Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysSan Diego Comic-ConSummer Watch GuideToronto Int'l Film FestivalSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
8 suggestions available
Watchlist
Sign in
Sign in
New customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • FAQ
IMDbPro

Life Unexpected

  • TV Series
  • 2010–2011
  • TV-PG
  • 1h
IMDb RATING
7.5/10
16K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
3,077
24
Life Unexpected (2010)
Life Unexpected: Church Chat
Play trailer1:38
11 Videos
99+ Photos
Teen DramaDrama

The life of 15-year-old Lux who was abandoned in foster care takes an unexpected turn when she applies for emancipation and the judge makes her stay with her biological parents.The life of 15-year-old Lux who was abandoned in foster care takes an unexpected turn when she applies for emancipation and the judge makes her stay with her biological parents.The life of 15-year-old Lux who was abandoned in foster care takes an unexpected turn when she applies for emancipation and the judge makes her stay with her biological parents.

  • Creator
    • Liz Tigelaar
  • Stars
    • Shiri Appleby
    • Kristoffer Polaha
    • Britt Robertson
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    7.5/10
    16K
    YOUR RATING
    POPULARITY
    3,077
    24
    • Creator
      • Liz Tigelaar
    • Stars
      • Shiri Appleby
      • Kristoffer Polaha
      • Britt Robertson
    • 55User reviews
    • 8Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 1 nomination total

    Episodes26

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos11

    Life Unexpected: Reality
    Clip 0:50
    Life Unexpected: Reality
    Life Unexpected: Hiding Out
    Clip 2:19
    Life Unexpected: Hiding Out
    Life Unexpected: Hiding Out
    Clip 2:19
    Life Unexpected: Hiding Out
    Life Unexpected: No Room
    Clip 1:03
    Life Unexpected: No Room
    Life Unexpected: Confession
    Clip 1:20
    Life Unexpected: Confession
    Life Unexpected: Meeting Her Father
    Clip 1:52
    Life Unexpected: Meeting Her Father
    Life Unexpected: Church Chat
    Trailer 1:38
    Life Unexpected: Church Chat

    Photos133

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 127
    View Poster

    Top cast99+

    Edit
    Shiri Appleby
    Shiri Appleby
    • Cate Cassidy
    • 2010–2011
    Kristoffer Polaha
    Kristoffer Polaha
    • Nate 'Baze' Bazile
    • 2010–2011
    Britt Robertson
    Britt Robertson
    • Lux Cassidy
    • 2010–2011
    Kerr Smith
    Kerr Smith
    • Ryan Thomas
    • 2010–2011
    Austin Basis
    Austin Basis
    • Matthew 'Math' Rogers
    • 2010–2011
    Ksenia Solo
    Ksenia Solo
    • Natasha 'Tasha' Siviac
    • 2010–2011
    Shaun Sipos
    Shaun Sipos
    • Eric Daniels
    • 2010–2011
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    Emma Caulfield Ford
    • Emma Bradshaw
    • 2010–2011
    Reggie Austin
    Reggie Austin
    • Jamie
    • 2010–2011
    Austin Butler
    Austin Butler
    • Jones Mager
    • 2010–2011
    Robin Thomas
    Robin Thomas
    • Jack Bazile
    • 2010–2011
    Erin Karpluk
    Erin Karpluk
    • Alice
    • 2010–2011
    Rafi Gavron
    Rafi Gavron
    • Bobby 'Bug' Guthrie
    • 2010
    Lucia Walters
    Lucia Walters
    • Fern…
    • 2010–2011
    Arielle Kebbel
    Arielle Kebbel
    • Paige Thomas
    • 2010
    Alexandra Breckenridge
    Alexandra Breckenridge
    • Abby Cassidy
    • 2010
    Amy Price-Francis
    Amy Price-Francis
    • Kelly Campbell
    • 2010
    Cynthia Stevenson
    Cynthia Stevenson
    • Laverne Cassidy
    • 2010
    • Creator
      • Liz Tigelaar
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews55

    7.515.8K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10indiacarless

    Brilliant!

    Love this show!

    Watched Shiri in 'Roswell', Kerr in 'Dawson's Creek' and wondered if they could pull it off as a couple. They do.

    Shiri's character Kate is forced to face the child she gave up almost 16 years ago. Lux (Brittany) has spent those years bouncing through the foster home system and she's excellent as a young woman who struggles to fit into this new family.

    Rafi is perfect as Bug, Lux's boyfriend who struggles with many issues himself.

    I've not seen Kristoffer's previous work but he's great as Lux's father who's struggling to be a father as he grows up himself.

    Each week's episode brings me to tears, sometimes of joy and sometimes of sadness - then I have to wait another week for the next episode!

