WHEN DANNI REESE WITNESSES WHAT SHE THINKS IS A CONFESSION TO RAPE SHE TAKES ACTION – While attending one of her AA meetings, Danni Reese (Sarah Shahi) thinks she hears a fellow attendee confess to rape. Unable to let go of this information, and despite Crews’ (Damian Lewis) advice to drop it, Reese becomes preoccupied with getting this individual to confess. Her persistence puts her face to face with a very dangerous man in a life threatening standoff. And, while on a stake out with Lt. Davis (Robin Weigert), Crews learns his former partner, Bobby Stark (Brent Sexton), lied to him about his involvement in an infamous Los Angeles bank robbery years earlier. Adam Arkin also stars.

Show Cast: Damian Lewis, Sarah Shahi, Adam Arkin, Brooke Langton, Robin Weigert, Brent Sexton

great show tonite!! great story line, superb acting, good pacing. I think it was the best so far: things are getting streamlined and focused..much less confusing than some earlier shows. and still, the tidbits from the B story we all want to know about were added very smoothly. Anybody who hadn't followed the story line, or has watched for the first time tonite, could step in and enjoy.
Makes me hopeful that "Life" will not get cancelled but run for the whole season. Yah!!

I have to say, once again, that this show just keeps getting better & better! And, was it just me, or did Damian & Sarah both come across as more smokin-hot than usual, tonight?! I mean, I'm a heterosexual female, yet, even I found myself looking at Sarah Shahi and thinking, "****!" LOL Tonight was my favorite episode, so far, because it showed more of the three characters I most enjoy watching...Crews, Reese, & Early. Plus, I think it blended, nicely, the mix between the long-term conspiracy investigation that Crews is diligently (& very cleverly, tonight) trying to pursue on the down-low, and the more immediate investigation, tonight being of Rick Larson (as well as that crazy lady's "pooper" - very funny!).
I also think that Sarah showed-off some major acting chops, tonight!. She did an excellent job - really drew me in! Plus, I liked that both she AND Charlie seemed to be developing more of a soft spot towards each other (he, obviously feeling more protective towards her when she was going to go out with Larson (maybe, even, a little jealous?); she, calling him as soon as she was in trouble & then trusting that he would get her "need a moment" message). Very cool.
The writers are definitely playing with us when it comes to who may have set up Charlie...but, I like that! Just when the message board, here, gets all lit up with "theories" that Stark MUST have played a large role in the conspiracy, the guy comes through, tonight, for both Charlie and Dani...and, then, confesses to Charlie that he had lied about being "in the middle" of the now-infamous L.A. shoot-out. Okay....so, now I think that Stark might be more of a decent guy who winds up helping Charlie more, in the end.
I think the line drawn to Reese, on the conspiracy board (from scenes from the next episode), might indicate that Crews thinks her father had something to do with his imprisonment. I can't imagine how she would have been involved because she would have been too young...right? Or, how old is she supposed to be, in the show? If it's in her 30's, then she may have been old enough to be on the force and to have been involved in that shoot-out, when it occurred. That would be interesting.
Anyway, I liked that Constance Griffiths was not in this episode, although I really do like Brooke Langdon (the actress who plays her). That left much more time for better scenes, I felt. Still, I think we'll see Constance, again, as I still feel as if she has a lot more to do with Charlie's imprisonement than we know. Perhaps she has "gone away to NY" for a little while so as to have an alibi while other bad things start to happen to Charlie? There's just been something about her that I don't trust.
As with past episodes, I really liked the music that was featured tonight! I'll be checking-out the "Name that Tune" thread to find out more about those artists/songs after I get done rambling-on in this thread! LOL (Sorry!)
Okay, so, on a final note - WHY...oh, WHY...did NBC show a commercial saying, "Tune in to 'Ghost Hunters'" (on Sci-Fi, Live, tonight, from 9pm-3am), 5 MINUTES before "Life" was to start?! I mean, WHY would they obviously WANT people to go tune-in to another show that was playing on a different network at the SAME time as "Life"?! It should have been a "Stay tuned for 'Life'" commercial, right?! Granted, Sci-Fi IS affiliated with NBC, BUT "Life" definitely needs more viewers than the already going-strong "Ghost Hunters" (I love that show, BTW), and the "Ghost Hunters" show was an ALL night event which probably had a lot of viewers to begin with! I just thought that was so bizarre...like, "Go watch this other station, now, please. Nothing more that's good to see here." WTF?!!! That was bizarre.
Okay, well that's it, from me. I'm out, but I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween night, filled with fun spookiness & LOTS of candy! I, myself, am on to my 6th Almond Joy Bar! Heaven! Bye, all! ~ Ness

i jut saw the poop on you ep and I gotta take back my stick on stark... that is all

I think this episode was the best so far, indicating to me that it will keep getting better. In that way it reminds me of Grey's Anatomy when it started. After the first couple episodes of that show I just got the sense that it was trying too hard. With Meridith's monologes and voice overs. It seemed like it had some potential but I didn't think it would last.

Life started out the same way for me. I saw the previews, and loved the idea behind the show. (I am a buddhist and I work in law enforcement, though not nearly as witty as Crews) But after the first couple episodes I was having the same thoughts as I had with Grey's Anatomy.

I really hope this show sticks around. I have not had a lot of faith in NBC and their ability to maintain smart shows. I absolutely loved Boomtown but it didn't make it. I'm hoping Life survives.

But this episode was the best so far, and I am starting to like Reese's character more, and there seems to be some chemistry between the two main characters in terms of their communication and general screen presence. They're no Mulder and Scully, but right now its the only show I watch regularly.

For what it's worth...

last night show was great just like the other past episodes but i am wondering about the ex what is she hiding what does she know. does she really not know where rachel is or is she lying and why would she lie? and does she still have a thing for charlie i think she does.

Just saw the last episode. As cryptic as all the others but I did realize that I (maybe everyone) overlooked the obvious. In the most recent episode, Charlie questions Stark (ex-partner) and Lt Davis about the bank robbery. We find out that Stark was on the barricades and Davis doesn't give up much or that she wasn't even there. Offers up a simple case that if you weren't there, you either heard about it, created your own theories on it, manufactured your involvement in it, 6th robber theory...etc, etc. Everyone watched this episode intent on hearing whether or not, Stark would have a hole in his story for that day. Everyone also knows his name was NOT on the list of officers on scene that day. But, you have to go back to the episode before (Fallen Angel). We let predetermined motives and good camera work alter what Roman says to Crews. He says, "Ask your partner about the Bank of LA robbery". Stark is NOT his partner. Reese is.

I realize she's in her late 20s, early 30s but its clearly noted her father was a cop. Don't know anything about who her mother is/was (bank teller/employee, maybe?). Father's last name does not have to be her last name. Simply associated Stark for being old enough to be on the force at the time of the robbery. Yet, that is not who Roman told Crews to ask. And, without asking her, you don't know what small but maybe pertinent fact or connection she has to offer.

Lastly, it was nice to finally hear what Reese went through undercover. She was really hooked and she needed to free her demon. Maybe she'll begin to pick herself up or trust Crews a little more.

I about melted and died when Damian kept smiling..omg..that's just so dang sexy and cute..plus Damian's a redhead..can't go wrong there! and those blue eyes.. *melting*

Yes Sarah (Dani) did look very good tonight and no I'm not gay. LOL Both Damian and Sarah came across so strongly tonight..maybe more so than other episodes..maybe it was because this was such a personal episode for Dani and partially for Charlie.

Amazing, amazing job!!

God and peace
Vanessa

I could have written this post! I agree, Charlie/Damian is so charming and irresistible. The writing is great and Damian portrays Charlie perfectly. The comedic side of Charlie is just hilarious...when he spoke at the news conference about catching "the pooper", and when he showed up to speak at Dani's AA meeting. LMAO!

Loved this episode! And I love how they are able to intertwine plot A and plot B together. It's the perfect mix to keep me coming back week after week.

Are you serious?! If NBC really did that bizarre doesn't even begin to cover it because it's like they actually want Life to die.

