Life: Black Friday
By fred | November 13, 2008
(S02E08) Thanksgiving is over and Christmas is on its way, and in the middle of it stand Charlie Crews, Dani Reese, and yet another unique crime to solve. I couldn’t be happier than knowing that Life finally made it out of the Friday death slot, not only that but also got its back-nine order and has been picked up for a full season. Hopefully, it means NBC is starting to see potential in the show and they’ll stop messing with it and let the creative minds behind it do what they want to do with it.
Hopefully, writers will feel more confident now and we’ll get a bit closer to that unique feeling that Life used to have during its first season, and that hasn’t always been easy to find with the recent episodes. Actually, take this episode for example : I think it was a very good episode, I really liked it. It had one of those crimes so unique to Life, and of course we had many great moments from Charlie and Dani as I just love them.
And yet, once it was over I found myself questioning whether or not it felt like an episode of Life, or if it did miss that very unique thing that this show used to have, and made you feel, that unique impression that this was different than anything else on TV, that this was Life and it couldn’t be anything else. There were times during this episode where I wasn’t sure I was watching Life, moments it felt so different than what I’m used to feel with this show.
Forced to admit, too, that there were moments I just hated what I was watching. Of course there were moments I loved it, moments like Charlie being Charlie when asking around after they “lost” the dead body, or the fact that he’s still driving the car both he and Dani shot not long ago. And of course, I was delighted to see them working the case together, and while Tidwell still had to show up and prove – once again – that he’s a moron, at least they didn’t always go back to discuss the case with him, something that always irritates me.
This time it was Dani & Charlie, talking, exchanging ideas, working together – I love that. And of course I’m always happy to see how Dani reacts t Charlie, and this week we had plenty of occasions to be delighted on that area. Whether it was her annoyed look, for instance when she found out that instead of working, Charlie just went and bought lots of crap, or whether it was smiles.
Like when he then gave her new sunglasses, I loved that entire scene. When she found out Charlie had been doing some shopping, how she looked while he told her all he’s bought, the moment and the smile of her face once she put the frames on. It was just awesome, and hilarious to see him ruining everything just like that and Dani switching back to looking annoyed in a nanosecond, I’m so in love with her. And the look she gave him, when he asked if she wanted the panties, was just great, too. Also, I don’t know what I would give to get to hear the way Charlie described Dani(’s face)…
They talked a bit, and Dani even mentioned her father still being gone. It was brief, but I’m glad that they do talk about such (personal) stuff a bit and share what’s going on in their life. I’m assuming Charlie never went back and asked her whatever it was he was about to ask her a few episodes back, but I’m really hoping he will, soon, open up to Dani even more. Who knows, as time goes by maybe she’ll soon be ready to talk about the conspiracy and the involvement of her father into it.
I also loved her adorable smile while looking at goldfishes, and how quick she tried to hide it. Of course, that’s also where we go into what I hated. It was Charlie, Charlie should have bought her a little goldfish, because he saw how she looked at them and the smile it put on her face, and because he’s her partner. But instead, and even if he didn’t get to give it to her, that was given to Tidwell.
Might be a coincidence, because he obviously wasn’t there to see Dani looking over at goldfishes and had no possibility of knowing, but I hated that he was the one with it, it felt just like when Dani should have been talking about her father leaving her mother to Charlie, and thought she was, only it turned out to be that douchebag instead. I hate him, I hate him because he’s a useless clown and because he steals such moments that should great delightful insight of Charlie & Dani’s growing partnership (and relationship), and instead we get to suffer through this horrible, horrible mess.
It makes me mad, it really does. I was pretty angry that she showed up to that date, but of course he had to act like the moron he is and I couldn’t have been happier that when she just walked away and left him there. Rumors are I might have been cheering, but I’ll won’t comment on that. I just hope they’ll leave it at that and stop with this while “romance” BS, because I’m really sick of it.
“I don’t know what I would give to get to hear the way Charlie described Dani(’s face)…”
Oh yes. Me too.
As (almost) always, I liked Tidwell.
I especially liked the look in his eyes when he told Dani he had to send the children away from the station. Pure fear of loosing her.
And then I loved him when he told her he had found the children’s uncle.
And I super-loved him when he called her “Dani” before correct himself saying “Detective” to reassure her. What I’d have liked most? I’d have liked most to see Charlie’s face/look when he heard Tidwell calling Dani by her first name.
And as theotherone135 said in LJ, in the final scene Tidwell was AWESOME:
“him being nervous and just running on played a big part in it, and clearly he was hoping she’d stay. But I think that he maybe kinda/sorta realizes that she’s the kind of person who will deny that it’s a problem, maybe even to herself, but it will continue to bug her. You have to get her to admit she’s angry about it before she can get past it. Had he let it just be glossed over, it would just fester underneath. As it is, now that she’s admitted she’s angry, he can work on getting her to get over it.”
