Hauling it away from the dark Friday pit it got stuck in, NBC's Life is back on track.  In the hopes of shooting up the ratings, the series received a full-season order to boot.  Last year it registered 8 million viewers, but it went a couple steps low on the scale.  It obtained an average of 6 million this season, but NBC is surely sticking by its side. 

As it centers on the life of Detective Charlie Crews (Damien Lewis), there are more stories to tell.  He's waited twelve years in prison for freedom, and it's doubtless he'll bring on the cop thrills.

Life's creator, Rand Ravich, commented on the incident by saying: “It's a confusing time in network television.  But to the network's credit, so far, they're not equating the numbers to the show.  They're saying it's got to do with where we're putting you or promoting you and what your lead-in is.  They love the show.”

Surely the audiences shared the sentiments of the series executives and the network heads.  Charlie Crews has gained a following, including actor Damien Lewis.  “I enjoy Crews' contradictions,” he said.  “I enjoy the blend of dark and light and the possibilities that are presented to you when you're able to write a character with a totally blank canvas.” 

It's true that what many shows lack these days is a unique character, fully fleshed out and planned to the last detail.  This is where Life's Charlie comes in, since the series is actually one of few who have established a character worth sympathizing with. 

“We could really enjoy great extravagant things with him and let him make mistakes and always forgive him because he went through such a dark period in his life,” executive producer Far Shariat exclaimed.  “But at the same time, he can be a little damaged.  There's a lot of arbitrarily quirky characters on TV — people who seem a little bit different or weird for the heck of it — and this seemed like a grounded place to come from.” 

Fans can expect more from Life, especially since Crews is situated in a world of conspiracy and mystery, without foregoing the element of humor distinguishing reality.  Life's return to NBC should rake in enough numbers for the network, but as the series creator says, that's not exactly what they're after. 


-Maria Gonzalez, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: The Providence Journal
(Image Courtesy of NBC)