Life

Just watched series 1&2 brilliant, googled to see when series 3 was coming and can't believe it was made so long ago and was cancelled after 2. I love shows like this, Damien Lewis and cast are brilliant in this, on the back of Damian Lewis's recent success this show should be reinstated. Sad there is no more.

i wish they would bring this show back for a 3rd season...

Once more NBC has proven that they Has No Idea What A Goog Show Is. How on earth did this show not get renewed & sufficient advertising to raise iit's numbers up.

@XooKey



Acutally it was a triple homicide, mom, dad and son. And he spent 12 years in prison.

Life is a one of a kind cop show that centers around a detective named Charlie Crews who was wrongfully imprisoned 10 years for a double homicide he did not commit. While he was in prison he became a Zen Master of sorts and was one with everything around him. His partner is Detective Dani Reese and she is reluctant at first to work with him, but she had no choice. As time goes on, she sees that Charlie is a great detective and starts to accept him. Charlie spends much of his time off duty running his own investigation into who framed him for murder and where the little girl of the couple he supposedly killed disappeared too. He finds many clues that tie many people together, but then realizes that there is a much larger conspiracy that he has to solve.

Great show with Detective Crews's Zen outlook on life and his hard boiled partner Reece. The two made a great pair and of course his story of an innocent man who after being exonerated sues his way back into the LAPD. Crew's quirks kept the show moving using deflection to get to the truth and avoid allowing rage to take him over. Reece had a typical checkered past which made for great stories and conflicts. Her rigid outlook collided often with Crews's eastern philosophy but in the end they were devoted to each. Going against the brass and even sometimes there own families in favor of being good partners. If your looking for great characters and stories I would advise picking this on up on dvd. It was a breath of fresh air to the tv landscape providing a new type of protagonist and wonderful mature stories.

It was a really great show. I love it. I love every stars in the show. Would be very happy, if it has not been canceled... going to missing you guys very much, especially Charlie Crews. He is one of the most smart and special detective I've ever seen. I like the way he handle the case. I like the way he talked. And there was something really funny... It was one of very few shows which can make me laugh a lot. And most importantly, it is not in the lousy way. It had a very sepcial angle. Please put it back on.

Well what can i say!There is few plot driven and full charactered cop shows out there and this was one of them.A cop gets wrongly convicted of a crime he didn't commit,gets out on an appeal and financially compensated for his troubles,except that wasn't the end of his troubles.The people who framed him want his silence but he refuses to stop digging for the truth.Cant praise the cast enough in this show they really made it shine.I couldnt find any fault with casting,directing or writing of this show so i suppose that the bottom dollar killed this unfortunately.What a waste-had another two seasons left in it at least!

This show is sooo great and smart!!Damian Lewis is Great as Detective Charlie Crews!The cast is very good and the dialogs are smart.This series keeps your Adrenaline in high.Those Guys from NBC are stupid.In NBC the last years always cut real good series!I can't understand why they canceled this show.Even with 5 million viewers per episode they are on the budget!They should start LIFE again from this September(2011)and they should support this show more,with more passion and sensitivity.Come on NBC start this show again!its unfair.NBC make on more season,we need to see what happens at the end of this show.

We have to keep this show on the air. I have never written Into a network to keep a show on. Although I wish I had for arrested development. But we need quality tv back immediately!! I want actual stories and creativity back, no more reality tv. If we don't make ourselves heard. Please go to nbc.com-- and "contact us" at the very bottom of the page. Tell them and we may be able to save it before it is too late. Please. Too many shows get cancelled before they really get a chance to grow. Watch this show and tell all your friends thank you

how can i begin i am truly disappointed and sad that NBC has canceled Life it is by far the best thing on TV the cast is phenomenal and the writers have done a amazing job in a short time to warp it up and give us a great ending to a great show. i already miss watching it every week with my family they all loved. My favourite character is Charlie Crews he is played by Damien Lewis


he is funny,smart and very interesting especially the way he solves crimes.... i really hope some other network pick up life it will be a real loss if its not going to be on Tv anymore!

