Two weeks in, I’m beginning to understand why everyone was so high on Life Unexpected. The acting continues to shine (I hope to see a lot more out of Kerr Smith soon), the production quality is great (I never would have known Portland looked so cool), and the writing spot on. What is most impressive, though, is how realistic the storylines feel.
In last week’s comments, An raised a very good point about Lux, that she “is way more balanced than a kid who underwent the foster care system replete with sexual assault attempts and faux-dealer foster parents.” I can’t speak to that, but I believe that people have an amazing capacity to surprise us. I know someone that has been through similar adversity, and is quite extraordinary. Lux is supposed to be extraordinary herself, and I can completely believe that she can overcome her past. Not without scars, though.
The scars are most evident in her relationship with her friends, Natasha in particular. Her conversation with Cate was telling. Is this Lux’s dream come true? Or, is it Tasha’s? Outwardly, i’ts obviously neither (because who dreams of sleeping next to a bong lamp each night?). Deep down, though, everyone has a dream, and living an emancipated life isn’t it. Her parents are imperfect, but whose aren’t (I’ve always been pretty damn happy with mine, for the record)? They love her, and she (probably) loves them, and the rest is just crap.
Crap that still has to be overcome, however. Sure … Baze, Cate, Lux, and Ryan don’t exactly make your standard nuclear family (You might as well include Tasha in there too, because you know she is for all intents and purposes Lux’s sister). Mom and dad have got to grow up, and that means a lot more than building a room, and taking her to school on time every day. They both have some life changes to make. Cate’s obviously got a head start, with her declaration on the radio, and Baze has a much longer way to go, with the bar and the cow (and whatever else we may have not seen yet). But, for the first time, he’s got a reason to want to mature, and that’s the most important step.
Other observations:
Clacked by Ivey West 
on Jan 26, 2010 @ 10:00 EST5EDT
damn where did my comment that i posted 2 hours ago go? oh well…
great show, i really like it. it may have to do with me liking Shiri Appleby since Rosewell. the taxi pickup was just hilarious. & the bong lamp? i want one! that thing is just f’n awesome!
It was an inflatable sheep, not a cow. I think it was wearing fishnet stockings, as well.
The producer said that the decision on the pregnancy denial came from far above her pay grade. From their behavior in the parking lot, I’m guessing she and Cate are actually friends.
I love that Lux’s name actually comes directly from Latin, and isn’t some obscure pop culture reference.
Not too keen on the background songs myself; like SGU, they seem a bit too blatantly on the nose.