Side Order of Life

Side Order of Life, a series aired on Lifetime in 2007, presents a multi-dimensional narrative woven around the life and experiences of Jenny McIntyre, a successful photojournalist who indulges in a profound journey of self-discovery and finding the real essence of life. The drama doesn't only explore the glittering landscapes of life but digs into the quintessential depths of existence, such as relationships, love, career, health, and personal evolution.

The series sparks off with Jenny McIntyre, convincingly portrayed by Marisa Coughlan, who enjoys a fulfilling career as a successful magazine photographer with a charming and ambitious fiancé, Ian (Christopher Gartin), who is an editor at the same magazine. Her life takes an unexpected turn when her best friend, Vivy (Diana-Maria Riva), discloses she's been diagnosed with cancer. This is where Jenny's steady life falters, causing her to reassess her life's current trajectory.

In the midst of this life-changing revelation, Jenny begins questioning her cookie-cutter, predictable life. She contemplates whether she's genuinely happy or simply a puppet to societal norms and expectations. The realization begins to dawn upon her that her life is sumptuously garnished by elements that might be making it look perfect but perhaps losing its original flavor.

As Jenny navigates the tumultuous waters of this sudden mid-life crisis, she decides to break her engagement, withdrawn from a marriage that was more of a societal obligation than a fulfillment of soulful companionship. Her curiosity leads her to take a deeper drive into life's varied dimensions, which she never bothered to explore.

In the attempt to redefine her life, career, and relationships, Jenny encounters, Rick, a charismatic man with an unusual job. Jason Priestley endows Rick's character with fun, zest, and mystery. Initially meeting under strange circumstances, Jenny can't help but feel drawn towards his zest for life and unpredictable ways. Between the charm of Rick and the bond with Vivy, Jenny finds herself in new territories of life she had never imagined exploring.

As Jenny embraces change and novelty in her life, Vivy, her best friend, battles cancer with immense courage and hope. Vivy becomes a spiritual guide, navigating Jenny through life's muddle. Diana-Maria Riva does complete justice to Vivy's role as the patient, wise, and inspirational friend. She becomes the parallel narrative of the series, resonating acute battles of life and death, and how our existence can affect those around us.

The 13-episodes series builds a detailed narrative about how Jenny revives and refashions her life from scratch. It paints a portrait of a female friendship that's flawed, enduring, and capable of weathering the biggest of storms. But beyond that, Side Order of Life prompts audiences to pause and reflect upon their own life, relationships and the choices they make. It encourages viewers to question whether they're just skimming the surface of their existence or truly living it with meaning and purpose.

What adds an additional touch of peculiarity to the series is the periodic interaction Jenny has with the computer, an interesting metaphorical representation of life's ambiguous mysteries and unanswered questions. These interactions break the linearity of the story, plunging the viewers into a maze of metaphysical concepts.

Director James Frawley and creator Margaret Nagle have injected an unusual warmth and vitality into the series, highlighting the beauty and heartache of human experience. The show pulls the heartstrings of its viewers, cajoling them to re-evaluate their own lives.

Side Order of Life is atmospheric, introspective, and heartwarmingly real. Each episode beautifully unfolds the depth and complexity of relationships, health, career, and the multitudes we call life. It is ripe with emotions, friendship, struggles, and the unpredictability of life. It's not just a show, but a penetrating and thought-provoking slice of human existence that will certainly leave audiences pondering and relating their own slices of life.