Common Sense Media Review
By Kari Croop
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Family drama is edgy, earnest -- and aimed at adults.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Life Unexpected
What's the Story?
It's LIFE UNEXPECTED when 15-year-old foster kid Lux (Britt Robertson) goes looking for the birth parents she never knew, only to find a bar owner father with a bit of a Peter Pan complex (Kristoffer Polaha) and a morning show host mother (Shiri Appleby) who makes her living sparring with her soon-to-be husband (Kerr Smith) on the radio. Lux doesn't want a family -- all she needs is her birth parents' signatures so that she can get a judge to emancipate her. But when the judge orders Lux into their temporary custody, she ends up with an unconventional mom and dad who might still have unresolved feelings for each other.
Is It Any Good?
If you can get past the show's convoluted premise -- and a few downright ridiculous character names (Lux, Baze, and ... Math?) -- you might be unexpectedly charmed by this talky, teen-centric drama that's clearly drawing from shows like Gilmore Girls and One Tree Hill. Robertson proves particularly beguiling as 15-year-old Lux, while Polaha and Appleby have palpable chemistry as her barely grown-up parents. And once a judge awards them temporary custody over their long-lost daughter, you don't need a crystal ball to see where the plot is going. Life Unexpected picks up points for originality...although, for some, it might be too original. And, despite the presence of teen characters, it seems to be courting older viewers, devoting the majority of most episodes to adult relationships. That said, the writing is sharp enough that the characters eventually become real rather than ridiculous, leaving you rooting for them despite their quirks -- and hoping that they get it right.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this show tackles the topic of teen pregnancy. Does it paint it as a good thing, a bad thing, or as something in between that had both positive and negative consequences?
Do you think teens are capable of being responsible when it comes to having sex and dealing with all of the potential pitfalls that come with it (including emotional stress, STDs, and pregnancy)? How does the media typically portray teen sexual behavior?
Do you think this show is intended for teens, adults, or both? Which group will like it more? Why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : January 18, 2010
- Cast : Britt Robertson , Kristoffer Polaha , Shiri Appleby
- Network : CW
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Last updated : January 17, 2025
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