grimorie | Nov. 26th, 2007

So here was the agenda for the weekend:

a) watch classic who
b) write Lois meta
c) finish Rose Tyler story

But quite unfortunately, unexpectedly, I fell in love with a new show. A lovely, lovely new show (and how much do I love our new DSL connection? So very, very much). And guys, I didn't expect to fall in love with a new show. I was satisfied with Smallville and Doctor Who was in that place where it's sitting comfortably until the next cycle begins.

I still like Bones but unfortunately I haven't had the motivation to finish season 2 and my love for Supernatural sort of petered out.

And then Life happened.

The show I mean.

I always liked procedurals but I love arc-y, character focused procedurals more. It's why I loved Bones. As long as the plot wasn't outrageously riddled with holes I can quite happily ignore the plot holes.

Life is about Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) a cop falsely accused for triple homicde and was sent to prison for 12 years, after being exonorated and winning a settlement against the City of Los Angeles Charlie is once again reinstated to the LAPD as a detective. Unlike the hundred and one procedurals on TV Life isn't just be another brooding, noir-ish procedural.

In fact, it has more in common with Veronica Mars with its focus on characters and a long season arc.

I've heard about Life because Claudia Black was supposed to be Charlie Crews' (Damian Lewis) ex-wife but she was pregnant so she had to back out. So I thought my involvement with the series ended with that and that if I did watch it it will only be because of Damian Lewis. Then I read vonnie_k's post on the show, then I read her quest for a song in the one episode and became curious enough to search for an episode and happened to see the first few minutes of Farthingale.

And I fell.

The cinematography was nothing short of amazing and the musical choice (One by Aimee Mann) was fantastic, the start was quirky and... it had a wonderful female character. There and then I decided to get all the episodes ASAP. I mainlined the eight episodes during the whole weekend and have been obsessively rewatching all the episodes.

The beautiful, beautiful thing about this series is that it isn't just about Charlie Crews Life is populated by interesting characters and people. See, the thing about me (and yes, I'm going to say it again) is that I really can't be invested in a series unless I have a female viewpoint character -- John Crichton's an exception because: John!

Characters

Detective Dani Reese (Sarah Sashi), it was actually vonnie_k's rec to nestra's rec post and their write up about Reese Life that made me consider the show but I didn't really know that I would love the show or Reese. Reese is Crew's partner, a former undercover agent and a recovering addict Reese has issues (or should I say ISSUES?) that is totally separate from Crews. Reese is complicated and has her own motives and agency and despite her issues when she's at work she doesn't let that affect her. ( More thoughts about Life characters )