Chasing Life

Watch Chasing Life

  • TV-14
  • 2014
  • 2 Seasons
  • 7.8  (6,185)

Chasing Life was a drama series that premiered on Freeform (then known as ABC Family) in 2014, and concluded after two seasons in 2015. The show followed the life of a young journalist named April Carver, played by Italia Ricci, who is an ambitious and hard-working young woman making her way in Boston. She is very close to her family, particularly her mother Sara (Mary Page Keller), who is a nurse, and her younger sister Brenna (Haley Ramm), who is still in high school.

At the beginning of the series, April is just starting out in her career but is quickly given a huge scoop that could potentially launch her career to new heights: her estranged uncle George (Steven Weber) reveals to her that she has leukemia, a devastating diagnosis that shakes her to her core. Over the course of the series, we see April struggle to deal with the enormity of her health crisis, even as she continues to work and try to maintain some semblance of normalcy in her life.

The show's first season was devoted largely to April coming to grips with her new reality, and undergoing treatment for her illness. Her relationships with her family members were tested, particularly as she pulled away from them in order to deal with her illness in her own way. She also navigates her love life, as she begins dating her co-worker Dominic Russo (Scott Michael Foster), a handsome and charming young man who helps her through some of her darkest moments.

As the series progresses, the focus begins to shift to April's younger sister Brenna, who is a typical rebellious teen but struggles with her own issues. Brenna learns that she has a genetic predisposition to cancer, which shakes her to her core and causes her to act out in dangerous ways. Her relationship with April becomes especially fraught as she tries to cope with this new information, and it becomes clear that the two sisters will have to work hard to mend their relationship.

The show tackled a number of sensitive topics related to cancer and illness, including healthcare and insurance issues, survivor's guilt, and end-of-life care. It also explored the impact of illness on family dynamics, particularly the ways in which an individual's diagnosis can affect the relationships they have with their loved ones.

One of the most well-regarded aspects of the show was its strong and capable cast, with Italia Ricci delivering a standout performance as April. Mary Page Keller was also praised for her work as April's mom Sara, as was Haley Ramm in her portrayal of Brenna. The show also featured notable guest stars like Vondie Curtis-Hall, Andy Mientus, Aurora Perrineau, and Jay R. Ferguson.

Although Chasing Life was critically acclaimed, it struggled to find an audience, and was ultimately cancelled after two seasons. Despite its short run, the show built a dedicated fanbase, who appreciated its honest and raw portrayal of illness and its impact on families. And while the show may be gone, its legacy lives on, as it helped to shine a light on important issues that affect so many people.

Chasing Life is a series that is currently running and has 2 seasons (34 episodes). The series first aired on June 10, 2014.

Chasing Life
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Seasons
La Dolce Vita
13. La Dolce Vita
September 28, 2015
April hopes to find inspiration for her book in Rome.
Ready or Not
12. Ready or Not
September 21, 2015
April's old college friend pays her a visit. The old rivalry between them reignites.
First Person
11. First Person
September 14, 2015
April is unsure about taking advice for her book from an agent until someone helps her to understand things differently. At the same time, Brenna tells what she really thinks about her dad.
A Bottle of Secrets
10. A Bottle of Secrets
September 7, 2015
The family gets together for a game night during a winter storm watch. April thinks George is keeping a secret and is determined to find out. George and Mae work on their relationship.
Wild Thing
9. Wild Thing
August 31, 2015
April decides how to use her inheritance. Brenna's short film is aired for the first time.
The Ghost in You
8. The Ghost in You
August 24, 2015
April tries to remove herself from the world following her loss. Finn gives Brenna solid advice.
As Long as We Both Shall Live
7. As Long as We Both Shall Live
August 17, 2015
Leo and April adjust to life as a married couple, but Leo's plans for their future worry April, who's unsure about how far she should look ahead.
The Last W
6. The Last W
August 10, 2015
Dominic doesn't know how to move forward as he faces losing April forever.
The Domino Effect
5. The Domino Effect
August 3, 2015
April is given a bachelorette party, and Vanessa convinces her to make it a wild night.
Truly Madly Deeply
4. Truly Madly Deeply
July 27, 2015
An unpublished novel written by April's father may have clues about her family's past, so she wants to investigate.
Life of Brenna
3. Life of Brenna
July 20, 2015
Teen life is hard, but especially for Brenna, who is living in the shadow of April.
The Age of Consent
2. The Age of Consent
July 13, 2015
While April and Beth take a spontaneous trip to Bermuda, Sara weighs whether she can afford both Brenna's private school and April's treatment.
A View from the Ledge
1. A View from the Ledge
July 6, 2015
A cancer patient tries helping April enjoy her life by living in the moment.
Description
Where to Watch Chasing Life
Chasing Life is available for streaming on the FreeForm website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Chasing Life on demand at Amazon, Google Play and Apple TV.
  • Premiere Date
    June 10, 2014
  • IMDB Rating
    7.8  (6,185)