News, Reviews & Commentary on Lesbian and Bisexual women in Entertainment and the Media

“Life” goes on

I love starting the week with good news like this: Sarah Shahi’s show, Life, has been picked up for the rest of the season.

OK, I know it’s not technically “Sarah Shahi’s show,” but I wanted that picture to be right up top, to make your Monday brighter.

As we told you a few weeks ago, Life seemed to be on the verge of ending, unless ratings improved. NBC showed some faith in the show by moving it to Wednesday and now has ordered nine more episodes of the drama.

Life is billed as a detective show — as it certainly is — but it is much more complex than that. I always get in trouble with fans when I compare it to shows like CSI, Criminal Minds or other crime dramas, so I won’t. I will say that Life is nothing like those shows, at least in terms of characters. I mean, can you imagine the following exchange on NCIS?

Corrections Officer #1: Getting' angry, convict?
Charlie Crews [Damian Lewis]: Anger ruins joy, steals the goodness of my mind, forces my mouth to say terrible things. Overcoming anger brings peace of mind, leads to a mind without regrets. If I overcome anger, I will be delightful and loved by everyone.
Correctional officer #2: Are you makin' fun of us?
Charlie Crews: It is the universe that makes fun of us all.

Or this conversation between Willows and Grissom?

Charlie Crews: This [mango] came all the way from Guatemala. And now it's right here in this cup. It's all connected, Reese.
Dani Reese [Shahi]: What is?
Charlie Crews: It is.
Dani Reese: Mmm, that's Zen.
Charlie Crews: Is it?
Dani Reese: That's Zen too, isn't it?
Charlie Crews: Is it?
Dani Reese: Say "is it?" one more time and I'll shoot you.

I love Charlie Crews. I love the way he is confused by cell phones and voice recognition (he’s been in prison for 12 years). I love his Zen quotes that calm chaotic crime scenes while completely confounding his partner, Dani. And I love the fact that he knows that his philosophy of life is totally at odds with his anger over who framed him.

But I don’t love everything. As AfterEllen.com reader pecola warned us, Dani is, for some unknown reason, attracted to her sleazy boss, Captain Tidwell (Donal Logue). Not only is the captain gross, but I also don’t see even a smidgen of chemistry between him and Dani. The two seem to be headed for the sack — and I’m not sure my tummy can take it. Of course, I am inclined to dislike Captain Tidwell anyway, since he replaced the best boss ever, Lt. Karen Davis (Robin Weigert).

Still, I’m celebrating Life in all of its extended glory. Are you?

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  • narcolepsy_slds's picture

    I am really glad that they

    I am really glad that they gave life a chance since imo it is the best show on the telly right now.

    pretty much the only thing I do not like that much is the developing relationship between the new boss and Dani, even though it is quite funny at times (but no chemisty there I am afraid). 

     

    x_Kirstie_x's picture

    I really like it

    I'm glad it's still getting made!

    As for the picture of Sarah Shahi, you are right about it making our Monday brighter! And even though it's not the 'Sarah Shahi Show' that is how most of us on here have heard about it.

    Some parts of it are a bit strange but it's a good story line.

    kulhaha's picture

    Woot!

    That is really the best news I've heard in WEEKS!  I have a minor obsession with this show. I cried a little when Sarah kissed the creepy boss though.
    StarKitty23's picture

    gross

    yea the was just nasssssty. I mean what does she see in him ?
    Pri_Rage's picture

    Yay!!

    That's a really good thing to hear. Or read anyway. That made my day a lil better. I think the show is genious, despite the story line of Reese and the boss. It would be much more interesting if the story line was the same, but with the old boss. 

    Brandy Alexander's picture

    Sweet "Life" goes on!

    I love this show mostly for Sarah, but there are many other reasons why too.

    I agree I don't see the chemistry btw Dani and Capt. Tidwell. Oh, it's Donal (no "d") Logue. I loved him in Grounded for Life, but as a love interest for Dani no no and no. I was hoping for Dani and Detective Karen Davis. There would be sparks there for sure.  

    I'm glad for the full season pick-up. I really like the mystery and want some answers. 