I'm pissed! That was nice show,for cheer people up. Why they destroy so many great series,Deadwood,Day break,Jericho,Rome,Carnivale before,New Amsterdam etc. I'm not sure what is with you people in USA? What are you watching?So many good show is low rating and they killed them. Some piece of s... like ER,Smallville,some mumbo-jambo things last in decades and nice shows dies. Jay Leno...why that (some bad words) just dont catch heartattack,mexican flue,slip on the ice and finish with his disguisting show - I watched two of them,'cause of Novak Djokovic and something else... It's just problem in heads with americans. What are you watching people/?And that's society of just profit,they start something and if it's not earning enough millions let's kill it,no matter millions of people who are spent time (and money)to watch it until that moment,without decent end and some sense of obligations and moral to respect that people. And then people in USA ask "why nobody likes us",thats why,'cause you acting gready and like just money and live the your small life,fatning yorself in front of tv watching Jay Leno,Jerry Springer and similar things.Majorit of people. I'm so disappointed.

I love this show, with some crimes such curious and rare. My favorite character is Charlie Crews. It's great, I always draw a laugh with comment that comes to mind. A question? Where do you draw the fruit? When a crime scene or at a track, or whatever, suddenly appears with an apple in your hand or any other fruit. I find it fun, take pockets full of fruit for the road? I do not know, anyway, I hope you do not cancel this show because it would be terrible. I would love to have a third season, will see Charlie with his ex-wife and Reese with Tidwall.

At 48, I have never written about a TV show but I will today ONLY for my favorite show - "Life". It is spell binding, and there are not many of those. I was hooked the first time I saw it a couple of years ago - mourned it when it was off and was thrilled when it came back. Is this the end? What is wrong with people. This, by far, is one of the best shows out. Why can't people see that or is it because it is on too late for the average Joe to catch it... this should be prime time. Maybe NBS did it backwards. Stuck it on PrimeTime first, then late. People need time to acclimate to a new program or give up their favorites for a new. How about NOW taking it to PrimeTime. Give it another chance! P.S.not on a sticken Friday night either





This show is fantastic. Don't let this one die!

The last episode tied up many loose ends but was heartbreaking because it looked like the end of one of the best TV series ever-what a great great series - who can believe it didn't rate-what do you Americans want-simplistic crud?I would choose Life over anything else on TV currently.Charlie Crews is a great character and there are surely loose ends still to tie up! What about Tidwell and Reese-Reese and Crews and the whole conspiracy-has to be more. Come on USA-you can produce great TV when you want to-don't lose this one! Aren't you all sick of formula TV.

For me it began with Sports Night on ABC over a decade ago. I'm sure it's been happening longer than that but when the American Broadcasting Company canceled the critically acclaimed Sports Night it was the first time I got angry about it. And it's been happening ever since. Like SN, LIFE is too intelligent for the average American. Most viewers want mindless crap - they're too lazy to think. It's sad and maddening.





For what it's worth - props to the whole cast for doing a great show and props to the writers and producers and whole crew for doing the best they could to tie it up at the end. I suspect Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles has suffered the same fate.





"Thank you" LIFE. You did us 72 fans proud.

Author: MovieChickie from Calgary, Canada





Charlie Crews is a former cop turned inmate who has just gotten out of jail after 12 years for a crime he didn't commit. He becomes a detective again upon his release as part of a settlement with the city. I just watched the pilot, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It's not some dumb action piece with big car chases and naked women. It also has a great relationship between the two lead characters, a man and a woman. They're detective partners, but there isn't any forced chemistry tacked on. You know, the whole they hate each other, but you can't deny the attraction...uggh. This avoids that perfectly. It also has some great actors, Damian Lewis is always great, since "Band of Brothers" he's displayed a remarkable talent for character roles. And this is most certainly a character drama. But unlike Shark or Monk or something where the character is the whole plot, there's also a great deal of other fantastic elements. The man was in jail from 1995-2007, so there's cute scenes about a sort of culture shock, mostly pertaining to technological advances. But there's also a darker side, as Crews was brutalized in prison (as a former cop) and has a vendetta against those who conspired to put him in jail. This is the overarching arc of the series, but smaller cases worked with his partner form the bulk of the story lines. I was really impressed and look forward to further episodes. I just hope that NBC manages to get this show enough ratings to keep it on the air. Kudos on a job well done.

So, the last episode of the second season... The big question, will there be another one or is this the end? Well after this episode, I hope it'll go on for a long time. Smart, full of mysteries, funny, what could you ask for more??


As always, Charlie finds more about his past and the puzzle unfolds. We see in this moment a Charlie much darker than before as he understands that he is just another piece in the puzzle that was going on even before he became a cop. Acting from our dear Damian Lewis amazing as the others in the series. I hope I speak for many others out there by saying the how wrong it'll be to cut out such a jewel!

The story line is patent cop finds bad guys with a huge dose of orginality injected into it. Chemistry between the actors and characters is spot on. I'm not very wordy and this darn thing won't let me stop until I reach 100 words so here we go.





