Months after its debut, ABC’s For Life has returned for a new season. Based on the true story of Isaac Wright Jr., a former-inmate-turned-lawyer, the drama series’ protagonist, Aaron Wallace (Nicholas Pinnock), fights for his freedom and safety in and out of the courtroom while fighting for that of his fellow inmates. As Wallace inches closer to finding substantial evidence to exonerate himself, he reconnects with his ex-wife Marie (Joy Bryant) and pregnant teenage daughter Jasmine (Tyla Harris).
“When I met with Issac, I almost couldn’t believe what he was saying to me. He went to jail, became a prison rep, came back created a case law through other people’s cases, and worked his way out of jail?” said Curtis “50” Cent” Jackson in a recent interview with VIBE correspondent Jazzie Belle. “You know more people that saw things not going well [in prison] and said I’ll take a bad situation before I take the worst situation and cop-out because they know the system will just wash them up and that will be the end of it.”
The first season of For Life essentially covers the first 9 years of Wright’s experience while in jail. This season, topics like Black Lives Matter and social justice are addressed and Wallace finally reenters society. “There are 5 different Aarons I’m playing,” shared British actor Nicholas Pinnock. “One is Aaron who is the prison rep. One is Aaron who is the father and husband to Marie and Jas(mine). One is Aaron with the prison warden and his relationship with her. Another one is Aaron just as an ordinary prisoner. And then you have Aaron the lawyer…and then in Season 2, we have a sixth layer. There’s Aaron on the outside.”
An unspoken source of strength lies in Marie who has supported and served as a “ride or die” figure in the first season. When asked about addressing those who don’t agree with her prior decision to move on to Wallace’s friend, Bryant pointed out her character’s humanness. “Marie had to make some hard choices when Aaron was sent away. They may not be things that people agree with. ‘Oh, she’s with his best friend’ or whatever, but she was left holding the bag, literally,” she pointed out. “Things aren’t always so black and white. People have to make decisions based on where they are and what they feel they need to do at the time and everyone can have whatever opinion they want.”
Watch VIBE’s full interview with Bryant, Pinnock, and Jackson, who also co-executive produces the show. New episodes of For Life premieres Wednesdays at 10 pm ET on ABC.
Interview’s music bed provided by Gus.
