Life: Evil… And Is Brother Ziggy
By fred | December 4, 2008
(S02E10) I am conflicted. When it comes to this show, I feel like I’m not sure how I should fell, or how I actually feel even, and I end up wondering, thinking about it while unable to really made up my mind. Yes, I am conflicted. There is absolutely no doubt (in my mind) that during its first season, Life was a wonderful piece of art, every episode was a delight that I could never have enough of, it was simply the best thing on television — with Lost.
But this season, this season I’m sad to say I’m conflicted. It’s because while we still get to see Charlie and Dani work together, while the show is still the same, it’s also very different than what it used to be, like he network really messed with it trying to change it, like it needed to, because they just assumed that, of course, they knew better.
And coming from the net that brought us the disgusting Kath & Kim or the more than horrible Knight Rider, we got reasons to worry when they get involved. It’s nothing new that I never liked Tidwell. Not the character, whom I find to be more a joke than anything else, and a total douchebag on the side, and even less the guy in a relationship with Dani.
That is just wrong, for many reasons, and it’s also not Dani. Now, I’m not going to lie, I’m a guy and Sarah Shahi is incredibly hot, so seeing her not wearing much pulling out the sexy card like that, sure, I enjoyed it. But in all honesty I wish I didn’t, I wish it never happened, at least not on this show. Because in this show, for Dani Reese, it simply doesn’t make sense.
And again, maybe it could have happened, maybe there would have been a progression in the life of Dani that would have eventually led to her being happy and using her sexy side having fun in the bedroom in that kind of relationship. But the problem is that, again, in the show I fell in love with Dani was a strong, serious, dark female who had addiction problems and used meaningless sex to deal with things.
Now, now she is happy, playful, pulling out the sexy card, and we have no idea what made her that way, what changed her. My guess is, because there’s none, it was just NBC messing with show trying to boost ratings. This show used to be about broken people getting a second chance at life, it used to be about people who fell into their darkest side and now tried to get out of it.
Out of nowhere, this season, the darkness was all gone. People weren’t broken anymore, they were fixed, functioning normally, and made the most of their second change already. And something is terribly wrong there. Charlie was broken by his years in prison. He found the Zen to survive, but he was still filled with rage and anger, and the first season perfectly illustrated and played with those two sides of his character.
But now, now he’s been betrayed by the one person he probably had put the most trust in, Constance, who pretended not to have heard what she did hear, and Charlie isn’t mad, angry, or even troubled by that. Dani was angry as well, she was angry at herself and she was angry at her father. Her father who recently left her mom and disappear, and she doesn’t seem to care or be affected by it either.
yeah a decent episode for Life. I’ve felt something was off about the show since the first episode of this season and now you’ve finally put the words to it. Completely right. Charlie was holding on to his Zen teachings almost desperately and Dani was a hard, interesting flawed character and that was disgusting to use her for eye-candy. I don’t hate Tidwell as much as you but he’s definitely over-stayed his welcome. One or two episodes I could have handled but not this, he isn’t interesting and not really funny, the only funny parts are when he his caught between Dani and Charlie’s back-and-forth, putting a more normal character in there and throwing him off-balance. I also hope that they would make Charlie’s fruit-eating a more required habit like House’s vicodin. At least we got him and the “not-potato”. Although that “not potato” line felt a bit forced at the time. Oh yeah and I think you will be pleased to know that I’ve converted 3 family members into… Life-ophiles? Life-ees?
Thanks Silver. I guess I’m glad I’m not alone there, it means I’m not crazy ;) Although sadly, it also means the show I love might really be losing his way…
I agree, I too would love if the fruits were more than an occasional “not-potato” line. The analogy with House’s vicodin is good, not because it would be a drug for Charlie (though I’m sure he couldn’t get high on life, that’s why he loves wide-open space like desert so much, isn’t it?) but also because if they tuned it down a little on House, it’s still much around, and that only happened after many years, not one shortened season!
