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Life

Not For Nothing

Season 2, Episode 4, Aired Oct 10, 2008

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9.2

EPISODE RATING: Superb

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When a university's social experiment of running a prison goes wrong Crews and Reese are there to investigate when a student acting as a guard is murdered.

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Cast & Crew

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GUEST STAR
Victor Rivers

Jack Reese
GUEST STAR
Henri Lubatti

Professor Halliday
GUEST STAR
Jake Abel

Tate

Damian Lewis

Charlie Crews
Sarah Shahi

Dani Reese
Donal Logue

Captain Kevin Tidwell (Season 2-)
Adam Arkin

Ted Earley
Brent Sexton

Bobby Stark

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Fan Episode Reviews (4)

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Revealing, surprising and thrilling episode

9.5

"Superb"

By Thoughtless4u, Oct 20, 2008

This episode is the first real indication that LIFE is heading back to the level of awesomeness it had in the first season. The prison experiment was well written and greatly performed by all actors. Most of the time, you'll figure out the plot questions just right before they reveal it on the show (at least, with me that's mostly the case), but the revelation that the professor called Jennifer was a total suprise for me. The interaction between Charlie and Ted was really nice too, and now we finally know some more stuff about their shared years in prison and why they became friends in the first place. I hope the show will keep up this level of greatness and gives us more revealing, surprising and thrilling episodes like this one in the future!moreless
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Amazing...

10

"Perfect"

By CaptainHarkness, Oct 12, 2008

I love this show for how unique it is and the amount of humor but thios episode didn't have to much humor. It was mostly serious, and you know what folks this episode blew me away. Damian Lewis deliovered an amazing performance in this episode. I loved the serious tone. I've been saying that we need to see more of Ted and I got my wish here. It was so funny how he kept interrupting Charlie when he was trying to listen to that tape. I was really surprised when we saw Lt. Davis, or Detective Davis again. I hope she shows up later on in the season and they tell us why she was demoted. I want to see more episodes like this one in the future.moreless
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OUTSTANDING

10

"Perfect"

By The-A-Man, Oct 12, 2008

A very, very good episode.

Prisoner Experiment: You need no locks in prison. Only prisoners. Why did no one else think of the damn Prisoner Experiment? The writers stumbled on a gold mine with this story line and used it very, very well. The ethics of what was done, the corruption of power, the heroism displayed were all awesome.

Crewes and Ted back inside: Harrowing for them, but fascinating for us. How on earth do these guys act out such a role? We learn a lot about both characters, but mostly Crewes.

Suicidal man: How lieutenant handles the situation was very well written.

Annoying woman: Bringing back the ex-lieutenant is really, really unnecessary. After the acting rehab of Reese, why are we returning a persistent abuser? Only a minor quibble, but one that could escalate. Please don't take us there.

Lawyer: Very interesting how Crewes shunned her at first. And also how she is backing off the Reese angle. Who is pulling her strings? Is she really loyal?

Duh moment: Of course it was a freakin threat, you morons! The wall: we finally move forward with the new clipping, and Crewes is back to his (almost) blank walls.

A truly stunning show and an exemplary episode. Please don't end this with the solving of the conspiracy - it is too freaking fresh and innovative.moreless
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Messed Up!

9.5

"Superb"

By zak7khan, Oct 11, 2008

Oh man that was a seriously messed up eppy. I would have given it a 10 but the lack of backstory for Cruise (i.e.mystery of Jack Reese etc..) shaved a .5 off the ep but well done. This ep also fuelled my hate for these psycology professers who do these experiments on young adults and treat them like crap. We also get to see Cruise and Reese's old boss (that woman in an odd side story attempting to get us to like the new boss. Loved how difficult it was for Ted and Cruise to be back in a prison like place evenn though it wasn't real. They made the murderer seem sympathetic as well which may or may not divide life fans into two groups. But a great ep as usualmoreless
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Trivia, Notes, Quotes and Allusions

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TRIVIA (1)
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- The prison experiment is modeled on the 1971 experiment conducted at Stanford University lead by psychologist Philip Zimbardo. Twenty-four undergraduates were selected to play the roles of inmates and guards. The Stanford prison experiment was prematurely terminated after six days.
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QUOTES (1)
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- Crews: It's a crime scene. Reese: And we are detectives. Crews: Then let us detect.
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NOTES (3)
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- International Episode Titles: Czech Republic: Pro nic za nic (Just for Nothing)
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- Original International Air Dates: Australia: November 5, 2008 on Ten Portugal: February 3, 2009 on AXN Finland: April 13, 2009 on MTV3 United Kingdom: June 24, 2009 on ITV3 Czech Republic: January 5, 2010 on Prima Slovakia: February 25, 2010 on JOJ
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- Music in this episode: "Squares" by The Beta Band. Death in the prison experiment. "Flatscreen" by Ketamine Suns. Death in the prison experiment. "I Shall Be Free" by Kid Beyond. Returning to the crime scene; repeats as Crews & Ted decipher Jack's conversation. "Youth Today" by Tyrone K Sullivan. Returning to the crime scene; repeats as Crews & Ted decipher Jack's conversation. [This song is called "No Mo' Blues" on itunes by the same artist.] "I Got It (What You Need)" by Galactic ft Lyrics Born. The frat. "Yeah Yeah" by Rover 2000. The frat.
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ALLUSIONS (1)
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- Destro might be a reference to Cobra Commander's righthand lieutenant on the classic 80's cartoon G.I.Joe
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