Life Season 1 [DVD]

This is a forgotten and under appreciated gem of a show. IMDB got it right so unsure why it only ran 2 seasons when it was this good. Season 1 focuses on a cop (Damien Lewis) who is cleared of murder , but returns to his job even though he has millions in compensation. He is seen as unstable and is not trusted as why would you bother. His is partnered with an equally troubled detective played by the stunning Sarah Shahi. Season unravels each character as they solve a number of murders and its extremely original, quirky and well written. Its not your traditional tv show and the acting and characters will get you hooked. I full recommend this as in the swamp of cop shows this stands well above most, and maybe its short lived life (30ish episodes) makes it that bit more precious a gem.

How can you not love Detective Crews and Ted Earley? A man trying to cope with the injustice served on him using the tools he has developed, and succeeding most of the time, but showing the struggle he has doing so in subtle ways which only add to his character; and his flawed friend, trying to repay Crews' kindness in the only way he knows how. Violence with humour seems to be the format American shows do best, (think Dexter and Fargo, although maybe not as violent as those two examples), and this on delivers on both fronts, with an extra slice of Zen thrown in.

Far superior to the vast majority of long running U S A series. Clever dialogue between main characters with on going plot running in line with intriguing crime to be solved at each episode. Two main actors outstanding. Damian Lewis at his best. Sarah Shahi wonderful. What has become of her?

My favourite COP shows still remain THE SHIELD and JUSTIFIED. Nothing matches them. I watched this series mainly because of Damien Lewis and because I had never heard of it before. Very disappointed. Scripts were poor & totally unbelievable. Acting was reasonable but it all went nowhere especially as the series ended after Series 2. That does not surprise me. Very disappointing.

Fresh out of prison and now back in the force, Charlie Clews has been cleared of the murders that caused his incarceration. Colleagues are wary. Is he truly innocent? Even if so, surely he must be unstable after twelve years amongst vicious criminals who at one time or other broke virtually every bone in his body? Certainly he seems more than a trifle erratic, prone to eating much fruit and spouting enigmatic philosophy. His assigned partner Dani Reese, just out of rehab and anxious to prove she is again up to the job, fears he will prove a hindrance. Others may have greater cause for concern. Charlie has a hidden agenda, exposing the ones responsible for those killings and for framing him. They HAVE to be fellow officers.The stage is thus set for eleven episodes and many intriguing cases - that bigamous tax man, for example, with his lower half vaporized; not to mention the woman wearing angel's wings who plummeted onto a car roof.Damian Lewis is yet another fine British actor thoroughly at home in a major American role. It is a fascinating one too. Charlie's prison experiences have caused him to delve deeply into himself, he now with great insight - skilled at seeing beyond the facade. Head gently tilting sideways, he gazes through eyes - right into the soul. He also has many highly useful extra contacts, invaluable for helping to cut a corner or two. Best mate is fellow ex-convict Ted Earley (Adam Arkin), finance his speciality. Ideal, for somehow money seems behind those murders so many years ago. The trail goes back to an earlier bank raid where several were shot dead and eighteen million dollars were stolen. There IS a connection and Charlie WILL find it.Admittedly the series has its creaky moments. Those Zen utterances, meant to be so MEANINGFUL, at times prove a bit tedious. Also there are aspects that puzzle. Why did it take so long for Charlie's innocence to be proved? Who runs the mansion and orange grove bought with his compensation money? (Not just Ted surely?) Why at the end is that major villain not arrested?Minor matters! Much was enjoyed, appetite well and truly whetted for Season 2.

I bought this as it was on special offer. I had seen none of them on TV so I did not know what to expect. I really enjoyed the quirky nature of the show and the way every episode featured a new crime but also incorporated another step in the mystery of who committed the murders which led to Charlie Crews wrongful conviction. The developing working relationship between Crews and his new partner Dani Reese (who has issues of her own) add another dimension to the story as does Crewes relationship with his ex-wife, his fondness for fruit and his bemusement with his million awarded for wrongful conviction.The series started with a high in the first ten minutes when Crews attended his first murder on his return to the police and when no-one could find the bullet asked " has anyone asked the dog?" Surprisingly the dog did know. Other things to look out for were the episode with the Coyotes, the demise of his car and his relationship with his financial advisor.A couple of times I did find Crews Zen meanderings a tad tedious but overall these added to what was a very enjoyable series.

Goodness only knows why this series was so short lived. It's fabulous. Tense, funny and clever. Occasionally horrifying - it has some gut wrenching scenes - but every story is a mini film and well worth watching again and again. Which is, of course, what I do!

This programme gave a different and refreshing angle on detective stories.An unusual angle on how crime is tackled with an underlying theme/story of the detective involved throughout the series.A brilliant cast added to the enjoyment, recommended to view...........