Life Sentence (2018) User Reviews

This show went to far

[maruugaa · 5/10 · 15 March 2018]

This show could've had potential, but it went too far. It's way too over the top unbelievable. It's like they took every stereotype and applied it to the show. Parents break up. Mother now a lesbian. Brother a pothead. Brother sleeps around. Nothing original at all. If you just eliminated the fact that she survived cancer it wouldn't be any different than any of the other garbage on the tv. Nothing in the show is even remotely related to chronic illness/overcoming illness. It's just a typical dysfunctional-family drama with an added, btw, the main character is a cancer survivor.

It's watchable garbage.

Hits a few key demographics: Cancer survivors, mixed marriages, cheating wives, and the late bloomer lesbian mom

[Ed-Shullivan · 6/10 · 10 March 2018]

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.

A Bit Rushed, A Bit Expected, But a Good First Outing...

[Bello-4 · 7/10 · 8 March 2018]

I adore Lucy Hale, even before anyone had ever heard of Pretty Little Liars I've been a fan so it goes without saying that I was going to give this show a chance. However with that said, Life Sentence is a pretty good little show in its own right for a first outing. You have to wonder, whatever your disease of choice, you effectively put your life on hold, for years possibly, and told you're near certainly going to die. Then against all odds...you don't. Then what do you do? Did you bother with much of an actual life - not just the highlights - because you didn't expect to have one? Do you find out just what kind of sacrifices were made on your behalf? This show attempts to answer those questions and so far, admittedly on the pilot episode, it was a fun outing...

That being said, I really thought what Stella's family really is like and the sacrifices and facade they've made for her should've been teased out over the next few/several as things felt a bit rushed. They also made sure to check just about every box on the PC checklist now a days with your recreational drugs, stoner family member, kids to soon and sexual orientation and marriage that's falling apart (as opposed to a strong loving marriage but guess that's not PC...). Regardless I have to give a shout out to how minorities are portrayed in the episode, as just people just like anyone else. They're not portrayed as ethnic, eccentric or stereotyped and a particular shout out to Sadie the young black female cancer patient Stella relates to late in the episode as it could've easily been just a pretty generic white girl but yes regardless of race or color we all come down with things, even minorities... About the only thing not checked was Stella's college professor of a father having a relationship on the side with one of his students young enough to be his daughter (but it was only the first episode...).

So I'd give it a seven to an eight out of ten and we'll see where it goes...

Good start to what has the ingredients to become a winning series.

[TxMike · 8 March 2018]

First off I have to say Lucy Hale is a real cutie pie. She plays the lead role as Stella Abbott, who in her teens developed a case of terminal cancer. She has been receiving the best treatments but in a flashback of sorts we see she was given 6 to 8 months to live. So her dad sent her off to Paris for a "bucket list" trip, and she met Elliot Knight as Wes, they hit it off, they fell in love, they married.

They return to her small Oregon community (actually filmed in Canada) and live happily, expecting ever-after to be a few months. But the show kicks into high gear when Stella gets the word from her Oncologist that her cancer is gone, she has been cured.

So this show takes the unusual premise that life is easy and straightforward when you only have a few months to live, you do what you want, everyone treats you with kid gloves, friends and family want to make your last days as pleasant as possible.

But the real hard part of life happens when you find out that you may have 60 or 70 more years to live. What will you do for a career? Will you want to have kids? And what do you do when you find out your family has a number of big issues they have been hiding from you?

The two main characters are in all 13 episodes of the first season, so we are destined to see how the happy couple cope with all this.

Good start, a somewhat serious show with lots of humor.

A Fast-Paced Hot Mess

[lotsofjcmedia · 6/10 · 8 March 2018]

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).

Fun, and serious at the same time, with lots of laughs.

[mrmikeme · 10/10 · 11 March 2018]

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.

You'd want to fast forward it.

[Sritanay · 6/10 · 16 March 2018]

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)

It sure had some potential

[darkviolet-65194 · 4/10 · 30 March 2018]

The characters are absolutely dull and it doesn't seem to change so far. Stella makes the same mistakes over and over again (trying to fix one thing and neglecting other things in the process) and somehow doesn't suffer from any consequences in the end. Secondary characters feel like the actors had to improvise basing on single sentence descriptions.

