Life: Season One – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Oct 3, 2008, 13:10 GMT

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 ...more

Damien Lewis stars as a detective with a strange penchant for fresh fruit.  He’s also a detective with a police record as he was convicted for a murder that he didn’t commit. 

Now he’s back on the police force and his driving goal is to find out who framed him and put him behind bars.  

Charlie Crews (Damien Lewis) has just been released from prison.  He had served twelve years of a life sentenced when his lawyer Constance Griffiths (Brooke Langton) was able to find DNA evidence that exonerates Charlie.  The rub is that Charlie is a former Los Angeles police detective.

He successfully sues to get his job back and a substantial cash settlement that’s watched over by his financial advisor Ted Earley (Adam Arkin).  Needless to say, his new boss Lt. Karen Davis (Robin Weigert) isn’t exactly thrilled to have Charlie on her force.  He’s partnered with Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), who has a few issues of her own thanks to her undercover work.  Now Charlie has to work his caseload as well as track down who set him up.

The 2007-2008 television season had some good shows cut short by the writer’s strike and Life was one of them (Pushing Daisies was another).  Luckily, Life is given a second chance this televisions season (as well as Pushing Daisies). ‘

Damien Lewis plays Charlie Crews with aplomb.  Charlie is driven by trying to find out who ruined his life and also to find a nice piece of fresh fruit and maybe even Zen.  Charlie’s wife has moved on and even has a new husband. 

Detective Reese isn’t exactly thrilled to be paired with Charlie but is only pulling the duty because of her tattered history.  Though it starts off hostile it’s the discovery and warming of Charlie and Dani that offers some fine performances. 

Adam Arkin provides the comedy relief.  Life is a great show that well deserves a second chance in the upcoming season.

Life is presented in anamorphic widescreen (1.78:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Special features on disc one are a commentary on “Merit Badge” with creator/executive producer Rand Ravich, executive producers Far Shariat and Dan Sackheim, Damien Lewis, and Sarah Shani, 1 minute of deleted scenes, and previews for other Universal television DVDs. 

Disc two has a 50 second deleted scene and a 1-minute blooper reel.  The 8-minute “Life Begins” interviews the stars about their characters and the show.  The 44-second “Fruits of Life” is a collection of the various fruits Charlie eats in season one.  “Still Life” is a collection of three slideshows. 

The 5-minute “Life’s Questions Answered” is about the season finale and is rife with spoilers, so don’t watch it first.  Finally, there a multi-angle deleted scene you can look at from four angles. 

Disc three has an audio commentary on “Farthingale” with Ravich, Shariat, and Sackheim, an audio commentary on “Serious Control Issues” with Ravich, Shariat, and Adam Arkin, commentary with Ravich, Shariat, Sackheim, Lewis and Shahi on “Dig a Hole” and “Fill it Up.”  

Life is a fine show that luckily wasn’t cut short by the writer’s strike.  It’s full of great performances and well worth looking out for. 

Life: Season One is now available at Amazon. As of yet, there is not a release date for the UK. Visit the DVD database for more information.