    Ariann's picture

    Glad it got a chance

    but disapponted  it probaly means we wont see her on the L word this year. 

     

    Blondes rule! and the rest of you drool. LOL

     

    fallon ash's picture

    Hmm...

    Wait a minute, did they steal that body from the L Word set?

    Yay full-season pick-up!!

    tracy's picture

    Still, I’m celebrating

    Still, I’m celebrating Life in all of its extended glory. Are you?

    I am! I am! Every new episode I watch makes me love it even more, so this extension is awesome news.

    I don't like the introduction of Tidwell and the extraction of "LT" (Karen Davis), but what are you gonna do. :(

    I think Damian Lewis should get an Emmy for his work in the "Not For Nothing" episode though.

    the linster's picture

    Lt.

    My mistake. Thanks!
    JesseStone's picture

    Yes We Can!

    This totally made my monday brighter!

    Well except for the whole Dani Reese and Capt. Tidwell thing. That makes my tummy hurt too. There is no chemistry between them. It's gross. I think there was so much more chemistry between her and Detective Karen Davis.That would have made great TV! 

    Lil Bit's picture

    One for the Team

    I have no qualms admitting I love Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis does an awesome job with this character) and his 'crazy' talk. This show had me at the mention of Sarah Shahi and has kept me with just how different it is from all the other crime shows on tv. Kudos for having South alums, Eileen and Maeve.

    But what killed me is having the lovely Ms. Shahi kiss that grimey new boss. I hold no illusions that she should only kiss other hot women and I wouldn't have minded if she got frisky with Crews (at least he's pleasing to the eyes) but that man? Come on writers of Life, this is Sarah Shahi we're talking about.

    I was worried with the switch(es) (Monday to Friday to Wednesday) but this has just made my day. You can frisk me anytime Det. Reese!

    Ariann's picture

    same here

    We where worried when it got switched from Monday to Friday too. We all know shows that end up on Friday usually means the kiss of deathe for the show. But lucky for us it got moved to Wednesday. 

     

    Blondes rule! and the rest of you drool. LOL

     

    Model through it's picture

    Oh good!

    I was worried there for a little bit that this great show wouldn't have a chance to flourish. Captain Tidwell wouldn't be so bad if he shaved and got a hair cut, I think he's funny, but like everyone else, I just don't see the chemistry between him and Reese. ::SPOILER sort of:: Reese falls off the wagon, so maybe she regrets it?

    "There is homophobia in every corner and pocket of this world, but at the core ... you just love someone and want to make mixedtapes for them" -Sara Quin

    blue miles's picture

    loooove life

    this is one of my fav shows right now. i'm soooo glad they moved it to wednesday nights. friday nights are show killer nights. i love the chemistry between sara shahi and damian lewis and i love that it doesnt seem like they're ever going to hook up. and i really really hope det reese and capt. tidwell dont hook up. he is soooooo gross. he looks like he never takes a shower. his hair is really disgusting.

     

     

     

     

    And remember that, in a world of ordinary mortals, you are a Wonder Woman!

    Ariann's picture

    Just thinking.....

    Which is dangerous since I am blond. LOL. with all the new HD TVs they should put in a rating scanner thingie. (whatever its called) in each new TV they make. This way they can get more accurate rating of what people watch. 

     

    Blondes rule! and the rest of you drool. LOL

     

    jeepdawg_34's picture

    Awesome news!!

    Sometimes I wish I was a sleazy, greasy and chubby dude....NAH!!

    Talk about no chemistry between two actors. I definitely don't see it with Sarah and Donal...eewww! Please bring back Robin...she was great!

    Thanks for the nice and big image of Sarah in a tank top it really did make my day brighter!! 

    Cheers!

