Series Details & Credits
| ABC | Release Date: February 11, 2020 |
Summary:
Inmate Aaron Wallace (Nicholas Pinnock) passes the bar exam to become a lawyer to help represent other prisoners as he seeks to overturn his own conviction in this legal drama created by Hank Steinberg and inspired by executive producer Isaac Wright Jr.'s life.
Genre(s):
Drama
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Recent Episodes
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S2:E10. Andy Josiah
Air Date: February 24, 2021
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S2:E9. The Blue Wall
Air Date: February 17, 2021
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S2:E8. For The People
Air Date: February 10, 2021
Positive:
5
Mixed:
5
Negative:
0
Feb 10, 2020
Season 1 Review:
For Life joins a growing number of series devoted to exploring wrongful conviction and the ordeal that convicts must go through to have their cases retried and verdicts overturned. But it stands out in two ways. First, unlike nonfiction series like Free Meek and Confession Tapes, For Life has the look and feel of an ABC courtroom drama. Second, it’s based on the life of a real-life person, Isaac Wright Jr., a man whose story is so incredible Disney+ should consider making a companion documentary or podcast. ... After two episodes of For Life, I’m in.
Read full review
Feb 10, 2020
Season 1 Review:
Some of that nuance is down to Steinberg, who wrote the first three episodes, and to sure-handed direction from George Tillman Jr. and Russell Fine. But a lot of it has to do with casting, beginning with the steady, measured performance of Nicholas Pinnock as Wallace. ... The viewer is on Wallace’s side, of course, but so far the show doesn’t try to tell us how we should feel about his tactics, and that’s a winning strategy.
Read full review
Feb 11, 2020
Feb 11, 2020
Feb 12, 2020
Feb 11, 2020
Season 1 Review:
"For Life" limits Pinnock's range of expression to determination, frustration, anger, sorrow, and despair – all of which is understandable. Hope flits across his face a time or two, but otherwise he's trapped in his fury, bringing the audience right in the cell with him. And this also makes "For Life" 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.
Read full review
Feb 5, 2020
Season 1 Review:
Pinnock’s performance gives a palpable, urgent quality to Aaron’s intensity as both a prisoner and an attorney, outraged at a corrupt system and longing to return to his wife (Joy Bryant) and teenage daughter (Tyla Harris).
“For Life” is hampered by the formula of prime-time legal dramas, wherein the greater character studies lose out to the revolving subplots of cases, which can lead to a predictable tedium.
Read full review
Feb 27, 2020
Well scripted and acted. Difficult to watch at times if you can relate to any aspect of the premise of the storyline. But isn’t that what good writing does? Provoke the watcher to look at life differently?
1 of 1 users found this helpful10
Sep 4, 2022
Strong exploration of wrongful convictions, with a good cast and powerful acting. Season 2 is as good or better than season 1 (naysayers notwithstanding).
0 of 0 users found this helpful00
May 10, 2021
0 of 2 users found this helpful02
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Seasons & Episodes
- Series Overview
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Season 2
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Season 2 Overview
Air Date: November 18, 2020
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S2:E10. Andy Josiah
Air Date: February 24, 2021
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S2:E9. The Blue Wall
Air Date: February 17, 2021
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S2:E8. For The People
Air Date: February 10, 2021
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S2:E7. Say His Name
Air Date: February 3, 2021
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S2:E6. 354
Air Date: January 27, 2021
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S2:E6. 354
Air Date: January 27, 2021
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S2:E5. Collars for Dollars
Air Date: December 16, 2020
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S2:E5. Collars for Dollars
Air Date: December 16, 2020
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S2:E4. Time To Move Forward
Air Date: December 9, 2020
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S2:E4. Time To Move Forward
Air Date: December 9, 2020
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S2:E3. The Necessity Defense
Air Date: December 2, 2020
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S2:E3. The Necessity Defense
Air Date: December 2, 2020
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S2:E2. Homecoming
Air Date: November 25, 2020
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S2:E1. Never Stop Fighting
Air Date: November 18, 2020
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Season 2 Overview
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Season 1
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Season 1 Overview
Air Date: February 11, 2020
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Season 1 Overview