Life Sentence

Although this premiere TV episode comes across as a high quality big screen production in which it does have its moments there is more to be desired. The TV premiere opens up with a cancer victim named Stella Abbott (Lucy Hale) jetting off to Paris (via the retro like Mary Tyler Moore opening song) to find true love with a British black man named Wes (Elliot Knight) and they quickly get married to enjoy her last few months on planet earth.

Stella's parent love her as do Stella's brother and older sister and all of them have apparently put their lives on a permanent hold pattern to ensure Stella's last days on earth before the big "C" take her away are the most joyous.

The pretense of the series is that after Stella comes home from Paris with her new British beau who she marries she is told that her previously incurable cancer has actually now been miraculously fully cured. Now Stella and her family cannot continue their charade of giving her a carefree life and bountiful love as her dad Paul Abbott (Dylan Walsh) who is a college professor has extended his credit with the banks further than it should have to allow Stella's last few months to feel like a princess.

Now Stella's fairy princess lifestyle and her Prince Charming husband Wes have to come to terms that it is unrealistic to live every day as if it may be their last one together since Stella has been given a new "life sentence" by her Doctor Helena Chang (Anna Enger).

As stated earlier, this premiere episode utilizes a Hollywood style opening Paris scene to draw in the romantics, as well as attempting an Ed Sheeran hit tune to boost the music lovers in all of us but is this sufficient enough fuel to continue watching? I am not sure by simply hitting key demographics such as mixed marriages, cancer survivors, a lesbian mom, a wife stealing brother, and a struggling college professor, what is the actual weekly story going to tell its audience? I think Life Sentence will be done by the time summer hits us and the star Lucy Hale will be looking for another TV career from the one she has here as a barista.

I give the series a 6 out of 10 rating. I just don't feel it lasting. Sorry Stella but I think your days are still numbered so enjoy the TV spotlight this spring while you still can.

This show starring Lucy Hale has comedy potential, but the story most certainly is all over the place. You kind of get a headache when you are taken along for the ride with Stella (played by Hale) and discover with her all the secrets her family kept to themselves while she was sick. There are sweet messages dropped in throughout the pilot and crazy interactions between siblings, parents, etc. but nothing to really grab onto except for Stella's humorous marriage relationship. Wes (played by Elliot Knight) and Stella were probably the best part of the series beginning. Her readjustment for the future basically drives the show...however I'll mention once again that Hale and Knight are the real gems. All the other characters make for okay curveballs as the series tries to continue, though they tug more at your pity than your funny bone. Also, the medical aspect of the series and how Stella is cured from her cancer does a fine job of throwing in a unique angle at how to perceive "living" and takes away the dark and off-putting circumstance that cancer can be. Instead, Life Sentence chose to approach cancer in a more light-hearted way that causes you to view the disease as a hurdle rather than an antagonistic monster...not allowing cancer the satisfaction of winning (something I appreciate).

This is more drama than comedy. i saw many movies about cancer but none about life after cancer. so this is refreshing and good. i saw 3 episodes. and a lot happened in 3 episodes. generally i dont see that much happen in tv series in such sshort span. its actually movin g forward pretty well. main lead is likable. also supporting characters too. how they cope with every thing they sacrificed to help her through cancer. i also see plot thickening how the desicions made while yo u were dying is not exactly sure for living. and so on........waiting for next episodes. give it a shot.

Ok, no cancer isn't funny and should be taken seriously. This is just a fun new series about a girl who gets cured of it and has to figure out how to live! Lucy Hale is fabulous, as is the rest of the cast, as they all have to figure out there lives moving forward. Truths and lies come out along the way. Unlike cancer folks this should be enjoyed and not taken seriously. It is just a T,V show so relax.

Although the premise of the show is unique enough the show suffers from lackluster acting and writing. The writer showcases the story through the voice of Lucy Hale's character (Stella), which is one of the most exasperating acts of the show, not to mention some very poor writing and direction for most of the supporting actors, two siblings seem to be there just as a necessity. The parents' characters, maybe due to fact that they act better, seems passable. The saving grace for this show which is the love story between the lead and the Brit.

Going ahead the show will focus on the whole family and how Stella moves on with her life with them, this is where the show will fail. What it lacks is jovial and quirky bits to make the show better and the lackadaisical performance of the brother does not help. The show could have really used a friend instead of the siblings (at least one) maybe this will change as the show goes on. But as the show is right now I see it being canceled at the end of the season or next season(because Lucy Hale has some TV fandom that might pull some viewership in).

Tan(A)