The whole thing is painfully simple, like it's written by a 15 year old. She gets caught browsing confidential documents? Meh, let's turn it into an opportunity to reach her goal somehow...so the guy she's looking for happens to host a party that exact night(!) and the person who caught her snooping will introduce her. Yeah.

all i will say is i am a straight guy and i loved it

[chrisdye-10671 · 9/10 · 8 March 2018]

I watched this show after Riverdale last night and i must say i was impressed by how touching the show actually is i love Lucy hale and she truly shines on this shes charming likeable and super sweet i laughed out loud several times and cant wait to see next week a true winner of a show no doubt

It kept my attention.

[morganbarton · 6/10 · 4 July 2018]

This was a good show. It was a little much on the drama front and not in a good way (but what CW show isn't?). I had incredibly high hopes after the first episode. The biggest reason why is because I think it's such a fresh and interesting concept. If they had gone in some different directions, I think they definitely would've made it.

The characters were incredibly likeable, but part of the problem was that some performances truly shined, while others fell short entirely. They were great in their roles. The music is FANTASTIC. I cannot express enough how much I love the soundtrack to this show.

While it didn't make it, I think it's worth the watch if you have nothing better to do. Just be prepared. What's on Netflix is all you get.

Fruit Which Hangs So Low, It Must be Dug Up.

[Fleharty · 2/10 · 8 December 2020]

If this is what defines current-day comedy, Jesus, take me now. Characters from the Millennial Comedia del Arte, spewing dialogue so predictable, I can count on two hands-----in the first episode----the number of times I could predict the punch lines to ultra-weak setups. The on-screen people (I won't write 'actors', because then it would imply I mean all of them, and that wouldn't be fair to those who aren't flavor-of-the-month print ad models) are trying. Mostly to remember their lines, god bless 'em, and deliver them in fewer than 15 takes. I appreciate that talent agents have difficult jobs, and I appreciate that they have a big sigh of relief when the next mortgage payment can be made as a result of landing a role for a client. But how do the agents sleep at night, knowing they've all but hobbled said clients from ever getting hired for a future Buick commercial? The script is formulaic. A joke (that's being generous) every 30 seconds, and at each 17 minutes, time for an advertisement (which aren't on Netflix---though I wish they were: I'd time myself to watch the ads and mute the speakers in-between 'em). I believe producers and writers have created an ascendingly moronic audience while at the same time, delivered descendingly artistic or genuine entertainment for those who have the dreadful choice each day of Xbox, Playstation, Tik-Tok, YouTube, Netflix or Amazon Prime Video. So many choices of Vapidity for the Sincerely Vacuous. Where on Earth does one start? This medium has now been around for 80 years. Technology has taken it places that people from its inception to even ten years ago couldn't have imagined. Packaging and delivery is now as efficient as Friday Night Pizza. So why haven't the writing, production and acting kept pace? Until the viewing public launch their own version of the climactic scene in "Les Miserables", barricading their brains and time from the onslaught of destructive, muzzle-loaded boring boorishness, we have no one to blame but ourselves. It has been said before, and it's being repeated right now, the reason there are no modern Mozarts, Shakespeares or Judy Garlands is because the public doesn't demand any. Please. Start demanding, and stop compromising, beginning with "Life Sentence". The title implies what should be given to most of the people associated with this drivel. And absolutely no chance for parole.

what can i say im a guy and i adored it

[chrisdye-10671 · 9/10 · 9 March 2018]

I was really confused as to if i would like this show or not when i first watched it but let me say not soon after the begining of the show i had fell in love with lucy hale and her character shes sweet funny charming and bubbly just a cute character in general and the show is packed with laughs and heart it dosent seem to fit well coming on after riverdale but it was sweet and i reccomend trying it

Not the worst show I've ever watched.

[thepeculiarpalette · 7/10 · 29 October 2022]

I liked it. Yes, it's a bit far fetched but that's ok. There's enough edge to it, mostly stemming from the Aiden, the brother (who is hilarious BTW), to differentiate it from a sappy Hallmark show, but it's along the same lines. The family is totally dysfunctional but somehow they all accept and love each other. It's only one season long, and the story wraps up nicely so it's kind of a long miniseries. I wouldn't call it a comedy, it's more like a lighthearted drama that revolves around some serious issues without it getting too heavy. It's not the greatest show ever created but I don't think it deserves the one and two star reviews because there's definitely a lot of worse things to watch.