    I will be buying this on DVD - love this show!
    10onetallfoo

    A lot of heart with some sweet humor

    This show may not be completely realistic, but it isn't real to begin with, so that's not a problem. You have to go into this as you would any other TV show or movie, with a willing suspension of disbelief, meaning you buy into the story and characters. If you're willing to believe, you are in for a treat. The show is light hearted, even though it deals with some dramatic issues. It sprinkles humor in with serious plots, making for a charming mix.

    I really like the characters, and feel they have a great connection with each other. Lux is a streetwise kid who can handle herself, but is totally sweet. Baze is far from an ideal father, but he's completely hilarious and tries hard. Cate wouldn't seem it, but has a very maternal side, and is getting the hang of parenthood and she goes.

    The show is all about learning who you really are, and who you need to become. In a small way, it actual has me looking at myself, which I think is amazing from such a young show. It's still getting its legs, but with a bit more time, this show could be something great. I think it's a nice change from other shows on CW, because it deals with an older age group, and feels less like high school.

    Watch the Life Unexpected for yourself, and don't compare it to other shows, just judge it as its own show. Remember to go in willing to belief, and you might just get sucked in by its charm.
    10timtam-14421

    Bets show ever

    I think they really really really need to bring this show back I am still watching 10 years on let's make it happen it helped me so much I was in a dark time and the show made me happy.
    brusimm

    Life UneXpected is unexpectedly good and heart warming

    Life UneXpected from The CW is about a 15-year-old girl trying to get herself emancipated to get away from the foster care system.

    Lux, played by Brittany Robertson (Swingtown) has been put through the ringer with with the foster care system and needs to get away. She needs to become emancipated.

    Her biological dad, Nate "Baze" Bazile is played by Kristoffer Polaha (ad Men, Valentine, North Shore) and her mom, Cate Cassidy is played by Shiri Appleby (ER, Six Degrees, Roswell).

    Through one turn or another Lux is put in the temporary custody of her biological parents (Don't worry, you'll see why).

    ~ Life UneXpected is written by Liz Tigelaar (Brothers & Sisters, What About Brian) and directed by Gary Fleder (Life on Mars, October Road).

    These two have teamed up to bring quite the heart warming tale of a wayward like teen who rediscovers her biological parents. Neither live with each other and this tale of two different people, three counting Lux, hits nerves in a good way with this journey they are embarking on.

    The plot pulls you in from the start and keeps you hooked. It has great interaction between characters. Nothing feels forced, everything flows.

    The caveat: You need to like shows like this to appreciate it. That being said, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
    9superaudreysaves

    Worth your time

    When I first heard this show being compared to Juno and Gilmore Girls, I had to give it a chance. I was kind of expecting it to be a show TRYING to be like Juno and Gilmore Girls, and that was going to be obvious in the worst possible way, but I couldn't resist watching it.

    And now I'm hooked. In the best possible way. Life Unexpected has succeeded in being it's own show, although I do think the comparisons are appropriate. Despite the plot being the main selling point in the commercials, it is a very character-driven show (which is good, because how slowly can you burn out the "just met my daughter" thing? Not very slowly...) One complaint I did have, though, is that it cheeses out at the end of almost every episode. This can be looked at two ways. One being that it's cheesy, and the other being that each episode is like it's own little movie, and while connected to the whole series, independent. I love movies. So I chose the second way and now I love that, too.

    All in all, Life Unexpected is a really good show. It's been a while since I've seen one of those and I'm so excited to get a new hour of it every week.

    More like this

    The Secret Circle
    7.3
    The Secret Circle
    The Lying Game
    7.3
    The Lying Game
    The Carrie Diaries
    7.0
    The Carrie Diaries
    Finding Carter
    7.5
    Finding Carter
    The Fosters
    7.9
    The Fosters
    90210
    6.2
    90210
    The Nine Lives of Chloe King
    7.0
    The Nine Lives of Chloe King
    For The People
    7.3
    For The People
    Twisted
    7.2
    Twisted
    Star-Crossed
    7.1
    Star-Crossed
    Ringer
    6.9
    Ringer
    Faking It
    7.3
    Faking It

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Britt Robertson (Lux) and Shiri Appleby (Cate) became very close friends during the run of the show and in fact lived together for some time.
    • Connections
      Referenced in One Tree Hill: Nobody Taught Us to Quit (2010)

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    FAQ22

    • How many seasons does Life Unexpected have?Powered by Alexa
    • Is there a fan site for Life Unexpected?
    • Where can I find out what songs were on?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 18, 2010 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Canada
    • Official site
      • Official Facebook
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Light Years
    • Filming locations
      • North Shore Studios - 555 Brooksbank Avenue, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada(Studio)
    • Production companies
      • Best Day Ever Productions
      • Mojo Films
      • Warner Bros. Television
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h(60 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.78 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit pageAdd episode

    More to explore

    Production art
    Photos
    Child Stars, Then and Now
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    These Stars Are on the Rise
    See the gallery
    Production art
    Photos
    Photos We Love: San Diego Comic-Con 2025
    See the full gallery

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.