I became a fan of Damian Lewis from "Band of Brothers." He completely delivers in this role. Smart and a little "off", exactly what this character needs.





Adam Arkins character could be just another character thrown in for a little extra. Adam pulls off a smart performance to make his character belong.





Sarah might very well have been given this job for her beauty. If so, producers got a heck of a lot more than they bargained for. The interaction between her and Lewis works. And not for that same old sexual tension BS that we are so tired of.





What can I say. I really enjoy this show.

Freakin awesome show!! I love this show, I think it is my favorite show out there, I never miss an episode. It's a drama but also funny, Charlie Crews always makes me laugh atleat a couple of times on every show. His comments, his facial expressions, he is perfect for this role. Keep up the good work! And NBC, keep this show on, it is awesome!! I will watch this show forever. Anyone know why Reese hasn't been on that much? Is she getting ready to leave? Just wondering, and next week there bringing in a new detective, is she replacing Reese for good? I like Reese, her and Crews are great together!

This drama is basically very suitable for those who like cop shows but with an twist. It's like bad cop good cop except in this case the good cop goes into a zenish state and the way he tries to solve case are a shade different from nirmal cops and his partner also has a load of problems and they have to solve their own problems as well as solve the cases. It is interesting to see how a cop survives maximum security prison and befriends convicts and then use some of these contacts to solve cases. Unlike other cops shows, the lead actor is not in the good books of his superior but instead they are trying ways and means to get him out.

Last season was so fresh and different. Damian and Adam are a splendid 'Odd Couple'. And I agree the first season was the best. And it seemed like the writers weakened Adam Arkin's character way too much. I don't feel the constant mistakes and bouts of trouble Ted Earley gets into is consistent with the role he played in the first season. Still, 'Major Winters' captured my fanship long ago (well you know where) and his 'Charlie Crews' is at the same caliber. He is a master craftsman.





Sarah Shahl is very good too. I hate sexual content in inappropriate places. She is tough on the streets. She is believable in her bitter and sarcastic way at work. And the sex scenes are minimal. Cagney and Lacey was popular for a reason, and it was women who were believable in their jobs and at home.

I find that Charlie Crews does not show a random personality but a more complex curious personality who intimidates by showing no fear to those around.


While watching this show i felt a lot like the curious side of Charlie, which makes it intriguing and in touch with him and find it enjoyable to watch.


This show is one of my favourites and keeps on popping up with surprises, that keep in with either the plot of that episode or ones to come. This makes the show both enjoyable and as confusing as it can with the viewers still following the plot.

this show is awesome..my sister told me about it..at first i didnt caRE but i watched an episode and now im addicted...crews is so freaken awesome...i love his random personality..its wat makes the show so aweomse..i dont like how they keep accusing him of murders thou. its getting very annyoing...i also think him and reese should totally hook up...they have amazing chemistry...ppl say its a bad idea i think its great idea...the show would get more interesting plus they pretty much act like a couple already so why not...i dont really like crewes roommate thou..kinda weird guy or maybe thats just me

I have to say I've been surprised by this show - in a good way. So many cop shows are a rehash of previous shows (or one of the endless CSI shows) but I really like this one for its characters and stories. The cast is excellent, but its Damian Lewis as Charlie Crews that really brings this show to life. It's one I'm reccomending to my friends, though the show seems to have a really low profile. I'd never heard of it till I ran across the DVD set - but I can't get enough of it now. Here's hoping we get a season 3 of this excellent viewing.

The actor playing Det. Crews, Damian Lewis, is very well known in British television and does a great job in this role, at once odd and perfectly normal given what he's been through. As he has done in other roles, Lewis can simultaneously display a range of emotions, and can be as sympathetic or loathsome as the role demands (definitely the former in this case).Detective Charlie Crews is played in a wonderfully quirky but understated way by actor Damian Lewis. Viewers are most likely to remember him from the WWII miniseries, 'Band of Brothers', where he also shined. Hopefully, if this series continues, Charlie may be able to develop into one of those great cop characters...like Andy Sipowicz or Lennie Briscoe.





The rest of the cast also does a great job in their roles. Sarah Shahi plays Dani Reese with just the right balance of toughness and vulnerability. Crews' financial adviser, Ted Earley (Adam Arkin), boss, Lieutenant Karen Davis, and attorney, Constance Griffiths (Brooke Langton), provide solid if short performances. Lewis, however, is the anchor of the show and truly holds this show together. The show is also interspersed with documentary-like scenes about Charlie's time in prison, with interviews from his former partner, his ex-wife (who divorced him while he was in jail), and various others.





