Life is an American crime drama television series created by Rand Ravich about a detective who was recently released from prison after serving twelve years of a life sentence for a crime he did not commit.
The series aired in the USA on NBC from 26 September, 2007 to 8 April, 2008. There are 32 hour-long episodes in two seasons.
Life originally aired in South Africa on M-Net from 27 March, 2008 to 4 September, 2009. It later aired on DStv's M-Net Series channel, on SABC2 (first season only) and on SABC3 (second season only). See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
Season 2 premiered on SABC3 on Thursday 21 February 2013, at 20h00. It went on hiatus after six episodes had aired to accommodate Safe as Hauser's.
Season 2 resumed on SABC3 on Wednesday 24 April 2013, at 22h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 21 episodes in the second and final season.
Synopsis
Damian Lewis stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths, after serving time in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
He was released from prison after DNA evidence exonerated him for a front-page triple murder for which he served twelve years.
Having lost his job, his wife, nearly all contact with the outside world and even his grip on reality for a time while in jail, he has emerged with head full of Zen (having found a copy of The Path to Zen in the prison yard one day), a fixation with fresh fruit (obviously not easy to come by while in prison), and an obsession with solving the murder that nearly cost him his life.
After successfully suing the city of Los Angeles and the LAPD, he has been reinstated to the police force, and received an undisclosed but substantial settlement.
While in jail, technology, culture, and life passed him by, as evidenced by his unfamiliarity with the now-everyday things like cellphones and instant messaging.
He's been partnered with Dani Reese, who is not in the best of graces with her superiors either, having temporarily lost her way as an undercover narcotics agent.
Their Lieutenant is looking for a reason to get rid of Crews, and as she has a reason to get rid of Reese, is subtly blackmailing her with expulsion to find such a reason.
The cast also includes Sarah Shahi as Charlie's skeptical, demanding partner; Robin Weigert as their hard-hitting lieutenant; and Adam Arkin as Charlie's former cellmate (and now business manager) Ted Early.
Seasons
Note: only the first season aired on SABC2 and only the second on SABC3
Season 1 (11 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 27 Mar 2008 | Finale: 5 Jun 2008 | Thursdays, 19h30
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 30 Mar 2008 | Finale: 8 Jun 2008 | Sundays, 19h00
Channel: SABC2 | Premiere: 4 Nov 2010 | Finale: 13 Jan 2011 | Thursdays, 19h30
Season 2 (21 episodes)
Channel: M-Net | Premiere: 17 Apr 2009 | Finale: 4 Sep 2009 | Fridays, 19h30
Channel: M-Net Series | Premiere: 4 Jul 2010 | Finale: 21 Nov 2010 | Sundays, 19h30
Channel: SABC3 | Premiere: 21 Feb 2013 | Finale: 14 Aug 2013 | Thu, 20h00/Wed, 22h00