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Life

Life

TV's most intriguing detective. LA's most unsual crimes.

2007–2009Ended2 seasons32 episodes~45 min/epTV-14Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

Complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews returns to the force after serving time in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Crews' new lease on life has provided him with a Zen-like outlook, peace of mind and no need for vengeance, an attitude which can be challenging to maintain when someone he cares about is threatened — or when he is investigating the mystery surrounding the murder he was falsely accused of.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch Life?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists Life streaming on Peacock, Prime Video and The Roku Channel (free) and to rent or buy on Prime Video.

Rent / Buy

Buy

Highlights

What stands out about Life?

Life earns 5 badges, led by Universally Loved and Top 10% of shows.

  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood

Reception

Is Life worth watching?

Life's Midcredits score is the 93rd percentile of all shows, from 37K ratings across 2 sources. 91% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

93rd percentile

Better received than 93% of shows

93rd percentile among Crime90th percentile among 2000s
Acclaim (how much people like it)87th
Approval (how many liked it)95th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

80 /100

87th percentile of all shows

91st percentile among Crime83rd percentile among 2000s

Rating distribution

Ratings pile up at 9–10 with almost no detractors — near-universal love.

Approval

How many liked it

91% liked it

95th percentile of all shows

92nd percentile among Crime94th percentile among 2000s
91% rated it 7–109% rated it 1–6

Reach

How many have seen it

96th percentile

37K ratings across platforms

92nd percentile among Crime92nd percentile among 2000s
TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 17% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

This is an offbeat, character-driven cop drama that combines a central wrongful-conviction conspiracy with case-of-the-week mysteries.

Fans praised

  • Damian Lewis's nuanced portrayal of a quirky, zen-inspired detective
  • Refreshingly original premise of a wrongfully convicted cop returning to the force
  • Witty dialogue and character-driven humor balanced with dramatic mystery

Detractors panned

  • Weekly murder cases felt formulaic and overly simplistic
  • Romantic subplots felt forced and detracted from the core mystery
  • Second season lost narrative focus and character depth

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Damian Lewis's layered performance as a zen-seeking yet simmering detective widely lauded; supporting cast praised but some found Shahi's later-season arc diminished

OriginalityDivisive82

Wrongful-conviction conceit and zen detective seen as fresh; detractors call it a Monk clone with gimmicks

DialogueDivisive80

Witty, intelligent repartee; zen aphorisms and bickering between partners a highlight

CharactersDivisive78

Charlie Crews a compelling original; partner Reese's arc admired early but critics cite second-season flattening and forced romances

HumorDivisive75

Zen quips and culture-shock gags land well; some found the fruit obsession tiresome

Emotional impactDivisive70

Crews's prison flashbacks and quiet moments of grace praised; some critics found it manipulative

Plot and storyDivisive68

Overarching conspiracy praised as engaging; weekly cases often called simplistic and derivative

TensionDivisive65

Conspiracy arc built effective suspense; weekly cases lacked stakes

Preferred by

Under-30s vs over-30s

Preferred by Over-30s

Over-30s scored it 23 points higher than under-30s.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 5 points apart
  • Critics vs users 9 points apart
  • US vs non-US 4 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2008 · 21 episodes

  • S2E1

    Find Your Happy Place

    Sep 29, 200845 min
  • S2E2

    Everything... All the Time

    Oct 3, 200845 min
  • S2E3

    The Business of Miracles

    Oct 6, 200845 min
  • S2E4

    Not for Nothing

    Oct 10, 200845 min
  • S2E5

    Crushed

    Oct 17, 200845 min
  • S2E6

    Did You Feel That?

    Oct 24, 200845 min

Watch experience

What is Life like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, serious and charged — an even-paced watch that leaves you entertained.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
TenseContemplativeHopeful
Heaviest: throughout
Wry humor: Amused and slightly dry about it.
Register
Wry · 7% of shows: Amused and slightly dry about it.Playful
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.Case of the week plus an arcNew arc each season
ToneThe show balances an irreverent, Zen-philosophical protagonist with earnest crime-solving and a dark personal vendetta, often using wry humour to lighten the procedural drama.
The rideThe series maintains a consistent tension from the investigation and Crews' past, balanced with contemplative moments about his philosophy, with hope for resolution persisting throughout.
StructureEpisodes follow a conventional investigation—beginning with a crime, middle with clues, end with resolution—though the series maintains a serialized arc about Crews' framing.
Episode formatEach episode features a standalone murder investigation, but the overarching conspiracy and Crews' personal story connect across episodes.
Season formatEach season follows a self-contained arc related to the conspiracy while maintaining the central cast and setting.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
FunHopeful
Why it leaves you this wayViewers are entertained by the witty banter and quirky protagonist, while the overarching mystery and Crews' redemption offer a hopeful note.
How it ends · evidence
Bittersweet endingTwist

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).MonsterPredator
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18% (this title): Predator 7% (this title) · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6%: Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Overcoming the monster: A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated. · Predator: A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).

18% of shows fit this archetype

Why this archetypeEach episode follows Charlie Crews and Dani Reese investigating a murder or crime, typically hunting a killer or culprit—a predator. The overarching conspiracy about who framed Crews also fits a whodunit structure, but the typical episode is the lens for this case-plus-arc hybrid.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfJusticeMorality
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31%: Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% (this title) · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11% (this title): Justice 14% (this title) · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% (this title) · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Morality

Justice · 14% of showsRedemption · 3% of shows: Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Purpose
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Societal stakes: Consequences reach a whole social order.Single lead
How it treats its themeThe show explores Charlie Crews' pursuit of justice for himself and others, his search for meaning after prison, and his gradual redemption.
StanceThe show questions the fairness of the justice system and the possibility of redemption for a man wrongly convicted.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanInstitutionalRealistic
Orchestral modernElectronicSupportive music · original score
SettingLos Angeles police precinct and the city's criminal underworld

Content guide

Is Life okay for kids?

TV-14

Life is rated TV-14. As of October 3, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at intense (67/100), sexual content at mild (21/100), language at intense (67/100), drug and alcohol content at intense (67/100) and frightening material at mild (17/100). None has enough votes to rank yet.

Ratings in 10 other countries
  • AustraliaM
  • Germany12
  • France16
  • Brazil16
  • Austria12
  • Norway15
  • PortugalNR
  • Russia12+
  • Spain12
  • Switzerland12
Overall
Moderate · all five categories
not ranked
Violence & Gore
Intense
too few votes to rank (3 votes)
Sex & Nudity
Mild
too few votes to rank (8 votes)
Profanity
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Alcohol & Drugs
Intense
too few votes to rank (2 votes)
Frightening / Intense
Mild
too few votes to rank (2 votes)

Too few votes to rank this title overall (17 votes across 5 categories; ranking needs 10 in at least three).

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does Life have?

Not screened for content warnings yet.

Cast and crew

Who is in Life?

Cast

Damian Lewis
as Detective Charlie Crews
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.
Sarah Shahi
as Dani Reese
Adam Arkin
as Ted Earley
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Brent Sexton
as Robert Stark
Donal Logue
as Captain Kevin Tidwell
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Brooke Langton
as Constance Griffiths
Robin Weigert
as Lt. Karen Davis
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
Jennifer Siebel Newsom
as Jennifer Conover
Newcomer: A standing when this show came out that sits in the bottom quarter of working actors today.
William Atherton
as Mickey Rayborn
Victor Rivers
as Jack Reese
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.

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