The show also makes fun references to how much technology has changed in such a short time span. Crews, having been in prison for twelve years, has no clue that there are such things as camera phones and instant messages. It's interesting to have a character who is very smart, but a little hapless in the modern era.





I should point out that this show may not seem to be so great at first but once you've gotten to know the characters you'll find yourself waiting anxiously for the next episode. This is a show you grow into.

I have to say I thought the second season of this show was a bit disappointing. I still tune in and while I continue to find Charlie Crewes a great character, it feels like they decided they were done with the story arc of his wrongful imprisonment - and the greater story of corruption surrounding that - when they wrapped up last season and it has now instead turned into a much more ordinary procedural police drama...





Sure they occasionally throw in some little pieces of the puzzle as clues - lately they seem to bookend each episode and in an increasingly disjointed and jarring way with these - he's in one part of town investigating something and then suddenly he's somewhere else talking to that FBI (or whatever he is) guy or something like that.





I think the first season was able to blend the episodic police investigation stories much better with the longer arc of the crooked cops - of course it was fresh and there was a certain novelty factor, which they have attempted and FAILED to reproduce with the new chief/love interest angle. There's also a lot of establishment that needed to happen first season, which added to the intrigue - which is still there but in much smaller amounts, this season.





All in all, not as good a follow up to an outstanding first season.

Monday, December 22, 2008





Hi! This is my first review, so please bear with me.





I find the premise of this show very interesting. "Life was his sentence and life is what he got back", yes, but only barely, to spend twelve years in jail unjustly and still find it in you to strive to reach Zen is something that makes this show very appealing to me.





I don't know, but perhaps you remember Damian (Charlie Crews) when he did that superb piece of acting on the mini series Band of Brothers, he is just as good on life, no kidding. The supporting cast is also very good, with exception of Robin Weigert (Lt. Karen Davis) is not that she's a bad actress is just that she's not on par with the rest of them.





There are plenty of interesting moments in this pilot episode, for example: (Fair Warning, spoiler alert) There is a scene when Charlie pulls out a wicked looking switch blade; I have never known a cop to carry a knife, how about any of you? Does anyone recall a cop carrying a knife? Interesting, isn't it? It shows to me that even after getting out prison, he brought a little bit of prison out with him.





Now, and please forgive the purely male point of view here, but is just that Sarah Shahi (Dani Reese) is incredibly hot and her acting is spot on, she does a great job as an insecure detective that tries to cover it up trying to be a hard-ass; and she hot! She really is.





We've all watch cop shows before, they have been around almost since they invented television, well this one a truly different point of view from any of them, if you don't think so, take a close look at the Zen moment Charlie has with the guards as they are being escorted out, specially the expression on Dani's face when she realizes how well Charlie is handling the situation. Nice.





I like this pilot episode, if the job of a pilot episode is to entice you to want to watch more, to see what happens next, than this pilot has done its job very well, I most definitely want to know what happens next.





A solid 8 out of 10.

Let me start by saying that at first glance this show seems like your standard cops-solving-crimes type show. However, the real plot is hidden behind that and cleverly woven into the show throughout the series.





The plot is simple but effective. Charlie Crews is a beat cop who 12 years ago was wrongfully imprisoned for murdering his best friend and his family. After more than a decade of incarceration forensic evidence proves that Crews could not have commited the crime. As such Crews is released from prison and his name cleared and to stop him from suing the government he is given a very large settlement and part of that settlement is that Crews is allowed to return to the force as a detective.





From here on the show is basicly a standard cop drama. The real beauty of the show however is that whilst in prison Crews has found Zen and this new outlook on life coupled with the fact that he is addicted to fresh fruit (you just can't get it in prison apparently)and uses more thana few of the 'skills' he acquired in prison to solve the crimes which he investigates makes the show a funny and touching piece of television.





Far more than it first appears and a must watch.

Life is a cop show but not like so many of the other cop shows out there. Charlie Crews (brilliantly played by Damian Lewis) is suitably quirky and interesting to hold my attention over the last season and a half. Even though Dani Reese is more formulaic I still like the chemistry between the two of them. Their Captain is quite annoying but not as bad as the Lieutenant in season one. The mystery running through the stories regarding Crews' wrongful imprisonment is intriguing and the individual stories are nicely paced and on the whole pretty well done. I hope this continues for a few more seasons at the same level of excellence.