Life
TV's most intriguing detective. LA's most unsual crimes.
Created by Rand Ravich
On NBC
A procedural crime drama built around a philosophical protagonist whose Zen detachment is tested by both weekly cases and an ongoing mystery of his own wrongful conviction.
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.
Clusters
Where to watch
Questions people ask
Is Life one of a kind? Yes. More singular than 87% of series.
Is Life sad? Somewhat. More sad than 72% of series.
Does Life leave you hopeful? Somewhat. More hopeful than 69% of series.
Is Life scary? Somewhat. More frightening than 59% of series.
Is Life violent? Somewhat. More violent than 59% of series.
Is Life easy watching? About average. Almost exactly mid-range.
These describe how the series comes across across its whole run, compared with other well-known series. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked episode by episode, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.
Written about
- The Shows That Know They EndFinding
Cinnamon Score
How much this series gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.
Familiar shape, done well.
How unlike any other series this one feels
How much more it delivers than it promises
How much audiences actually like it
Ensemble
Everything like Life, and what each one shares →
Like Life
Nearest across the full emotional profile.
Same Mood as Life
Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.
Like Life, But Darker
Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.
Like Life, But Lighter
Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.
Like Life, But Less Popular
Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.
