The TV Chick

I have sung Life Unexpected’s praises time and time again, and I will continue to do so throughout this season. The season premiere tonight is nothing short of amazing. We meet a few new characters. Shaun Sipos is a new heartthrob in town who meets Lux at Baze’s bar. Amy Price-Francis plays Kelly, who wreaks havoc at the radio station until Alice comes back. And Arielle Kebbel (remember her from The Vampire Diaries and Gilmore Girls?) is a new bartender, who also may stir up some trouble.

“Ocean Uncharted” deals with the aftermath of Cate marrying Ryan and Lux’s anger towards Baze. What happens now that Cate made her choice? Have her feelings for Baze gone away? How is Baze going to deal with all of this? A lot of things happen in the season premiere, in fact many that left me staring with my mouth open at my TV. But that’s the making of a compelling story, and “Ocean Uncharted” is certainly compelling. The show returns with just as much quirky dialogue, interesting relationships, and a group of people who I love to watch. We see a bit of Baze and his dad in this episode and some steamy Ryan and Cate action (on a side note, seriously it’s hot). But what we see in Life Unexpected is what is missing from a lot of other shows, and that’s heart. I originally likened it to Gilmore Girls, because I cared about those characters on that show so much. However, I now realize that the tone of the show is very different even if my investment is not. At its core, Life Unexpected is about what happens when your life changes course, for better or for worse. In real life, life is about getting through each day and sticking with it and forming bonds and relationships with those you love. That’s what Life Unexpected is about. You can still escape into Portland week after week, but you struggle along with them. Or at least I do. No character is perfect and each one has their own flaws and past but that’s the beauty of it. Any show that I call my favorite (and Life Unexpected certainly merits that honor) is not necessarily about the plot week after week but about the people.

“Ocean Uncharted” picks up right where the season finale left off. Bug is back and still very much in love with Lux. And Lux is still Lux — a great kid who sometimes screws up. Liz Tigelaar said the theme of this season is very much Who am I now? Who am I now that this happened or this happened, and that definitely shines through in the premiere. I can’t wait to see where Baze goes after he lost who he thinks is the love of his life. I can’t wait to see Lux explore new territory, and find out about Ryan’s past and why he stays with Cate. I would love to see another family therapy episode (that episode last season was one of my absolute favorites). And there’s going to be a flashback sequence in this season that I can’t wait for. I know one thing for sure, the season premiere of Life Unexpected will not disappoint. This show should be future of the CW. Yes, it’s that good.

Life Unexpected’s second season premiere is tonight at 9 pm on the CW. Tell all your friends and their friends to watch because it needs fan and critical support!