the DZK shop

Life Unexpected just aired last month on the CW. The show’s setting takes place in Portland. When one of the characters steals a car, another character explains to the cops that they are driving to Newberg! It’s a little funny and interesting when a show makes references to things that the viewer is familiar with. Sadly, I did not recognize any of the buildings or bars (only recognized one of the bridges), and come to find out, most of the filming is done in Vancouver BC. But regardless, it’s still pretty cool that they make a lot of references to our city and the area.

Plot

After spending all of her 15 years bouncing from one foster family to another in Portland, Oregon, Lux (Brittany Robertson) has decided it’s time to take control of her life and become an emancipated minor. Her journey through the legal maze leads Lux to her biological father, 32-year-old Nate “Baze” Bazile (Kristoffer Polaha), who owns a bar, lives above it like an aging frat-boy with two slacker roommates, and is shocked to learn that he has a daughter. Lux is equally astonished when Baze reveals that her mother is Cate Cassidy (Shiri Appleby), a star on the local “Morning Madness” radio show along with her on-air partner and real-life boyfriend, Ryan Thomas (Kerr Smith). Lux has been listening to Cate’s voice on the radio as long as she can remember, so she feels an instant connection with the mom she’s never met. Baze takes Lux to meet Cate, who is shocked and saddened to learn that Lux has grown up in foster care instead of the adoption she believed would take place, and is reluctant to commit to her daughter. Eventually, Cate wants to be a part of Lux’s life, and she shows she really does care. When a judge decides that Lux isn’t ready for emancipation and unexpectedly grants temporary joint custody to Baze and Cate, they agree to try to get past the awkwardness and make a belated attempt to give Lux the family she deserves. Cate, due to her job as a radio host, and the fact that she has a suitable house, is given primary custody of Lux. Ryan also takes to Lux.