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Season 1 – For Life

Play trailer 0:59 Poster for Season 1 – For Life Feb 2020 Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 90% Popcornmeter 50+ Ratings
Inspired by the life of Isaac Wright Jr., "For Life" is a fictional serialized legal and family drama about an imprisoned man, Aaron Wallace, who becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own life sentence for a crime he didn't commit. His quest for freedom is driven by his desperate desire to get back to the family he loves and reclaim the life that was stolen from him. Aaron's complicated relationship with a progressive female prison warden helps shine a light on the flaws and challenges in the U.S. penal and legal systems.
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For Life — Season 1

For Life — Season 1

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Critics Consensus

Guided by Nicholas Pinnock's powerful performance, For Life eschews procedural pitfalls with a sturdy, empathetic script and an impressive ensemble to bring it to life.

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Critics Reviews

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Kelly Lawler USA Today Feb 14, 2020
3/4
The serious subject matter gives little time for levity, but the plot twists and high emotions in the first two episodes are a thrill. Go to Full Review Melanie McFarland Salon.com Feb 12, 2020
An imposing emotional experience to process hour by hour, one that -- regardless of how brilliantly its ensemble performs -- may be tough to overcome. However, the narrative's toughness also works to the show's credit. Go to Full Review Daniel Fienberg The Hollywood Reporter Feb 12, 2020
Broadcast TV is not overpopulated by dramas that develop into the best versions of themselves... but it's enough to tentatively say that there actually is a version of For Life that could be quite solid. Go to Full Review LV Taylor AwardsCircuit.com Mar 10, 2020
3/5
It's often not clear whether his true motivations are altruistic or more selfish in nature. But the show does a decent job of using these cases to show the more problematic side of our justice system and the fight for prison reform. Go to Full Review Megan Basham WORLD Mar 9, 2020
Pop the hood and you find overly oiled machinery that differs little from a dozen other courtroom dramas rolling off the broadcast assembly line in the last few years. Go to Full Review Melissa Camacho Common Sense Media Mar 5, 2020
4/5
Compelling legal drama has violence, drugs, mature themes. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Steve P. @RT57802346 May 19, 2026 Great show. Takes you through quite an emotional range. They treaded lightly with racial issues, which I appreciated. See more Lily M @gmlil Aug 4, 2023 I had just finished watching Season 1 of The Lincoln Lawyer (TV series) and I think I might have been recommended For Life, so I started watching it and was immediately impressed. Everything I wanted and thought was lacking in The Lincoln Lawyer was in this show, a great protagonist that you rooted for, good writing, powerful emotional scenes, a real sense of stakes and even supporting characters you cared about. Unfortunately, once Aaron was out in Season 2, I think the show lost a bit of its appeal. But I thoroughly enjoyed Season 1. See more Mar 12, 2022 This TV series is humbling and has life lessons. See more Sharon L @Sharon7712 Dec 28, 2021 good story; however, its sometimes over melodramatic See more Aug 20, 2021 I'm in love with this show! Really! It's so amazing! See more Apr 4, 2021 Great storyline as always 50 Cent makes a great villain. Inspiring story See more Read all reviews
For Life — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Russell Fine

Director

Guillermo Navarro

Director

Debs Paterson

Director

Hank Steinberg

Director

Erica Watson

Director

Charles Martin

Director

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Feb 11, 2020 Pilot Prisoner Aaron Wallace becomes a lawyer, litigating cases for other inmates while fighting to overturn his own wrongful conviction. Details Episode 2 Aired Feb 18, 2020 Promises Tensions rise between Aaron and his crew when he provides counsel to a white supremacist to repay his debt to inmate Wild Bill; Ronnie braces for confrontation as he visits the prison to meet Aaron for the first time. Details Episode 3 Aired Feb 25, 2020 Brother's Keeper Aaron makes a strategic move to get his police file; District Attorney Maskins and Assistant District Attorney O'Reilly close in on proof of Aaron's malfeasance during Jose Rodriguez's trial, targeting Marie as a way to get to Aaron. Details Episode 4 Aired Mar 10, 2020 Marie Looking back nine years, Marie reflects on her marriage to Aaron and struggles in the wake of his life-changing arrest. Details Episode 5 Aired Mar 17, 2020 Witness While litigating on behalf of an inmate locked up on a robbery charge, Aaron is torn between doing what's right and what's best for his case; Marie recommits to Aaron's case; Safiya closes in on Foster's drug smuggling scheme. Details Episode 6 Aired Mar 24, 2020 Burner Aaron confronts O'Reilly in court; Marie's father comes to town, intent on encouraging her and Darius to solidify their relationship; Maskins arranges for a dangerous inmate to be transferred to Bellmore. Details Episode 7 Aired Mar 31, 2020 Do Us Part Aaron struggles to balance the demands of his own case with the needs of an inmate who's fighting for the right to marry his dying girlfriend; Safiya defies the prison board, effectively jeopardizing Anya's campaign as well as their marriage. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 7, 2020 Daylight In order to maintain his lifeline to the outside world, Aaron is forced to defend Cassius Dawkins when he puts three white supremacists in the hospital; Marie struggles with her feelings for Aaron after he signs her divorce papers. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 14, 2020 Buried Aaron pushes to represent longtime inmate Easley Barton, hoping that winning this 23-year-old case against Maskins will strengthen his own; Capt. Foster continues his drug-smuggling racket; Marie struggles with her breakup with Darius. Details Episode 10 Aired May 5, 2020 Character and Fitness Flashing back to the previous nine years of his incarceration, Aaron's journey from terrified novice prisoner to attorney and social crusader unfolds. Details Episode 11 Aired Apr 21, 2020 Switzerland Aaron bolsters his case with newfound information from Marie; Cassius suspects Aaron is a snitch and seeks retribution; Foster struggles to lie low during his last two weeks before retirement, but Safiya turns up the heat. Details Episode 12 Aired Apr 28, 2020 Closing Statement Aaron finally gets his chance to argue for his retrial in court, but it's thwarted by the return of prison warden Cyrus Hunt; Safiya deals with the aftermath of the prison riot and attempts to salvage her reforms. Details Episode 13 Aired May 12, 2020 Fathers When Maskins and Cyrus Hunt try to thwart Aaron's attempt at a retrial, Aaron is forced to try a desperate move, risking the wrath of a powerful new adversary; the election comes to a head as Safiya tries to warn Aaron that he is now a marked man. Details

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For Life — Season 1

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For Life — Season 1

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Season Info

Director
Russell Lee Fine, Guillermo Navarro, Debs Paterson, Hank Steinberg, Erica Watson, Charles Martin, Darnell Martin, Jann Turner
Executive Producer
Hank Steinberg, 50 Cent, Doug Robinson, Alison Greenspan, Isaac Wright Jr., George Tillman Jr.
Screenwriter
Hank Steinberg, Karen Struck, Sonay Hoffman, Hope T. Mastras, Lee Edward Colston, Garen Thomas
Network
ABC
Rating
TV-14 (L|D)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date
Feb 11, 2020
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