Life
If this first episode is any indication, I just found the one new network show I’ll add to my regular viewing. Life sees the return of Damian Lewis to television, after his stellar role as Dick Winters in HBO’s Band of Brothers. This time he’s leading a cop show on NBC. Fortunately, it seems different from the rest and isn’t just another procedural, although those elements are surely there. While there is likely to be a case-of-the-week situation, the pilot introduces several things that will hopefully be adequately explored in a serial fashion. Charlie Crews (Lewis) is a cop who was recently released from twelve years in prison after his conviction was overturned based on faulty evidence. Even though he receives a large settlement, some $50 million, he returns to the force to continue that passion. Perhaps there is an ulterior motive though, as despite the character’s repeated proclamation that he wasn’t concerned with finding out who framed him and how, the episode’s end reveals that he’s very much trying to work through it, with a wall of his mansion covered in a web of photos and facts related to his case.
Other setups in the pilot include a potential romantic interest in his lawyer, a sadistic interest in giving the new husband of his ex-wife (who left him after the conviction debacle) minor traffic tickets, his new partner Reese’s previous drug addiction, and his general effort to catch up with the world after being locked up for twelve years. It’s also fortunate that the show takes place in Los Angeles, with the benefits of a different look and sensibility than the dozens of cop shows that have been centered around New York City. Likewise with Charlie Crews and his internalized zen philosophy. It’s something different, and that’s appreciated. Production values are high, with a standoff occurring late in the show being worthy of a good film.
Beyond the zen and an affection for fruit, Crews has an odd affectation of assuming an accent or lisp at certain moments. It appears to me to be a character that the detective takes on to distance himself from some situations, but I can’t be sure. It’s never directly addressed in the episode, and as such may put off some less attentive viewers, but it’s definitely an act of some kind. Damian Lewis has proven that he can do a better American accent than many Americans, and he plays it straight for most of the episode. I hope to see this explored in the future. We’re certainly lead to believe that there’s more going on in his head than we’re being shown so far.
