State of Mind - A Review

I wouldn’t call myself a “fan” of Lifetime, but I do tend to watch it quite a bit. Frasier is a great show and they show it four times a day - it’s part of my regular schedule. And lately, they have been cranking out a lot of original series; I couldn’t say if they have had many original series, but if they have, I haven’t heard of them until lately.

Still, their new show, State of Mind, came on last night and since [adult swim] has been in perpetual reruns for the last four months or so, I decided to check it out - and I’m glad I did. I’ve always liked Lili Taylor, and even though State of Mind has a pat, tried-and-true Lifetime formula (woman done wrong, decides to move on immediately by jumping into a relationship with a younger, better-looking man who just appears on the scene), it actually makes it work somehow.

While not exactly “upbeat,” State of Mind doesn’t rely on quirkiness or snappy comebacks for its humor. Of course, I like shows that do that, but there are plenty of them out there already - besides, no one can write like the classics (Jack Benny, anyone?), so I’ve already heard it all done better anyway. In fact, its humor really comes through realistically; it’s that subtle sort of humor you find in everyday life - where it isn’t trying to be funny, it just happens.

But the subtle humor contrasts nicely with the heavier issues that State of Mind tackles head-on. And it is unflinchingly candid in those moments. But I must admit that I found that much of the show uneven, as it faces some of the issues with which it deals a little too confrontationally. I understand that it is walking through the range of human emotions but to go through them all in one hour is a bit... much; what works well in a movie rarely works well in a TV series. One minute, you’re laughing, the next you’re brought to the brink of tears, then you’re mad as hell, but State of Mind plays it all so big and broad that by the end of the show, you’re not exactly wanting more so much as just plain worn-out!

Still, the pilot was good enough that I will definitely watch it again and hope they mature over time and develop a more even formula for working the shows.