Life: Did You Feel That
By fred | October 25, 2008
(S02E06) I guess all of us, fans of this awesome little show, have had concerns about this new season, about the changes that took place since its fantastic first season, and quite obviously there are reasons for such concerns. While all episodes so far have been pretty great, it’s also only fair to note that it’s been uneven in how much the show was the same as it used to be.
We all agree that the prison experiment, Not For Nothing, was a terrific episode which had that little special thing that makes Life so unique. Last week I mentioned lots of the concerns I had with this show, and to open this pretty awesome episode, we had a shot was almost like an answer for all the fans out there, to remind them that this was still Life, the show they fell in love with last season.
Seriously, Charlie standing right there, watching over the entire town, that was one classic shot that Life knows how to do, a perfect reminder of what the show truly is, which was of course highlighted by the long awaited return of the Zen tapes !! Did that feel awesome or what?? I know I’ve missed them, and I couldn’t have been happier to see Charlie back to listening to them.
But because this isn’t the first season anymore, because things have changed – a lot – since then, something happened this time, something that would have never happened last year : the Zen went away, and was replaced by music. Enters Dani Reese, Crews’ partner. And now, she knows him, and that’s why she knew he was having one of his moment, and – even better – she was the one talking Zen to let him know it was time to get back to work.
This entire scene and almost perfect. I say almost only because, and I may be wrong, but after Charlie asked her if she felt that the first time, when Earth shook again, we all knew that question was gonna come up again, it had to. But I really hoped roles would be reserved, again, I really wanted it to be Dani to look at Crews with one of those looks she can have, and with the perfect amount of annoyance and mockery, to ask him : “Did you feel that?”
Wouldn’t that have been even better ? It was a continuation of her using Charlie’s (old) ways, as well as a reminder of how she used to be, during the first season, repeating his words. Only this time she wouldn’t be “scared” of it or surprised by it, she would be doing it openly and using it to poke at him. Just feels I would have love it that way even more! You?
Still, I can’t tell you how much I love this scene, but the truth is, it’s not just this scene, I think this was another really terrific episode of Life. Except for one little things or two that I literally hated, more on that later, I think this episode was pretty awesome. Of course, just as that first scene put in motion, the entire thing was a call back to the first season, obviously as the case they were working was relating to the very first case Crews and Reese worked together.
During the pilot episode, they arrested one Arthur Tims for the murder of Mark Rawls’ child. Now when an Earthquake hit Los Angeles, and Tims escaped, Crews and Reese knew that while Tims might not to anything but hide, Rawls would go after him and try to kill him. And as much as they might hate Tims, they had to protect him and make sure he would be safe, which is why they went ahead and arrested him, trying to ensure he would not kill anyone.
Little did they know that Tims wasn’t anything like the coward they remembered from last season, a guy who cried from help and confessed everything in a matter of seconds. That’s actually also how I remembered him, and how Reese did too obviously. But it’s not just that prison changed him, I don’t think, cause back then, he knew he would die a slow & painful death if he didn’t admit to what he had done.
But before that, he was already all proud of himself, teasing Charlie & Dani, refusing to answer questions, and shall it be said that, of course, he killed a child. The guy was actually a real monster already, and once he successfully used Charlie to get to Rawls and kill him, right in front of them, things got very interesting. I hadn’t see that coming, and the entire case was very well written I thought, maybe more that what we had so far this season.
I am so excited about the move to Wednesday. NBC has such a horrible schedule it really put them into a position of being unable to cancel a good show with poor ratings. So perhaps more eyes will be on it on Wednesday. I don’t object to the changes this season. Obviously, Crews and Reese will start trusting one another more, Crews will lose some of that childlike behavior that he had when he was first released, he will start relying on himself and others more and not need the Zen so much as a coping mechanism. What I am seeing more this year is a search for the meaning of freedom – what does it mean. Ep 5 – getting older is a prison, ep 4 prison experiment is a prison, ep 3 animals are in prison, ep 2 too much freedom ia a prison, ep 1 – loneliness is a prison. So being out of prison does not make you free – you do in your mind. Also Charlie is done with some of the excesses – girls and fruit – and is trying to reclaim some things – like his wife – and he is looking at what he lost. Interesting personal development.
oh yes, that song, THAT song…
http://community.livejournal.com/lifetv/73021.html?#cutid1
With regards to “Now he’s the one coming up with solutions for everyone : “If only we had a really big book, that listed everybody’s names, addresses, and phone numbers.” I think he meant the PHONEBOOK. That’s not technology, that is as Tidwell said, old school.
Anyway I hope it is picked for full season and whatever. Is moving to Wed a potential good news?
@marenamoo: Yes, there’s some interesting development ahead of us. I still really hope, though, that we will get to find out, one way or another, what happened between the two seasons.
Charlie’s evolution might be quite natural, and I just wish we got to enjoy his old self a bit longer and then witness the evolution of the characters, but as far as Dani is concerned, we need to know why she changed to radically!
@SF: Yeah, of course he meant the phonebook! :) I didn’t mean to say he’s now at ease with technology (though he’s vastly improved), but that – yeah, because computers were down for a moment and they had to go the old school way – he know was the one bringing solutions to people who were “out of their element”, which is exactly the place he used to be during season one.
And yes, the move to Wednesdays is good news, it means NBC might actually start to consider a future for the show, or value it some more.
(Plus, they can’t cancel everything, and Crusoe & Lipstick Jungle will go first I think, and with sitcom Kath & Kim that won’t stay for long either, really, they need to pick up a few series, and Life is the right choice — let’s hope they can see that.)
Besides, anything is better than Fridays!