Back from the dead, Lifetime’s dramedy series DROP DEAD DIVA returns for its fifth season with more outrageous comedy and heart-tugging drama. As the fourth season ended last year, fans were transfixed as Grayson (Jackson Hurst) declared his love to Jane (Brooke Elliott) — possessed by his one true love Deb — as Jane’s fiancé Owen (Lex Medlin) fell dead, only to awaken possessed with the spirit of old Jane.
So when Lifetime then announced the series would not be returning for a fifth season, fans quickly rallied and, along with the undying fervent support of show creator and executive produce Josh Berman, the campaign to bring the show back began. Months later, their persistence and passion were rewarded when Lifetime announced it had ordered a fifth season, effectively reviving the series and bringing it back from the brink of death (cancellation).
It is perfectly fitting for a television series that explores the subject of life-after-death in its very fiber. The premise being a young twenty-something dies unexpectedly, goes to Heaven, hits the “return” button and finds herself back – but in the body of another woman. For four seasons we have watched Deb (now known as Jane) struggle to acclimate to the new life she found herself thrust amongst. But in time, the body she had hijacked became her own and she made the best of her newfound career as well. It is not everyday that a model suddenly finds herself living and working as an attorney, but Deb/Jane put her newly acquired knowledge and skills to good use. The only thing that kept bringing the past back to haunt her was her former fiancé, Grayson. The love of her life was merely a few office doors away and she fell under his sway more than once, before finally falling in love with Owen. Yet the fourth season say a bit of a tug-of-war for Jane’s heart once Grayson found out that she was his lost love Deb. The already impossible love-triangle became even further complicated when Owen keeled over dead in last season’s finale, allowing old Jane to reincarnate in his body.
So this fifth season is certain to explore the ramifications of having old Jane’s soul back, but in Owen’s body and the issues of “whose body is it?” Old Jane would ideally like her own body back, but since Deb is inhabiting it, that is not likely. The same with Owen. I’m sure given the chance, he took would like to have a return option back to his body and postpone his time in Heaven as well. After all, the idea that “heaven can wait” seems prevalent in this identity mixed-up series.
As the series returns, the saying “all hell breaks loose” may be perhaps very apt. The show will have Deb in Jane’s body, Jane in Owen’s body and Jane torn about who she loves. It is hard to say that true love will win out because love alone it not enough when disputing who has the greater right to physical possession of a body and to be living a person’s life.
All these weighty and mind-bending issues aside, DROP DEAD DIVA is at its heart a love story. Love will win out one way or another. Fortunately it is also about self-discovery and realizing that one’s identity is not tied to a physical form; it is all about their spirit or soul. Deb’s soul is a thing of beauty and it has been wondrous to see how each of the people around her sees her for her true self regardless of the face she wears.
It will be a perfect delight to see how this clever series explores love, life and the pursuit of happiness this next season. We shall cherish the remaining time with Deb, Jane, Grayson, Owen and all their comrades in this miraculous and charming series. To see how their misadventures play out, be sure to tune in for the return of DROP DEAD DIVA on Sunday, June 23rd at 9:00 p.m. on Lifetime. And meet the new angel trying to earn his wings! 
Tiffany Vogt is the Senior West Coast Editor, contributing as a columnist and entertainment reporter to TheTVaddict.com. She has a great love for television and firmly believes that entertainment is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invites you to join her. Please feel free to contact Tiffany at Tiffany_Vogt_2000@yahoo.com or follow her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower).