by Nadya Vlassoff
The CW's Life Unexpected makes its mid-season
debut on Monday, January 18 amid much warm hype
for a show that's equally fascinating as it is
entertaining, as young actress Brittany Robertson
steps into the weighty dramatic role of Lux, a
15 year old in Portland, Oregon attempting to
legally cut ties with her parents. Created by
teen drama author and television writer Liz Tigelaar,
whose credits include Dawson's Creek, American
Dreams, What About Brian and Brothers & Sisters,
Life Unexpected fires on the all-important literary
standard of "write what you know". For Liz Tigelaar,
Life Unexpected is a project close to the heart
since Tigelaar herself was adopted and dreamed
that her birth parents had cool careers. After
climbing the TV ranks from the ground up from
assistant to writer to now series executive producer
and creator, Life Unexpected marks the show that
Liz Tigelaar is at the helm of as series head.
As the Life Unexpected story unfolds, we soon learn Lux has been raised in the foster care system and just days shy of her 16 birthday, she's on the hunt for her birth parents in order to become an emancipated minor and free of the system that forced the young girl into seven different homes. With no expectations, Lux is surprised to discover that her birth mother, Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby), is the morning radio jockey that she listens to everyday who had a one-night stand with her biological father, bar owner Nathaniel "Baze" Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha), in high school. After the judge refuses to grant Lux emancipation (thanks in large part to both her parents unexpectedly showing up to court during Lux's hearing) the frustrated Lux is put back into the joint custody of her parents.
Now
that Lux, Baze, and Cate are reunited, neither
is sure about how to proceed, especially Cate
who has spent most of her life running from
commitment, which includes her impending engagement
to her on-air partner, Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith).
As the days go by, Lux begins to learn more
from her parents expected and the subtle similarities
between Lux and her parents begin to appear.
Lux is more her father's daughter than either
would care to admit, as both Lux and Baze share
a penchant for graphic t-shirts with cheeky
slogans. Although by nature Cate is no-nonsense
and brutally honest, it's Lux who actually understands
why her mother has had a history of emotionally
detached relationships. After 16 years of drifting
through the flawed foster care system of Portland,
Oregon, detachment is an issue Lux knows all
too well.
Given the buzz surrounding Life Unexpected, fans have a lot to look forward to on The CW beyond the current crop of hits. Stepping into an unexpected role that requires more than sudsy teen talent, Brittany Robertson is outstanding as Lux, who searches for independence and struggles with the concept of allowing a parental figure into her life that's not just looking for a government check. Interestingly, from a conflict standpoint, Lux isn't the only one who struggles with her sudden reappearance as Baze and Cate try to adjust to instantly having a 16 year old daughter, both of whom have drastically different approaches to parenting, which, and at times leaves Lux acting like the only adult in their unconventional family.
As
a quick-witted teen on a mission, Robertson
has a charm that draws you into dilemma. As
well, it's the likeable qualities of her parents
that make you want to root for the family to
succeed. The awkwardness of the sudden family
situation gets addressed in a wholly realistic
manner, as everything from Lux's reaction to
getting her own room for the first time gives
way to being the quintessential teenager when
Baze and Cate disapprove of Lux's relationship
with her boyfriend Bug. Although a newly formed
family comes with excitement, the dynamics of
real life soon take hold to push Lux and her
parents beyond the comfort zones of life expected
in the years before their reunion.
Life Unexpected is a welcome dose of drama for CW viewers looking for substance away from teen gossip and the conflict within Beverly Hills. Those who have missed well-written dramas like Dawson's Creek and Gilmore Girls, will quickly be drawn into Life Unexpected. Forget the lavish sets, elite fashions, or adult seeking teens sipping cocktails during happy hour at exclusive clubs, Life Unexpected relies on well-written characters, relationships, conflict, and story to give fans a fresh new concept. Although emancipation may not be widespread, the concept is very real, with countless children like Lux getting lost in the shuffle of the foster care system.
Although
some may take issue with the idea of emancipation
and the perspective a 16 year-old could possibly
have to make such a weighty decision, Life Unexpected
shows that the grass isn't quite as green on
the other side when children and parents are
strangers. Still, what can be found in Life
Unexpected is the symbolism of its title in
that life is always unexpected and you can't
go through life without overcoming obstacles
and affecting change. In Lux's case, its' discovering
a new identity within unexpected change. As
for Cate and Baze, they finally find something
worth fighting for, which is dramatically surprising
considering it was something they never even
knew they wanted.
Life Unexpected premiers on The CW Monday, Jan. 18 at 9pm.