Its awful

[katiegcopeland · 1/10 · 4 October 2018]

Predictable. Bad acting. Unbelievable. An entire show of people treating people badly.

a good one about life after cancer

[Logomark890 · 22 March 2018]

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.

Take a chance

[kspurs11 · 6/10 · 12 June 2018]

This is my first ever review on here. I love movies and tv shows. I checked this one out because of Lucy Hale, I followed her from PLL to this show. The show has an 'ok' storyline. The actors did a nice job playing their roles. I just didn't like one of the characters, they got away with doing things that some people couldn't, shouldn't, or wouldn't get away with IRL..meaning they got off way too easy for what they did. In the end, give the show a chance, cause you'll never know......

What a show! I laughed during every bit of it even the dramatic moments

[hassarrhita · 10/10 · 15 March 2018]

I have to start by saying I love Lucy Hale. She does an amazing job at playing the role of Stella, the terminally ill cancer patient. When she finds out she was cured, what started as "only a few months to live" ends up being a lifetime with choices she made when she decided to "live like she was dying": friends and family who hid many secrets from her and a very handsome husband, whom she "just" met. I can't wait for next week's episode. Looks like an amazing show has just started!

Lucy Hale's bad acting is destroying the show

[anahita777 · 6/10 · 27 May 2018]

Lucy Hale's bad acting and voice is just killing the show. Also it's not very well written, lots of things doesn't make sens. But however the show could have been successfull if Lucy Hale would be replaced with her sister or anyone able to show some feeling or emotion. Sorry to say that for her, but you should work on your caracter. She doesn't act like the way should act this caracter. Her voice is tiring. Elliot Knight is really acting is really well and it's weird because it doesn't feel real face to someone who is acting with NO emotions. I think they should rewrite this story and change the main character...

Ugh this show irritates me.

[kgirl-39880 · 1/10 · 11 April 2018]

Awful illustration of cancer. A terminally ill cancer patient miraculously "cured" ? I just wish the writers put a little more thought and research into the characters disease. Also, I just feel like every storyline ever written was thrown into one show. I don't see this show lasting for long.

Great storyline and acting!

[samira-24373 · 10/10 · 15 March 2018]

Loved the storyline and thought the acting was great. looking forward to the next episode!

Slow start to the series but it gets better

[dianamarinelli · 7/10 · 9 November 2020]

I started watching this series because of Lucy Hale. The series starts off very slow but it gets better overtime. It's a shame the cw cancel this since it had potential

Horrible, unbelievably horrible.

[hpr-46548 · 1/10 · 25 September 2018]

The plot for this show is so far fetched it's cringeworthy. I had high hopes for this show! No wonder it got cancelled.

Finally

[beachy-38431 · 8/10 · 22 March 2018]

So CW finally found something almost as good to replace Everwood. It is very good, so they probably won't keep it.

Can't stand Stella. Only finished the show because of Wes and Liz.

[ggwp101 · 7/10 · 21 December 2018]

Can't stand the main character Stella. But I finished the show mainly just because Brooke Lyons (played her sister Liz) is hot and Elliot Knight's (Wes) acting was great.

Now let's get into details. I do applaud the show for trying to portray a more light hearted fun side of cancer but the plot is very boring and predictable. Stella is such an obnoxious character. The only reason that I was able to tolerate the character is the fact that she had cancer since 15 so in a sense she has zero social skill or experience, hence she often acts like a selfish spoiled little brat. In addition to that, Aiden is a great character with lot of potentials and a complexity of emotion to portray but Jayson Blair's dull and terrible acting has completely ruined it.

The show reminds me of Life in Pieces with a bit heavy hand on the drama and tearjerker. I enjoyed watching other members of the family than what was going on with Stella. The only thing that kept me watching was the fun and wonderful dynamic of Liz and Diego. Not perfect acting but the couple was very likable and easily related two. Enough to ignore the bad acting of the actors playing their kids.

My favorite acting has to be from Elliot Knight. He did a wonderful job playing Wes and was able to portray a wide range of conflicted emotions during various scenarios.

That mother though....

[bombres · 3/10 · 27 December 2020]

I hated how the mother (Ida) always opened her big mouth and let out secrets. I hated how she interfered with everything. I hated how she criticized everyone. I hated how she pushed in and took over everyone's life. I hated everything about her. But I hated even more that no one in the family had the backbone to stand up to her and let her know what kind of boorish, intrusive, big mouth she was. Family is important but this family allowed themselves to be walked all over.