For the Charlie/Jen part I AGREE COMPLETELY WITH YOU. Horrible timing, horrible couple, horrible excuse to make them make love. (I appreciated only half-naked Charlie…erm…).
But I think Charlie won’t be with Jen anymore…He tried to call her but then he simply hung up.
And then YAY! C/D partnership! The conspiration!
DANI’S SMILE AT CHARLIE!
Oh! I forgot!
Like someone else said, I think that Crews told Tidwell to buy her the goldfish…but that would be WRONG in SO many ways…
Definitely Charlie should have bought her the goldfish…
Well, unlike you and theotherone135 I don’t like Tidwell, so I’m sure my view on things is biased when it comes to the guy, but here’s the thing : I’m right and you’re wrong! :P
I mean, was it really necessary for him to come down to the mall, only to tell everyone to go do their while he gets a donut or something ?? And after that he wonders why no one takes him seriously as their boss…
And I didn’t like him calling her Dani actually, because I don’t think (might be wrong, not sure and haven’t actually checked) he ever called her Dani, really, I’m sure she would correct him, she wouldn’t want that, and it’s not like they already had been on a date or something. Felt forced to me, to show how he felt and all…
About Charlie telling him about the goldfish, I thought of that as well but quickly decided to forget about this “possibility”, because I don’t think that is, or could be, the case. Cause as you said, it’d be wrong in so many ways, and I while I’m sure Charlie knows something is going on between those two (it’s not like they’ve been the most discrete, kissing right there in the station for everyone to see and all), and I actually think when he asked her “you do everything Tidwell says?” he might have had in mind the fact that he knew Tidwell had – or would – ask her out.
But I don’t think he would approve of the relationship, because it’s Tidwell, he’s their boss, and it’s not Dani. Plus, he knows that she would find out and be pissed that he got involved somehow, and Charlie would never do anything to hurt her, or annoy her. Well, unless when he’s talking to her of course! ;P
PS: I meant to say it sooner but, I went back and checked about the look you mentioned last week, and I do see what you’re talking about but I don’t think it is what you think it is. No, you’re just crazy. :P Yes, I made sure to be clear enough so no one really knows what we’re talking about here, screw you NSA! (What!??)
you know what i think this is the writer want, some other romance to get Charlie annoyed by it lol and he somehow realize his feelings for her get jealous and else (maybe) then etc etc etc some events will make them closer than ever, i’m sure there will be Creese moments more than just partnership cause we already saw all the hints of them going to that direction since season 1, but idk let’s just wait and see
I think Jen slept with Charlie to find info for her husband.. she says, “we have to attend these dos” (or something to that effect) and yeah, I too think Charlie asked Tidwell to get the Goldfish…
My way of looking at it, Charlie wants this phase to get over… and the only way it’ll happen is if they let it happen and both realise what a bad idea it is…
Well, as I said I don’t think Charlie would help Tidwell or get involved in any way here. I could see him wanting them to go forwards and realize it was a mistake, but I don’t think he would do anything else than just talk to Dani (like asking her if she does everything Tidwell asks).
But him talking to Tidwell about Dani that way feels quite inappropriate, and Dani would most definitely be pissed about it, Charlie knows this and would not want that or risk it. I don’t think so.
And I don’t believe we had any hints of a coming romance between Charlie and Dani. In fact, I think (or hope?) the writers realize that those two work great together, as partners. They are partners, friends, but not lovers, and that shouldn’t change.
“what i think this is the writer want, some other romance to get Charlie annoyed by it lol and he somehow realize his feelings for her get jealous and else (maybe) then etc etc etc some events will make them closer than ever”
hmmm…I don’t think so. I think that the most plausible thing that it’s going to make them closer is what has happened to Dani’s father. Because I don’t think he simply left her mum. I think he was kidnapped by “them” and that this thing will make Charlie open to Dani about the conspiracy and will make them work together on it.
But maybe I’m just crazy even here…;)
And, fred, I re-watched “the look” too…and there’s no way I’m not right about that: he did scan (briefly) her! So, to quote you I’ll say: “here’s the thing : I’m right and you’re wrong! :PPP
hehe… well, I think it’s either not that, or Damian getting out of character ;) But really, regardless of what it is, I don’t think this means anything, I don’t see Creese happening (any time soon – though I myself hope it never does, sorry)
(But I agree with you on Jack being MIA having a connection to the conspiracy, whether he has been kidnapped or just disappeared, hiding from them, or maybe he even decided to go after them somehow…)
“I don’t see Creese happening (any time soon)”
Oh, I know…I think you’re right, but hopes never die! (…pie in the sky neither! ^°)