I just took a look at last nights ratings and almost cried but after reading your comment I have to say that I'm not surprised, just extremely disappointed. With the different lead-in and the network telling people to tune in to other programs most people probably didn't even know a new episode of Life was on last night, except of course for the people who are really devoted to the show.

We can only hope that at some point Life gets the treatment it deserves because it's that good and that the ratings will pick up again.

Okay, so, on a final note - WHY...oh, WHY...did NBC show a commercial saying, "Tune in to 'Ghost Hunters'" (on Sci-Fi, Live, tonight, from 9pm-3am), 5 MINUTES before "Life" was to start?! I mean, WHY would they obviously WANT people to go tune-in to another show that was playing on a different network at the SAME time as "Life"?! It should have been a "Stay tuned for 'Life'" commercial, right?! Granted, Sci-Fi IS affiliated with NBC, BUT "Life" definitely needs more viewers than the already going-strong "Ghost Hunters" (I love that show, BTW), and the "Ghost Hunters" show was an ALL night event which probably had a lot of viewers to begin with! I just thought that was so bizarre...like, "Go watch this other station, now, please. Nothing more that's good to see here." WTF?!!! That was bizarre.
Okay, well that's it, from me. I'm out, but I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween night, filled with fun spookiness & LOTS of candy! I, myself, am on to my 6th Almond Joy Bar! Heaven! Bye, all! ~ Ness
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that was because the show fenomenon was before .....

It does seem that NBC is for some reason killing this program. I feel it is the best new program of the season but it wouldnt be the first time NBC hooked me and then cancelled a show. I was leery to even watch LIFE for that reason but was drawn to the concept of this series. If they must play fast and loose with it why not put it on USA as previously suggested. That is the #1 network I watch anyway. Soon all my viewing will be on one channel!! Gotta say it again- LIFE gets better and better each week!

I absolutely love this show! This is the first show that I have to watch everyweek since Will & Grace. I hope NBC gives it a chance. Every episode gets better than the one before. Tonight's episode was my favorite so far. Sarah Shahi gave an excellent performance. She really showed the depth of her acting abilities. I was in tears at the end.

Damien Lewis is outstanding as Crews. I really love the way he and Dani have formed a friendship. They are good for each other. I think both of them still have emotional issues that they keep deep inside. It seems they know that about each other and that is what makes work well together. Like an unspoken understanding or bond. Like tonight the understanding of the "moment'.

Wow! I cannot say enough good things about Sarah Shahi's acting. She just blew me away last night. How heartbreaking were the final ten minutes? She was both broken and strong at the same time, which is so hard to pull off convincingly. Add to the fact that it is extremely difficult to play drunk, which she also did convincingly. But it was even more complicated then that, she had to play an alcoholic that was being forced to drink at gun point. She did not go over-the-top with it, and adding a hint of well isn't this the perfect excuse to indulge my addiction for good measure. Then there were the tears that didn’t quite fall...the walk to the ambulance head high, clinging to her partner, while her colleagues watched on with not-so hidden pity in their eyes. Again...wow! Can anyone say Emmy nomination?

...and also what's NBC smoking that makes them want to bury this show...it is just too good for the treatment it is getting.

Really! Bizarre as it is, NBC seriously played that commercial for the "Ghost Hunters" special 5 MINUTES before "Life" started! Whether it was because "Phenomenom" had just been on, or not, I still have NEVER seen a network literally hang its own show like that! I had actually been watching the first hour of the "Ghost Hunters" special, and then tuned-in to NBC so that I could watch "Life". I remember mentioning to some other fans, last week, that Life's ratings could be low, this week, because of the "Ghost Hunter" 6-hour, live, special that it would be up against. That show's MAIN demographic is the 18-49 yr. olds - which is also Life's main demo. So, my mind was UBER blown away to see NBC puposefully redirecting their NBC viewers to Sci-Fi - almost as blown away as when (after featuring NO interviews with Life's cast) Conan O'Brien had on William Baldwin (this past week) from the ABC show (& Life's time-slot rival), "Dirty, Sexy, Money". That was a WTF moment, as well. It almost seems as if NBC has some sort of Life-hating sabateur on board there. But, hey, maybe that's just all of this "conspiracy" talk getting to me!

