The Defenders is a legal procedural drama, the story arc of which is loosely weaved around the lives of two real-live attorneys based in Las Vegas - Michael Cristalli and Marc Saggese. The lead characters in the show are played by Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell. The show debuted on September 22, 2010, and has emerged as one of the leading legal dramas on TV.

The series is set in Las Vegas, Nevada, and gives us a sneak peek into the lives of two defense attorneys. The duo struggle to strike a balance between the pressing needs of their clients, and their personal lives. Jerry is seen in the role of Pete Kaczmarek, a free-willed lawyer, who’s more of a playboy than an attorney. Pete is accompanied by his extreme opposite, Nick Morelli, played by Jim Belushi. Nick is far more dedicated to his job, and centers his whole life on his profession.

The plot premises on the happenings that take place when the duo comes together. They influence each other with their eccentricities. The premiere episode sets off with Nick and Pete working on the case of a murdered client whom they had to defend. As the season progressed, the duo joined heads and face an array of riveting cases. Their cases involved varied hues ranging from crimes in the family, to cases revolving around strip clubs and casinos, gamblers, senators, players, and nearly every imaginable walk of life.

The finale episode ended on a rather bitter note as the alliance between Nick and Pete was dissolved while they worked on a messy case in which a husband and wife were both accused of murder. Along with laying focus on the professional lives of the duo, the show also portrays some personal facets of their lives.

Two other important characters are Lisa Tyler and Zoey Waters, played by Jurnee Smollett-Bell and Tanya Fischer respectively. While Lisa is a young lawyer who easily slips into a stripper’s shoes to pave her way to the top, Zoey is the sultry assistant of Pete and Nick.