Chasing Life: Keep your Tissues Handy

What do you get when you put Cancer, Family secrets, Relationships, and Journalism together? Well you get a nice little show called Chasing Life on the CW.

Credit: CW

Alright, now I'm sure you all probably get sick of my little husband anecdotes but bare with me once more... When I started watching this a week ago and I asked my hubby if my binging this show was bothering him (not that I care). He said "no, of course not." To which I replied "Yeah you can't really make fun of a show about cancer huh?" He was like "No it"s not even that." He then asked me what network it was on and I said "CW." E said "Wow, pretty much everything is good on CW. Gotham would have probably been better too if they had put in on CW." Fans of Gotham please don't shoot me but Netflix and CW just do superhero shows better. Sorry, not sorry. 

CW is definitely one of my go to networks for TV viewing, and no they aren't paying me to say that. Although that would be awesome! Even as a young teen that never had cable growing up I loved the network even back when it was the WB. I would watch Pinky and the Brain everyday when I got home from  grade school. No making fun please.

Anyways, so Chasing Life is about 24 year old Journalist April Carver who is very type-A personality with her friends, family and job. I guess that can come from being the oldest of two daughters, (it did in my case). Her dad who had been a famous Novelist died a few years earlier in a car accident, leaving her to be all hands on deck with her mom, grandma and little sister. Uncle George Steven Webber, also enters the picture, and he is the one that delivers the news she has cancer; he is an oncologist. Even though we know right off the bat he is estranged from the family and seems kinda sketchy, yet amazing at the same time. I know kind of an odd combination but if you watch the show you'll understand what I mean. So, don't get me wrong it's a rough premise to swallow for a show, I know. Hence have the have tissues nearby, and lots of water to replenish lol. You might be saying 'oh hell, no I cant deal with another sob story!' Give it a chance though really, there are plenty of chuckles and lessons in a positive way strewn throughout the show. I like how Chasing Life never seems sluggish and even the characters I don't really love, (the grandma and little sister) their scenes are bearable. Plus and maybe most importantly (seeing as she is the main character), April (Italia Ricci) is freaking adorable. Imagine a cross between Nina Dobrev and Shiri Appleby if you will. Chasing Life is heartwarming and sure of course at times stabs you in the heart. The most recent few episodes have been extremely devastating. 

Okay, Okay, you may be thinking cheesy much? And yes I can see how a show like this could come off that way, but it really is great. I love all the actors, especially the two main cuties Richard Brancatisano and Scott Michael Foster vying for her affections. There are many aspects of bravery and learning how to treat a sick friend or loved one normally. I personally can't imagine going through cancer and have never known someone who has been through it. Yeah I know I am very lucky I have never had someone close to me die or be sick. So I can only try to see how it would be for fictional TV characters to deal with such things. Like how April's best friend has a hard time sharing positive things from her life when her bestie has cancer. Or having to let go of everything you knew and loved because you have to focus only on the fight of your life.  It's so hard for someone with a type-A personality that is constantly more worried about everything and everyone else like April. She has to learn to live as if she knows she is going to die. Having new adventures and discovering a new way of life aren't always easy.

There is also enough mystery and intrigue thrown into the show even though they don't always address it too clearly. Take for instance when pretty early on we find out the dearly departed dad isn't all he's cracked up to be. He had a secret family that produced a half-sister for April and the family. Later still, they find out he had a secret novel that reads more like a memoir that causes much turmoil and starts showing Uncle George's true shady colors. Unfortunately Chasing Life hasn't answered all the weird questions this all brings up yet but I hope they will. Meanwhile April keeps getting dealt blow after blow in her life. So is it depressing? Yeah the show is kind of depressing. But you know what it really is actually a pretty good show.

My Bottom Line: I actually found this show through Facebook because I had found out Italia Ricci is with Robbie Amell. Sure maybe it's a strange reason to give Chasing Life a shot even for me. But that's partly why I did. Also, mostly because its on CW and I hadn't been able to find anything to binge recently. I had started to try to give everything from White Collar to The Knick to Witches of East End a chance and nothing was sticking enough to hold my attention. I started watching Chasing Life on Netflix and was pretty immediately hooked but not to where I couldn't step away from it. So it was a relatively enjoyable way to spend a week and a half even with all the tears. I would suggest giving this show a shot if you haven't yet. However I will be seeking out something funny or at least not gut wrenching next.

Does anyone have any recommendations for funny or scary TV shows? Basically something that won't make me cry lol.