PRESUMED INNOCENT, based off of the 1987 novel and 1990 movie of the same name, marks another excellent political/legal thriller series from writer and show-runner David E. Kelley. I am a lover of crime series, especially of the whodunnit variety, and this had me hooked seconds into the first episode. Had I not started the series so late at night, I probably would have finished it in one sitting.
Unfortunately, I realized too late that Apple TV+ only sent seven of eight episodes, which means I am having to wait on the series finale just like you. I don’t know if I will be able to take the wait, and I wonder if that means PRESUMED INNOCENT may not have the same ending as its predecessors. Does Kelley have a surprise in store for the people who think they know what will happen?
Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) is a rising star in Chicago’s legal scene, serving as the city’s chief deputy prosecutor, amidst the jealous glare of his colleague Tommy (Peter Sarsgaard). Everything seems to be going Rusty’s way; he has a beautiful house, a loving wife Barbara (Ruth Negga), and two kids. That is, until his colleague Carolyn (Renate Reinsve) is brutally murdered—her body made to resemble a victim from a previous case they worked on together. As detectives and Rusty’s colleagues in the prosecutor’s office start investigating the case, they realize Rusty isn’t the clean-cut guy he portrayed himself to be.
You see, Rusty was having an affair with Carolyn and seemingly wouldn’t take no for an answer when she wanted to break things off. DNA evidence at the scene points overwhelmingly to Rusty, with indications he was with her the same night she was murdered. As public attention and the investigative magnifying glass begin to focus in, Rusty is struggling to make things right with his family while also trying to determine Carolyn’s real killer. But will he be able to uncover the truth before it’s too late? And more than that, is he a reliable narrator? Can we trust he is actually innocent?
Jake Gyllenhaal leads an all-star ensemble and is perfectly cast in this role as a seemingly all-American husband and father, who is hiding dark secrets. Gyllenhaal’s ability to skirt the line between likable and creep is critical to making this series work; and your opinion of him will change from scene to scene. I found myself continuously vacillating from rooting for him one second, and losing all faith and trust in him (and if I’m being honest, all men everywhere) the next. And it is that push and pull that will leave you coming back for more.
The first two episodes of PRESUMED INNOCENT are already streaming on Apple TV+ and one new episode will be released starting next week. With the show’s mysterious, suspenseful plot points and cliffhanger endings, it’s going to be tough to wait for each new episode; I already have a key theory as to what I think is going on and the identity of the murderer and it is taking everything in me not to look it up.
The show’s ability to build suspense has made me miss “appointment television,” which encourages discussion and evolving fan theories between each episode. If this interpretation stays true to the film and book, I know that I am at serious risk for being spoiled. But I also appreciate that weekly shows allow more time for audiences to find the series and join in on the communal experience of trying to solve a fictional murder. Here’s to hoping I make it to the end spoiler-free.
My Review: B+
