Drop Dead Diva: Heaven’s Computer Glitch

Drop Dead Diva airs Sundays on Lifetime

In a clever twist to the classic body-swap storyline (think “Freaky Friday” meets “Heaven Can Wait”), we are introduced to two young women traveling parallel paths to an untimely demise. For one, there is an unexpected second chance and she returns to life-as-we-know-it  – with the unexpected caveat that she is returned into someone else’s body. And so we meet Deb, the shallow, beautiful aspiring model who mistakenly hits the “return” button on the computer while awaiting her fate at Heaven’s gate. Unfortunately, this accidental “return” sends her back as Jane, a highly intelligent, plus-size lawyer. (While not thoroughly explained, it is presumed that Jane entered Heaven, and her body was thus left vacant for Deb’s re-entry into this world.)

Accordingly, we are invited to share in Deb’s experience in acclimating to living her new life as “Jane.” Initially, it is monumentally confusing for Deb as she grieves for the loss of her former physical self, the loss of her boyfriend and friends, and the life she had before. But as her personal guardian angel, Fred, explained, living as her former self, she was just a “zero/zero” – meaning she was neither good or bad, having not done a single good or bad act. Thus, becoming Jane now allows Deb the chance to become a better person and ensuring that she will not get stuck at Heaven’s gate the next time she must account for her life.

In many ways, living as Jane, Deb is freer since she has inherited Jane’s keen intellect, prestigious job, personal assistant, and even Jane’s worldly belongings, which includes a cool, silver Porsche (much to Deb’s delight). So without having to worry about getting a job or income to live on, Deb slowly begins to adapt. However, to counter-balance the perks of Jane’s life, Deb also has to accept: (1) the responsibility of Jane’s cases and (2) the new physical differences.

For as she find out, as Jane, she now has clients who rely on her to stand up and represent them in a multitude of complex cases. While initially it is a good thing that Deb can rely on Jane’s natural intelligence to assist, Deb discovers it is her own instincts that really win the cases for her clients. (In particular, her closing argument for a client who lost his wife was especially touching and poignant based on the five stages of grieving: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance – which were something Deb could intimately relate to as this is exactly what she was experiencing in mourning her old self and life.)

Brooke Elliot & Margaret Cho in Drop Dead Diva / Lifetime

And last, but not least, Deb must come to terms with her new body type. She is no longer a size 2, slim figured blonde who can crook her finger and every guy will come running. She is a full-figured, raven haired woman who, while professional, is not yet confident in her own body. She must adjust to the fact that she has different food cravings, wears a different size of clothes, cannot do a standing squat, and must have a window in her office or she feels like she’s going to overheat. These physical changes are a huge adjustment and yet she embraces the challenge with more perseverance than most people would have in her shoes.

The comedy of watching Deb meld her two lives together is simultaneously hilarious and touching:  for example, watching her steadfast refusal to give up her best friend, Stacy, shows loyalty and common sense as she needs at least one touch-stone in her life; watching her react to having a guardian angel who both works with her and lives in her house, which is delightfully funny and yet reminds her of the challenge she must face in pursuing a life as a better person; and feeling her mixed reactions upon encountering her boyfriend who was just hired by her firm (and who naturally does not recognize her as Jane), which felt heart-breaking and yet hope-filled all at once.

At the end of the 2 hour pilot, I knew I had found a “keeper” as I discovered myself wishing for more and, thus, I am only too happy to have been invited on Jane’s journey of self-discovery.

WHAT WORKED:

Casting of the two Brookes as Deb and Jane is spot-on-brilliant. Both bring their best work to the show and you find yourself rooting for them no matter whoever is on screen. Special kudos to Brooke Elliott for deftly meddling both personalities into one body in such a fun, likable and relatable way. Shout-outs should also be given to the rest of the cast who are just as phenomenal in their roles and which make Jane’s world such a fun place to visit.

I also loved the cute and delicate resolutions to each of the legal cases and the care given to how sensitive the subject matter may be. In depicting legal cases, sometimes writers forget there are actual people who are ensnared in those legal messes and their only wish to get out with some dignity and justice.

WHAT DIDN’T WORK:

Bringing in a snide, insecure, competitive co-worker who immediately starts hitting on Deb’s boyfriend so early on in the series seems unnecessary. It feels like “Jane” is being unnecessarily kicked while she’s already down. That is a story that could easily be played out later with a bit more humor and thoughtfulness. Bringing it in so early just feels mean-spirited, as Deb deserves just a little more time to learn what her life is like as Jane.

GIVING CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE:

“Drop Dead Diva: Pilot” written by Josh Berman and directed by James Hayman.  “Drop Dead Diva” stars Brooke Elliott, Brooke D’Orsey, Apil Bowlby, Ben Feldman, Margaret Cho, Jackson Hurst, Josh Stamberg, and Kate Levering. “Drop Dead Diva” airs Sundays on Lifetime Television.