because it’s not Dani and because it’s just wrong for so many reasons, I mean he’s her boss FFS! Anyways, I hate it, I hate that they kissed again, and it makes me hate her smiles which is something I really never thought could happen. And not even the awkwardly uncomfortable scene where Tidwell and Reese come together, and each carry the other one gun, could make me change how I feel. It was funny and I loved Dani’s face all along, but I still can’t stand this thing, and had problems with this scene (I’ll come back to it).
hey!
Here I am.
Guess what? I LOVED this ep! :)
I LOVED Tideese and I loved that small Creese moment. But I didn’t like Charlie saying “I told her not to date cops, she wouldn’t listen. Women!”
Does it mean that we’ll never have Creese? Doesn’t it?
Right now I’m enjoying every and each Tideese’s moment,and unlike you I loved their kiss and I was “Doh!” when their phones rang.
I found the whole gun scene very hot and I liked the awkwardness between Charlie Dani and Tidwell…I think I’m easy to entertain!
I understand what you’re saying: the discrepancies, the lack of connection with the real world…but I think I forgive them everytime…I’m that weak! Or I like to see some romance for Dani, I like to see her happy. But I think this story between them isn’t going to end well…
eheh, our tastes are so different, aren’t they?
Ok, now you can start throwing things at me! :)
I wouldn’t throw anything at you, our tastes might be different yeah, but we both love Life so we’re both right :)
And I’m all for Dani being happy, too, it just shouldn’t be with her boss is all ;)
“we both love Life so we’re both right :)”
Oh yes, you’re right! And it’s interesting to see how different people can enjoy the same tv show for different reasons!
I’m sad for the iatus…one week without Life! I think I’ll…die! LOL ^___^