There's a reason that NBC stands by Life, even in the face of it's on-the-bubble ratings, and many of those reasons were on full display in this episode, harkening back to the great string of episodes from last season. Centering around the fascinating subculture of badge bunnies (cop groupies,) this week's mystery delved into sexual politics in the police force. We're able to look at it from the outside thanks in part because our guides, Detective Crews and Reese, are outsiders themselves. Crews is the ultimate outsider, while Reese is an outsider here because she's a woman. "Do you date cops?" a bunny asks Detective Reese at one point. "No, I am a cop."
The role of gun as metaphor was brilliant here. For the badge bunnies, an invitation to the shooting range is akin to a groupie getting backstage at a show. An officer's gun is very intimate, and to handle it is very sexual. That even goes for Reese's piece, so when Tidwell and her exchange guns at the shooting range, it was extremely sexual. Having this scene intertwine with the flirtations of the bunnies with Crews was brilliant, and the music made the scene even better, nearly playing all of Honeyhoney's aptly titled "Little Toy Gun." Watching Crews and Reese squirm as they exchange embarrasments ("is that glitter on your face" and "that's not your gun") was, of course, the comedic payoff to all the flirtations we witnessed prior. Add to that the quirkiness of facing off a tiger named Fluffy, and you've got the kind of sequence that keeps executives from wanting to cancel this often brilliant series.The aforementioned Honeyhoney song has a video worth mentioning in that it features Keifer Sutherland both directing and co-starring in it. And yes, it does feature him carrying a piece.
Life - Episode 2.09
1. "No Explanations" - Sam Phillips
2. "Little Toy Gun" - Honeyhoney
Watch the full episode here (note: original music replaced)
Previously: Neither Fruit nor Cake (Episode 2.08)
