This is a busy week for TV series premiers. Some are new seasons, while some are brand new shows, trying to earn our loyalty. I knew Criminal Minds, on CBS, was slated to premier last night. It being one of my favorite shows, having won me over in the last season, I made time for it at 9.00pm. And the usual BAU members were in their elements, profiling unsubs and catching criminals.When it ended, I channel-surfed awhile and chanced upon this new series, Life, over at NBC. Straightaway I was hooked, no less because of the Zen-like statements made by Crews, the main character, a detective-turned-prisoner-turned-detective trying to take his life back. Besides, I like the name of the series, simply LIFE.
The guy with the Zen look is Crews ...The very first few scenes already set the tone: Crews reading The Path to Zen in his prison cell. I can't quite make up the author of the book but the picture at the back of the book seems to be that of a lady. Perhaps I would try googling later.
Obviously this is a well-read book, crumpled and all at the edges ...Among other things, the website of the show features a Zen guide. It contains a brief description of Zen meditation, and the emphases among the different Zen schools.
Open at your peril ... Just kidding.I managed to transcribe this statement of Crews (by watching the video, repeatedly) made to the face of a prison guard who was trying to provoke him to become an angry convict:
“Anger ruins joy, steals the goodness of my heart, forces my mouth to say terrible things. Overcoming anger brings peace of mind, a mind without regrets. Overcoming anger, I will be delightful and loved by anyone".
"The universe makes fun of us all," the hero intoned sagely. Go figure.On another scene, while he was speeding along a road in a car, he professed that he was not attached to the car. And true enough, he was shown here about to take a big bite off his favorite food, a fruit, after watching his car go under the back-tracking tractor driven by his erstwhile cell-mate.
"No attachment whatsoever."I think I will add this to my to-watch TV Series list. If you missed the premier, you can check out the pilot here and make up your own mind about it. But be prepared to be interrupted by some commercials from the sponsor, TARGET. But this would pale compared to the strings of TV commercials during the actual show last night.
[The images are all screen captures of the website, except for the first one, which was downloaded from the same site.]
10 comments:
Ooo.... I kind of wanted to watch this show, but as I don't watch tv on a regular basis, I missed the premiere. It does sound zen-like, and intriguing! I just hate it when I start revolving my schedule around tv shows, as I am wont to do when I become a fan of one.
Huh?? Is "Everyday Word Gems" one of your blog things??
Well, for one thing, it (even keeping to a TV schedule)regularizes one'e life and it's part of time management. The trick is to know which activity is worth keeping a schedule to.
And yes, that's one of my two tumblr things. Isn't that neat? Just passing on the wisdom of some of us who are better with words.
I don't know if this is the appropriate place, but I enjoyed reading the above quote from the first episode, so I thought I would add the following quote from the second episode:
Chapter 7 On Vengeance
Revenge is a poison meant for others,
that we end up swallowing ourselves.
Vengeance is a dark light,
that blinds all who seek it.
The untroubled soul,
knows there is no justice in revenge.
The untroubled soul,
knows that to seek vengeance is to seek destruction.
It definitely is, I mean an appropriate place. Thanks a million.
I have been meaning to write down that concluding quote and you have just made my day!
I can't wait for the 3rd episode.
Seams to be Alan Watts (1915-1973).
I found this:
http://boards.nbc.com/nbc/lofiversion/index.php/t769391.html
And here is some other links:
http://deoxy.org/watts.htm
http://www.alanwatts.net/
http://www.alanwatts.com/media.php
http://www.google.com/search?q=alan+watts+torrent
Thanks, Mille. After my blog I totally forgot to google the name of the book. His is a familiar name as I have read his books before.
I have been watching Life on hulu.com. I don't have the kind of schedule that allows me to catch a show the same time every week, but I have been watching this show whenever I can. I really enjoy it, very clever.
Thanks for visiting, Niobey.
I have not been following the new season of Life. Apparently the show has lost some of its novelty and lustre based on my viewing of the first two episodes. I'm now drawn to the new super-perceptive Mentalist starring Simon Baker. I think you would like it too.
LIFE is my favourite show. I am watching it fourth time right now. Very inspiring!
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