Here, here! It really is too good for the treatment it's been getting. I really hope that someone at NBC actually reads our posts & is paying attention to what the viewers want!

Another great episode.
Charlie got to spend some quality time with Lt. Davis on stakeout for the 'pooper guy'.

With each episode, Charlie seems to be recovering a little bit more from his time in prison.
He is gradually coming out of his cage.
He seemed happier in this episode...and more sure of himself....and hot.
I love Damian Lewis.
He's such a pleasure to watch.

I thought that Stark might've had something to do with the missing $18 million from the LA bank heist.
But now....I dunno.
Need more info.





I agree....Sarah Shahi did great in this episode.

It's like this was 'Dani's Episode'. We got to learn a little more about her addiction problem. Her instincts about Larson the rapist were spot on.
She was flawless in the scene at her house, where she got ambushed by Larson.
Loved it when she smacked him in the head with the liquor jug.
And I agree...it was totally hot the way that Charlie helped her walk to the ambulance.

And, I don't know why NBC did that promo for Ghost Hunters right before Life came on.
Doesn't make sense, Ghost Hunters has a huge following on its own, and doesn't really need promoting as much as Life does.

I love this show and I hope it continues.

true, that was in fact what I was thinking of when he said his partner...that it was Reese.

But I suppose this new episode where Charlie is asking all of these questions about it to Stark confused me. Maybe he misunderstood what Roman was saying as well?

Charlie in his zen mode is VERY focused.. touching on all possibilities. I don't think he misunderstands, he just prefers to "play dumb" a little as not to be too obvious in who he is asking questions of, etc.. : he orchestrated it very nicely to be together with the LT ( when he got her in front of the cameras to agree to go with him to find the "pooper"..) , so that he'd have an opportunity to be alone with her and that's when waiting in the patrol car, he brought up the robbery to her..
Wasn't SHE partnered with Dani's dad at one point?

What struck me in this scene and the opening one with Stark is that Charlie uses his charm to get people to open up to him. Just when you think he is going for a cute Charlie moment you realize that he is really after information. He wanted Lt. Davis to talk about the bank heist. I would even go so far as to say that he intentionally manipulated the situation (making promises in front of room full of people and on camera, not encouraging the pooper!) so that Lt. Davis would be forced to go on a stakeout. She's on his conspiracy wall after all, so he certainly doesn’t trust her. He was feeling her out, quietly listening to her responses to his seemingly silly questions and she was never even suspicious of his motives. As with many scenes in Life, this scene had several layers. There was the obvious humor of looking for the pooper, the brief look into Lt. Davis's character, and the reveal of a little information on the conspiracy...well done show.

I LOVE THIS SHOW AND LAST NIGHT WAS THE BEST SHOW YET.
I THINK IT'S GREAT HOW CHARLIE TAKES CARE OF REESE LIKE A SISTER.

What an excellent show, consistently excellent! I love how they slowly reveal interesting little details about Charlie's and Dani's charachters and the conspiracy theory.

I still don't trust Charlie's old partner, though. He still looks very guilty to me for one reason or another.

As for the NBC's promotion of a show on another channel, I don't even know what to say to that without getting seriously censored. I agree with CinnamonGirl, I've never seen a network hang its own show like that!! what a poopers!

Great, just great episode.

Let me say I love the show, the stories and the cast. I've been a fan of Damien since Band of Brothers, and Sarah is as talented as she is amazingly beautiful. But, I can't believe that no one has pointed out the disservice done to Alcoholics Anonymous in "Powerless". Sarah Shahi's character drinks before attending an AA meeting, listens to a fellow "anonymous" alcoholic share, then runs his plates, gets his name and records, and shares them with the rest of the staff? Come on guys, you just deterred an untreated alcoholic who watches your show and admires Dani to NOT go to AA. After all, you depicted AA as a den of rapists and spys, and depicted alcoholics who drink before and after meetings. The references to Bill W, "powerless", and other AA lingo were cynical and unresearched. And any sympathy for Dani and her drinking problem was pretty much blown. AA members are just like you and I. They are normal people who are brave enough to see something wrong with their lives, and have the guts to do something about it. To mine AA for a storyline in this manner is the creative equivalent of dragging the lake.