    Canuckgrrl's picture

    Told you so

    Glad that this "sleeper" has been given a shot.  I've said before that Shahi has a thankless role vs. Lewis.  She's like Kathryn Erbe to Vince D'Onofrio on Law & Order.  Kinda.
    chicagoarchitect's picture

    Awesome

    I'm so glad Life's gonna keep going the rest of the season.  I just wanted to say that that quote of Reese's, "Say "is it?" one more time and I'll shoot you."  has been one of my favorite quotes since seeing that episode.  The interaction between the two of them is just hilarious, they are quite a pair.
    minac's picture

    Really good

    So happy that Life is continuing. It's one of my favorite shows on tv.
    Anna Wahrman's picture

    I agree with every word of this post.

    Including the non-words that include Sarah's tank top.
    SpecialK7's picture

    Loving Life

    So happy that it's picked up for the rest of the season.  So utterly unhappy by the look of Dani and the sleezeball heading towards a relationship.  It's like 10 times worse than 13 and Foreman possibly dating on House.  Just EWWWW.

    But absolutely love Charlie and his philosophical babble.  And anytime Sarah Shahi comes on the screen.... :)

    pecola's picture

    FINALLY

    FINALLY! Some good news.This is a great show and keeps getting better with each episode. I'm glad that they've finally settled into a reasonable timeslot (I preferred Monday nights, but anything's better than Fridays). Hopefully the ratings will start to climb now...I mean, as if Sarah Shahi wasn't enough of a draw, they've also got Christina Hendricks Hot!

    But, really...had NBC brought back Knight Rider and not continued Life...I think the heads of NBC and I would've had a problem. 

    thelinster wrote:
    But I don’t love everything. As AfterEllen.com reader pecola warned us, Dani is, for some unknown reason, attracted to her sleazy boss, Captain Tidwell (Donal Logue). Not only is the captain gross, but I also don’t see even a smidgen of chemistry between him and Dani.

    Well, if you believe ABC, I see chemistry where there is none, so it's quite possible that the sick feeling I got in my stomach two weeks ago when Reese and Tidwell kissed was actually a reflection of how perfect these two are together. 

    Ugh. 

    Please, NBC...I'm not asking for much...please let this storyline die. If in 10 seasons of Law & Order: SVU, you have resisted the temptation to bring Stabler and Benson together--you should hede that resistance on Life

     

    -----
    "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - MLK

    Pri Lopes's picture

    happy...

    i really enjoy Life... do not enjoy the tidwell / reese thinggy...

    a day with sarah shahi on is better than any other day... btw, tks for the first pic ;P

    4sakenshadowxsoldierlette's picture

    well this just made my day

    :D Complete and utter bliss right now learning that I can see more of my wife *swoon* (((goes off to dream land))) 

    ~*~"That's what we all dream about isn't it? Someone who looks so deeply into our soul that...they'd find something worth dying for."---Gabrielle~*~

    Wicked1's picture

    Yay, this is good news, I

    Yay, this is good news, I love this show, and not just because Sarah is on it. This news pleases me, and I'm glad NBC rethought their little slip up, a few weeks ago, where they moved Life to 10pm on Fridays. As soon as that happened, I was like that's the soon-to-be-canceled day. So, I am glad they moved it to Wednesday instead. Like I tell people if you like House, you'll like Life, its like House, with cops. In that the main characters are so weird, peculiar, and fun. Love it. Everybody watch Life if you don't already.
    A P's picture

    Agreed

    I'm so glad this got picked up for the rest of the season cause even though i only started to watch the show because Sarah Shahi was going to be staring in it i've come to love the show. I love Charlie Crews he's a great character.

    but i have to agree with the last part of on how i can't stomach the thought of Reese and her boss getting togheter, it's so gross. i mean i'd rather she get together with Charlie...and yes i do hate the new boss for taking over for the old one cause i loved her

    lashun's picture

    the chemistry..

    It is like a love to hate thing. When they were in the doorway and Dani was like "whhatt?" That was perfect cause she doesn't even want to believe it herself. Cause how can a sexy, smart woman be attracted to a flake? But, I do like him. He is a screw up and atleast admits it. He is also proud of the fact that he has been divorced 3 times. but, he also seems like he keeps trying to improve himself thru his mistakes. Also, Dani is hot. And in a uniform..and wearing those shirts...and carries a gun....and is hot....

     

    THANKS FOR THE PICTURE THAT MADE MY MONTH!!