'Grey's' Isn't Going Anywhere
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Life: Find Your Happy Place (season premiere)
(S02E01) Ten months. That's how long its been since we've seen a fresh episode of Life. After the last episode aired in November there was nary a word about the show, save for reports of its renewal and a bit about casting changes. This left fans of the show in a bit of a tizzy. For Life wasn't just a dime-a-dozen criminal procedural, but a show with an underlying story about conspiracy and the search for justice. By the time the show ended its very short first season we were cheering Detective Charlie Crews as he was able to get a semblance of his freedom back.
Now we enter season two. And, as usual, the following question comes to mind: did it carry on the spirit of season one? Well yes, and possibly no. Click ahead to find out.
For the most part, the spirit of the show was still there. Charlie still has that look and sense of a little child learning about the world (think Caillou with a gun) as seen when he attempted to use the automatic sink at the park. Reese is still too serious and still a bit annoyed when Charlie starts one of his Zen rants. However, because they've been partners for awhile now, there is a sense of comfort and security between the two that wasn't there in the previous season. What was different with their pairing in the last round was the tension and the secrets that surrounded them. The secrets are still there (and they both acknowledge they are there), but that tension is gone.
That's not what made the show feel different, though. I think part of that was the introduction of Donal Logue as Charlie and Dani's new boss. Where Robin Weigert was a good fit as Lt. Karen Davis, Logue's Captain Kevin Tidwell is a round peg for a square hole. It's the New York City brashness that turns me off. I disliked Lt. Davis because she was against the hero Crews. But Tidwell is sort of unlikable all around. Plus, Logue doesn't do true New Yawker very well.
The other item that gave the show a different vibe was this week's criminal case. While continuing the edginess of last season, this week's case wasn't that interesting. Uh, let me correct that. It was interesting until we found out who the serial killer was. I do not know the actor who portrayed this killer, but he did not exude any sense of creepy whatsoever. The whole thing about never smiling except when he killed someone: didn't convince me. And, here's a question to all television show producers...why do the mothers of all serial killers dress so frumpy?
If there is one thing I was glad about during this episode it was the way they handled Crews' continuing search to find Rachel, the remaining survivor of the family he was accused of killing. At first, I thought the search for her would go on for several weeks considering the fact that Ted said she had just disappeared. When they found Rachel in that secret room of the hostel I was initially angry that they caught up with her so soon. Then I realized that the producers were probably moving this story along just in case the show met an untimely death.
Chalk this season premiere of Life up to new season jitters. The chemistry was off and the feel of the show was different most likely due to the length of time both the viewers and producers had to forget how the show worked last season. I think with some time the show will get back to what made it a cult hit last year. And, if we're lucky, NBC will give it the chance it deserves on Friday nights.
| Fantastic! Continuing with the greatness of last season. | |
|---|---|
| Good. Some things were off, but otherwise it was entertaining | |
| Fair. I think some of the magic was lost. | |
| Poor. Not at all what I remember the show being about |
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