The TV Chick

Some shows come to an end way before their time. Life Unexpected is certainly one of them. It started as the little show about a atypical family that earned its way very quickly into critics’ and fans’ hearts alike. It premiered in January of 2010 and pulled off some pretty decent ratings for the CW. But it took a lot of campaigning (myself included) to get this show back for a 2nd season. In between season one and two, there was a lack of promotion, a non-existent DVD and Liz Tigelaar (show creator) has now said that there were notes from the network to change up season 2 and make it less about the Cate/Baze/Ryan triangle. All of these things contributed to lower ratings in season 2. That triangle was the core of the show and while I loved the second season a lot you could see it went in a slightly different direction. No matter what the CW did wrong, I want to move on to all the lovely and wonderful and amazing things I have to say. Because really, this review is less of a review and more of a love letter as the title implies.

The 2 part series finale started with a conclusion to the Lux/Eric aka Hot Teacher relationship. Cate and Baze found out through Sam (Emma’s son) that they had been dating, but Eric had confessed everything to Math. There was question over whether they would call the police, and Baze practically beat Eric up. Cate and Baze stepped it up as parents and forced Eric to leave town, much to the chagrin of Lux. But of course in the process, Lux spilled the beans to Baze about Emma sleeping with his father. Baze confronts Emma, who admits she wasn’t going to tell him because she knew she would lose him. I have to say, Emma Caulfield is a fantastic actress. And I actually liked this relationship (even if Baze wanting to buy a house and move in with her is a tad fast — I mean, in an ideal world this would have been a season arc). But in the end, the show is about Cate, Baze and Lux becoming a real family. So to get us there, Cate loses her baby. It seems like she and Ryan will still try and make it work until Cate is at the OBGYN and sees Julia pregnant. (I totally predicted this by the way). She enters what seems like a happy party restoring Baze’s bar (more on that later) and tells Ryan they need to talk.

After Baze breaks up with Emma and quits his job, he realizes what his real priorities are. He almost outs his dad’s affair at a birthday party for him but decides not to in order to protect his mom. He makes a touching/rife with undertones speech (seriously this cast is THE BEST at giving speeches) about how you have to be your own man. Baze decides to keep the bar, and his job as bar owner and focus on Lux. Meanwhile, Lux has a heart to heart with Cate who finally tries to listen to her instead of tell her what to do. Lux also talks with Jones who admits that his mother is bi-polar and that a part of being in high school is feeling not normal. I loved this. Besides the fact that a truer statement could not have been uttered, I love that she didn’t just go running back into Jones arms right away.

We then fast forward two years, which was a very unexpected and amazing surprise. Lux is graduating from high school (so excited she got to graduate AND get her drivers license!) and making a speech. My guess is that she was elected student body president. She talks about her light years, making a beautiful reference to her name Lux, and the former possible title of the show. At the end, we see who ended up together. Math ended up with Alice (what a nice surprise!). Ryan and Julia were together with a little boy. Lux and Jones are together and Tasha is there graduating with them. But the most important couple of all? Baze and Cate of course. Their kiss/make out session at the end of the episode was amazing. And when Baze tells Cate that they made it, that’s what had me most in tears. That and when Lux calls Cate and Baze “Mom and Dad.” That was not lost on me, and it was such a beautiful moment. It ended the way it was supposed to, I just wish the show had been given more time to get there. I wish there were going to be more roadtrips, more shower dances, more relationships, more bong lamps, more turtle racing, more Lux lying and making up for it, more awkward school dances, more everything.

Life Unexpected was one of the highlights of my TV schedule. It was consistently well written, and full of tear-jerking, heartwarming, wonderful moments. I am beyond sad that it is over (unless by some miracle, another network decides to pick it up!) but I am glad it happened. It’s a wonderful show that I will always think about fondly. And let’s be honest, I’m sure I will be planning a re-watch when the DVDs actually come out. It’s always the great shows that leave us too soon…there are too many to list but Life Unexpected is certainly one of them. I hope the stars and the creator go on to big things, because they are all so deserving and fantastic and talented. So LUX, I’m trying not to think about the fact that you won’t be new on my TV next week, but I am so so glad you were brought into our lives. Thank you for everything.