As a longtime fan of legal dramas and suspenseful storytelling, I have been utterly captivated by “Presumed Innocent.” This show has taken me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions, keeping me guessing until the very last minute. Rusty Sabich’s relentless pursuit of justice has been the driving force behind each episode, and I’ve found myself rooting for him despite his increasingly questionable actions.
If you’re like me, we both believed that Rusty couldn’t possibly make any more questionable choices after his long list of misdeeds: hiding evidence, withholding information from his defense team, attempting to bribe Liam Reynolds, brutally attacking Brian Ratzer, and infidelity. But in “The Witness,” Rusty manages to top it all. With Raymond absent due to a heart attack that thankfully proved to be okay but required hospitalization, Rusty decides to take on the role of his own lawyer during the trial.
Based on my observations and experiences, I believe Nico’s assessment of Rusty being a “pretty charming guy” is an overreach. Having known Rusty for quite some time, I can attest that his actions have always been self-serving. The incident at the hospital where he administered CPR to Raymond was a rare exception, and even then, it was more about gaining public recognition than saving a life.
Rusty makes an effort to make amends in the hospital waiting room, showing kindness and care towards Lorraine. Tommy attempts to mimic this behavior but acknowledges that it seems insincere coming from him. However, isn’t it unusual for Rusty to behave normally for longer than ten minutes? During their meeting with Judge Lyttle, Nico and Tommy propose a mistrial, while Mya suggests taking over as Rusty’s lawyer. Everyone finds her suggestion amusing. In the previous episode, Mya outsmarted Tommy with a single question and demonstrated her intelligence during the pretrial phase. Raymond recruited her when the case became too complex for him to handle alone. I can’t help but wonder why these men doubt her capabilities.
Nico chuckles at Mya’s proposal, expressing disbelief when when Rusty takes risky actions, feigning as if he had considered it beforehand. Judge Lyttle voices her disapproval of Rusty representing himself in court but consents under the stipulation that any attempt from him to share his account will result in rigorous questioning, a circumstance that Raymond and Mya had been keen on avoiding throughout. During his initial day as the primary lawyer, Rusty encounters Tommy in the restroom. It’s debatable if it would have been too predictable for them to be at adjacent urinals. I ponder whether this comical interlude would have fitted the show’s mood, but I would have welcomed a moment of levity amidst the absence of Raymond.
Raymond observes as Rusty behaves erratically during the trial from the hospital. Rusty enters late, donning a trenchcoat for an ominous effect, seemingly intent on appearing villainous. He disregards the fact that he’s interrogating a twelve-year-old boy whose mother was brutally murdered. The boy has accused him of the crime and frequently repeats the accusation. Michael’s messages to his mother are displayed by Rusty, revealing threats such as “I wish you were dead.” At first, these messages don’t seem unusual for a frustrated child abandoned by his mother. However, when considered together, they paint a damning picture. Rusty doesn’t shy away from fueling the tension further, shouting at the boy, “Did you kill your mother?” In a parallel scene to Reynolds attacking Carolyn during the conviction, Michael’s father, whom Rusty also implicated in Carolyn’s murder, rushes towards him. Security manages to prevent him from reaching Rusty.
Nico and Tommy are greatly disturbed by the situation, so they invite Rigo to join them as a witness, despite concerns that he may be biased towards Rusty. Although Eugenia’s allegiance to Rusty has been portrayed ambiguously – she was pressured by Tommy but her connection to him is uncertain – Nico insists, “It’s all about asking the right questions.” The complexity of Eugenia’s character and her relationship with Rusty are not explored further, making her a mere plot device. In the car with Rusty, he grills Eugenia for information on what Rigo would testify to. She ponders if Carolyn had planned to keep the baby, causing Rusty to erupt in anger, leading him to tell Eugenia to leave his car in a threatening manner – not physically or aggressively, but with an ominous tone.