The fact that they feature Reese as a grim woman who walks around with a black cloud over her head makes her a one dimensional character. She needs to be fleshed out.

This show takes off in too many different directions: Crews and Reeses's cases, Crews trying to figure out how he got framed, Reese's inner demons, Crews' relationship with his attorney...I'm sure it looks attractive on paper, but the show is too unfocussed. It's hard to know what the show is actually about.

I hear what you say.. but I think most people are well enough informed about AA, and its merits, to not think about it in all those negative terms you pointed out...I sure don't!
The AA tie-in just served the story line, and shouldn't be taken too personal.. (heck: I'm a native born German - should I get upset everytime Germans are depicted as rigid and humorless?)

Well, yes. If German culture, like AA culture in LIFE, was misrepresented I think you would take it personally. If Germans were characterized only in terms of WWII, sure, you'd take it personally. But my main point was, the writers of the show either didn't know what AA was about, and didn't bother to do any research (the ignorance clause), or the deliberately threw it under the bus for the sake of a script (the greed clause). I'm not overly-sensitive... it's just, the cynicism it took to skewer AA for a script... yuk! And for this writers are demanding more money? Gimme a break. I say bring in some writing talent that has some real "life" experience!

I don't think they were skewering AA. It's like when Charlie beat up Cudahay - he's a cop, he's not supposed to do stuff like that. I think if Dani didn't have her demons, if she victoriously overcame alcohol, drugs and her sex addiction, she wouldn't seem human.

Good writing creates sympathy for a character, like I was supposed to have for Dani and her alcohol problem. But when writers had her abuse AA for a storyline... I lost sympathy for her completely. Sure, cops beat people up, happens all the time... but name the last time you heard of anyone using AA for anything other than alcohol treatment. I'll bet you can't even name ONE time. That episode was phony and cynical.

Something that has been bugging me. At the end of the show as the drunk Dani is making her way to the ambulance with the help of Charlie there are a few words said to Charlie. I've listened to it ten times now trying to figure out what is said. Dani says all she needed was a moment... then says "This is it.. isn't it Crews... Isn't it..." What comes after that?? Does she say "that’s sad" or something else? Seems like her moment that she needed is being related to hitting her lowest low to realize she needed help as she walks in front of her colleagues and not just seen as queue for Charlie. This connects to his old partner because he also needed a moment to realize he needed to tell the truth about that day.

I think she just says, "That's it. Isn't it?"

I have to disagree. This wasn't about AA, but about Dani's demons. In the end she stands up at her AA meeting and said that she was "powerless." By downing that bottle of booze and saying out loud how messed up her life really is, she hit her bottom - her "moment", and was able to go to her AA meeting with eyes wide open and face her truth. I think it was beautifully written.

she was saying "thats zen. Isn't it crews? Thats zen"

Just saw the "POWERLESS" episode here in Australia. Could someone PLEASE tell me what happened in the last few minutes? I missed the end after Dani said "I need a moment". Thanks.

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Powerless was a weak episode because the writing was weak. It seems to me it had different script writers than the first several episodes. Although, I think the Ted Early bookstuff was good. The episode from last night was much better writing.

So did Dani dis AA? Not really. She sort of fell off the wagon. Most of the points, like this one, were lost. It seems that the episode was shot with a draft script, not a finish script. What a mistake.

Thank you for being the only one to agree with me so far. I thought the AA angle was murky and weak, and under-researched. But nobody has ever accused network tv of being too intellectual...

While I was disappointed how positively NBC displayed AA I was glad that they showed that it is mandated religion and also how easy it is to work the people over as long as you know their jargon and cult speak.

Let's not start arguments, please. Move on.

You make a great point... AA, while its success with recovery is impressive, does mandate religion. In the end, it's the individual user who gets him/herself sober. I guess if it helps to give the credit to a "magical' entity... well, whatever works!