And yes, always good to get more viewers! Which reminds me, I wonder how viewers who started watching with this season, but never saw the first, feel so far. Because the perception might be completely different for people who never knew Charlie, Dani, and the show back then…
yeah thats something i was thinking about when i introduced them to Life. I also am really starting to believe your theory that Dani acting out is a symbol of what is wrong with Life. It was completely out of character, it deepened my suspicions that something is wrong with the show and make’s me worried of what’s to come
Hey! I’m here! I know you was waiting for me…
…no?!?!
Doh! *facepalms*
eheh, I’m just kidding! ;P
Okay. I know you know what I’m about to say.
I can’t help. I like him and I like them.
And…the world is going mad: I’m a girl and I LIKED those sex scenes. I needed to see them, I was VERY happy to see it actually happen! I never liked the C.S.I. way to imply that something was happening…am I not normal?
*_*
I’ll avoid boring you with how I found this shirtless, tattooed, muscolar Tidwell-the-morning-after-sex version VERY HOT (have you noticed I’d told you that already? ;P eheh ;P)
and I go straight to the point.
I think Dani threw Charlie out of the room because IMO even if she can handle many things (New-York attitude, ex-wives’ love, Tidwell calling himself “Tidwell” and having sex with her commanding officer) she cannot handle a good heart to heart talk.
What was she supposed to say to Charlie about Tidwell? Charlie was happy for her? I think she hadn’t realized yet that she was happy for herself!
When she doesn’t know how to act she runs. In that room she was half naked so she made Charlie run!:)
In a thing I agree completely with you. This love story is happening too quickly.
In fact I think we are going to see the dark side of Dani soon. It’s really going too fast to end happily. And I’m so sorry about that, because I REALLY like Tidwell and Tideese.
:(
The only thing that made me sad about this ep was when Charlie and Dani drove home after solving the case and they were in the car together, but they were so distant…I think they were thinking about the same thing (Tidwell) and how he was affecting their partnership. (or maybe I’m totally wrong here!)
one more thing:
I’m wondering Why Charlie didn’t tell Tidwell he wasn’t in the hotel room with Dani…he just answered his questions about the room and the hotel, letting him imagine the worst things. Wouldn’t it be simpler telling him “The hotel was ok but she kicked me off the room and I slept in the desert?”
okay. That’s not all but I can’t find the words. I’m really sorry for my bad English (it’s not my first, nor the second language)and I hope you understand what I wrote.
Thanks for always reading and replying!
:)
bye
@Silver: yeah, my only hope would be that something bad happens and end things with Tidwell & Reese, and bring back to the surface all the darkness and troubles she used to deal with, putting the show back on the right tracks. But sadly, the more it goes the more it feels like writers have embraced this new direction…
@citosol: lol, of course I was waiting for your comments, if someone was to like such scenes it’d be you ;)
And don’t worry about your English, it’s more than fine by me — well, except maybe when you go crazy saying stuff like “shirtless, tattooed, muscolar Tidwell-the-morning-after-sex version VERY HOT” but I forgive you :P ;)
About Dani throwing Charlie out, I think you’re right, she couldn’t face it. It’s just not the heart to heart talk, but even the simple fact that she would have to admit she’s in a relationship… with Tidwell!
She says she can handle it, but that goes only as far as no one knows, at least not people she’s close to and/or work with.
I hope you’re right about Dani’s dark side though, I’d love to get the Dani from last season back!
About Charlie not telling Tidwell he wasn’t in the room, I just think it wasn’t his place. He (probably) doesn’t have a clue what Dani said to Tidwell, and he just wants to avoid the subject. Dani sleeping with her boss is bad enough, if they all talk about their sex lives at work this would become even worse. (Plus, wouldn’t all Creese fans out there want to believe Charlie wanted to make Tidwell jealous?)
Hey,
I completely agree that Life has lost some of its quality and especially that some of that special “Life-humor”. Still, I can’t believe you didn’t mention ANY of those “Evil-Eval” jokes…
“Dude, the guy’s name is Eval, you’ll have your warrant in the morning.”
“Why are all cops so obsessed with me? It’s just a name, you morons!”
