Life was his sentence. Life is what he got back. Damian Lewis (Band of Brothers) stars as the unconventional police officer-turned-convict-turned-detective with a second chance in each compelling Season One episode of the critically acclaimed mystery series Life. After twelve years in prison for a murder he didn't commit, offbeat Charlie Crews has returned to the force with a $50 million settlement, a new spiritual outlook, a strong fondness for fruit, and a highly unusual approach to solving crime. With the aid of his skeptical and demanding new partner, Dani Reese, played by Sarah Shahi (Rush Hour 3), he's turning police procedure upside down in this unique and fast-paced series with a "terrific cast [and] terrific writing" (Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times).
A quirky drama with moments of startling originality, Life: Season One concerns Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis of Band of Brothers), a cop who spent 12 years in federal prison for murders he did not commit. Exonerated by DNA evidence, Charlie receives a multimillion-dollar settlement for his troubles and returns to his old job, though now as a detective. Cleared of the crime, Charlie still faces skepticism from his law enforcement brethren and the impatience of a new partner, Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), a former drug addict squeezed by her superior (Robin Weigert) to find reasons to boot Charlie from the force. None of this hostility, however, compares with the terrible time Charlie experienced behind bars, where a former cop is everyone's punching bag. Charlie's sanity, saved by studying Zen methods of non-attachment, remains with him after he is released into a digital world, Charlie has a lot of catching up to do, but it is his post-prison unorthodox manner and tendency to speak without thinking that prove jarring for colleagues and crime witnesses. Still, it is easy to root for the guy and appreciate (non-attachment aside) his fondness for the good life: a mansion, fast cars, beautiful women, and lots of fresh fruit.
The pilot episode is a knockout, the kind of show featuring moments one has never seen before, such as a scene in which Charlie is forced to shoot a suspect and then talks him through an almost dream-like death. Subsequent episodes are a little uneven in quality, but the overall package is quite compelling, particularly as Charlie quietly solves the mystery of the murders for which he was blamed. Throughout, Charlie's religious transformation in prison collides with his darker impulses toward possible revenge, making Life a fascinating study in conflict. --Tom Keogh
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 5.0 / 5.0
Life Season 1:
Love the show. Was surprised that it was out on DVD as NBC didn't promote the release at all. I cam finally delete episodes from my DVR. My only complaint is that NBC changed some of the music for some of the episodes. Hopefully, for season 2 they won't do that.
Great Show:
Brilliantly written, excellent cast and a pleasure to watch. Damien Lewis, Sarah Shahi and Adam Arkin are great. The description "smart" is right on the money. Can't wait for season two!
Smart, very intelligent, out of the ordinary police drama / comedy:
A must buy for those who like very different types of police dramas (with comedic touches). When I bought the box set, I had never seen a single episode of "Life", but I was a fan of Damian Lewis, from the Forsyte Saga, where he played a dweeb. After seeing the previews for the show, and knowing it would be interesting seeing him play the complete opposite, I decided to buy the box set. This is such a smart, well written, fun to watch, great chemistry between he and his partner, that the only way to watch... more info
Very good product:
Very fast delivery with no trouble, DVD's where in perfect shape and played with no trouble.
