Life: What They Saw
By fred | October 19, 2007
(S01E04) Okay so there are many new shows this season, some I knew were gonna be bad, some I was disappointed a little but didn’t have that many hopes or expectations, others I do feel disappointed by, and of course some I have happy to see they’re as good if not better as I had hoped.
So far I can tell you this, despite it flaws Life is without question the best new NBC series this year, and one the the best new series overall. I know to some i might just be yet another cop drama with a “twist”, but it really is so more than that. There’s more to it, starting with obviously Charlie Crews, who is and makes the show.
Although I’ll be honest with you, his partner Reese is growing on me every day a little more, just as Charlie is obviously growing on her. As he even pointed out, despite her denial, she did refer to him as her partner. I highly doubt she would have called him that when they started together, and that was a much more valid proof and the evolution of heir relationship than the “lying for him” bit was a few episodes ago.
You really see she’s opening to him and his attitude, and respecting Crews as a “real” cop, not just one who got his badge because of a court order but who doesn’t really deserve to be there, through such little things. Like her calling him partner, or how she took away his knife last week, how she went along right away to not let Easley – the homeless suspect on their investigation – locked up in jail, or simply the way she reacted a bit later on the car, with both Charlie and Easley.
It almost looked as if she was a mother figure trying to educate her kids, and it does apply as both have lost touch with reality in their own ways. Easley lives in his own world, stealing finding stuff, not talking to anyone for months or years. Charlie, he might be back in the world but not so long ago he felt the same, and did not spoke to anyone for a long time as well.
That’s probably why he quickly felt close to him, and was willing to help him, and almost looked disappointed a little when Easley was eventually out of chances. But he did came up clean, and all ended fine. Although despite inviting him into his very big home, Charlie couldn’t force him to stay around, and Easley wasn’t made for that life.
I’ve said before that, and maybe I’m alone there, but I’m not so into the whole mystery of who framed Charlie and why. I don’t mind it either, and it’s usually pretty well done, I just am more into the weekly cases and the overall behavior of our fruit-eater than this specific investigation, that’s all. But there is one thing that i starting to annoy the hell outta me quite fast.
I have nothing against those flashbacks interviews, but do we really have to see the same questions/answers every single week ? Really ? Sure, this time it served a more global purpose as it was connected with current events, but to quote, “how many times do I have to tell you that?”
While we’re on the case, turns out that Rachel was indeed in the house, and saw the killer. And I just hope it won’t be Carl Ames. I’m also unsure why Charlie waited for him, while stealing a few files at his place. Was it because it couldn’t escape without being seen, and this was just to cover it up, or did he actually wait for the guy ?
If the later, I’m not sure I get why. He’s already given Ames the picture, and of course when he saw it he knew what it meant. And Charlie has been warned not to come near him if he wanted to keep his badge…
This week’s case was a pretty solid one, and despite being solved using a traditional cop method we’ve all seen so many times, it was still pretty interesting to see them get there. Besides, Reese was a great “bad cop” putting pressure on the wife, while Charlie was more Zen, playing the “good cop” having a pretty relaxed discussion with the other suspect only to end with the gun.
It was cool, but I’m not sure if it was as efficient as Reese was on the other room, because while she got a confession, all Charlie got is a perplexed face from a guy still not admitting anything at that point. And he lacked any cool zen remark…
I also want to mention quickly the hole digging, and how Charlie didn’t even seemed to be helping Reese in the actual process. Way to be zen…
On a more personal side, we haven’t had anything new regarding Reese or her addictive behaviors. Instead, we got to learn more about Constance, Charlie’s layer. We now know there’s a reason to their constant flirting that never goes anywhere : she happens to be married. And not on her way to divorce it seems, though she obviously is in love with Charlie — who I suspect might feel the same way, though he keeps sleeping with many young girls (at once) whenever he can. Ahh.. to be Zen, and rich.
This is the first time I did not found Ted completely useless. Sure, the fence bit from previous episode was meaningful, but the whole thing only to get there was useless. As he usually is. This time, with Easley to his side constantly picking at him, it was finally nothing but nice, funny moments. Sounds fruity…
To be honest though, I hope that whole bar thing never sees the light, because (a) it would be yet another one of those useless Ted plot, and (b) while Ted was making his speech I couldn’t help but thinking how he used to do such things only to steal money…
Crews didn’t really had some great line this time, and was “not as zen” as he usually is. Or just more focused onto the case, as was the whole episode. Regardless, both Damian Lewis and Sarah Shahi are doing a great job, and their chemistry is growing with each episode. Despite being a little lighter it was still as good and interesting as always. This show really is one of the best new ones, and amongst my favorites, this year.
TVoholic’s review of What They Saw @ The Path To Zen // Everything You Need About NBC Series LIFE starring Damian Lewis & Sarah Shahi