Okay, I know that’s not exactly the kind of jokes that made us fall in love with Life, but I still thought it was hilarious :D
@citosol: Tidwell is “VERY HOT”?? Oh man, looks like I REALLY don’t get women… ;)
(btw, I’ve been reading your reviews for a while now, really enjoying it, so I thought I should finally start writing comments as well. I’m not from the US either, I live in Germany, looks like you have readers from all around the world…)
Liebe Grüße (that’s German ^^)
Philipp
Hallo Philipp!
I’m glad you’re enjoying the site, and happy to see you participating! :)
About the “Evil-Eval” jokes, you’re right I missed/forgot those, I should probably have included at least the second one, that one really was funny yeah… “It’s just a name, you morons!”
And I really like the “brother”, Ziggy. She didn’t say much, but it was fun. “You’re not the cops we called. Say goodbye to the nice policemen, Evil.”
I almost wish we would see more of her, cause I can’t help but feel that her & Charlie having a conversation, both with their unique styles, could actually be pretty interesting, and very funny, too.
@ fred:
“if someone was to like such scenes it’d be you ;)”
eheheh, yes of course, here I am! :)
“except maybe when you go crazy saying stuff like “shirtless, tattooed, muscolar Tidwell-the-morning-after-sex version VERY HOT” but I forgive you ”
LOL thanks, you’re such a good guy!
Do you want to know how many times I saw those Tidwell/Dani scenes? (I think you imagine that already…)
I give you a clue: more than 1 and less than 100…
;P
OMG…I feel so “perv”…
“(Plus, wouldn’t all Creese fans out there want to believe Charlie wanted to make Tidwell jealous?)”
eh…you know what?
Under this Tideese surface I’m a HUGE Creese fan…in fact all this Tideese thing makes me doubly happy!
I’m THAT strange, I know, I know…just give me some romance in cop-shows and you make me happy. What can I say? I think I’m easy to entertain!:)
The weird thing is that in RL I’m NOT this kind of person…the “romantic” one, I mean…
I think my Ego comes out when I watch tv-shows, while my Super-Id falls asleep…
@Philipp:
Oh! An European friend! Hi!! I’m Italian, I’m there, under you! Exit your house, look down south, surpass the Alps, stop 30 km before Milan and you find me!
“Tidwell is “VERY HOT”?? Oh man, looks like I REALLY don’t get women… ;)”
eheh, you know what the strange thing is? I didn’t like Tidwell at first. But slowly (very slowly) he grew on me. I dunno why. Maybe the fact I actually LOVE Donal Logue helped…:)
But (sorry Fred) this shirtless, muscolar, tattooed Tidwell…OMG…I think I could do him right now…
and so…YES, women are strange. (or, at least I am!)
;-*
@citosol: Sei italiana? Di dove esattamente? Mia madre è di Milano, e un anno fa ho fatto sei mesi di Erasmus alla Bocconi :)
@everyone else: Sorry guys, we’ll try to keep it in English… ;)
@Philipp:
Non ci posso credere! Qualcuno che parla la mia lingua da queste parti! Mi sento a casa!
Abito in un paese a 3 km da Saronno, abbastanza lontano dall’hinterland milanese da non esserne soffocato ma abbastanza vicino da raggiungere comodamente il centro di Milano con una ventina di minuti di treno delle ferrovie Nord. Anzi, torno proprio ora (stravolta) dalla Fiera dell’Artigianato che si è tenuta proprio a Milano…
Sono veramente contenta di aver avuto l’occasione di scambiare due frasi in italiano con te! Vedo che sei decisamente “trilingue” :)
@everyone else:
oh yes, I’m sorry too…but it doesn’t happen often to talk in italian in a ‘Life’ forum/community! ;P
Philipp… did you just say something about an Erasmus program at Bocconi? Because I’m going to Statale next March! Sorry, didn’t introduce myself.. I’m Swaase and I’m totally addicted to Life. Damian Lewis is amazing. I don’t agree with the unliking of the Dani/Tidwell thing, it’s not annoying or something. But I do think they need to get ZenCharlie and AngerCharlie and AlmostBrokenCharlie back.
Dani and Tidwell = NO!!!