I’m surprised and think Nico and Tommy need to have more self-assurance than they currently display. During Michael’s cross-examination by Rusty, his behavior seems erratic, uncaring, and impulsive. He aggressively accuses the grieving boy of murder, speaks forcefully and hurriedly, and gesticulates wildly at those present. While he effectively raises suspicions about Michael, Rusty’s demeanor is far from calculated, intelligent, or rational. When Rigo testifies on behalf of the prosecution that she had no involvement in Reynolds’ bribe, Rusty’s conduct doesn’t exactly convey shrewdness, resourcefulness, or sanity.
An intriguing scene from Rusty’s perspective that has left an impression on me is when he’s at home later that night, perched on the edge of his treadmill and drenched in sweat. He clutches his head with both hands, appearing close to tears as Barbara inquires about his wellbeing. With great difficulty, Rusty utters, “I may have overstated my case for my innocence.” The sight of him on the brink of emotion is a departure from the norm, and some critics have questioned Gyllenhaal’s casting. While Gyllenhaal possesses youthful charm, it seems his portrayal lacks depth due in part to his polished appearance. Contrastingly, Harrison Ford, who played Rusty in the 1990 film adaptation, exudes a melancholic and forlorn demeanor that suits the character better. When Rusty isn’t appearing as a psychopath, he comes across as an athletic quarterback, which creates an unexpected visual dissonance for a state attorney.
In the sixth episode, the focus shifts to Rusty’s use of Ritalin, which becomes a significant concern for Barbara and his children. While Rusty insists it helps him stay sharp, they view it as a dangerous habit, especially on the day before he testifies. This revelation disrupts the usual legal thriller narrative, where most of the action takes place in the courtroom. The trope of a trial-dominated episode serves its purpose, but revealing Rusty’s drug issue late in the series creates an imbalance. It either sets up for trial discussions or remains insignificant, causing unnecessary distraction rather than contributing to the genre’s natural narrative progression.
On the evening prior to testifying, Rusty finds himself wired on Ritalin after examining Rigo’s account during cross-examination, disregarding Judge Lyttle’s sole warning. She offers him a mistrial opportunity before he takes the stand, but he refuses. Mya explodes and departs angrily, remarking, “I’ve had enough.” At long last, she reveals uncomfortable truths to him. “You’re Rusty Sabich,” she says, “and you can do whatever you please, isn’t that right?” Despite his questionable choices, individuals continue to rally around him, either convinced of his innocence or captivated by his supposed allure. In the days leading up to his testimony, Mya offers counsel and support. At the trial, Raymond makes a surprise appearance, having been given a clean bill of health, acting as a guardian angel for Rusty. Regardless of his erratic decisions, individuals remain steadfast in their presence, attesting to either their belief in his innocence or his magnetic appeal.
As Mya had anticipated, there’s no hope of saving Rusty’s testimony. After witnessing Tommy’s impressive refutation of Rusty’s credibility, Nico acknowledges Tommy with approval. “That was impressive,” Nico tells Tommy, admiring how skillfully he shattered any trace of believability Rusty had attempted to establish through his heroic actions. Admirably, Rusty remains steadfast throughout most of his testimony. However, when weakness sets in, things go downhill for him.
Tommy plays the recording of his heated altercation with Ratzer, who suddenly appears from the crowd like a ghost. Rusty’s account of what pushed him to assault Ratzer is understandable considering the intense pressures in his life currently, although it doesn’t make him a murderer. However, when Tommy brings up his altercation with Kumagai, Rusty is left defenseless. “Were your actions deliberate when you grabbed him by the collar?” There’s no satisfactory response that won’t make him appear more guilty. “So you lost control,” Tommy states as Nico smirks derisively.
As a movie buff, I have to admit, Tommy’s analysis hits home. The combination of “The Witness” and “The Elements” episodes left me with an uneasy feeling that Rusty was on the brink. His actions towards Barbara and Eugenia were clear signs of instability. It’s not hard to imagine my own heart pounding in my chest when Mya confronted him with the HR complaint. The build-up to this moment, fueled by Tommy’s relentless pursuit of justice, has been palpable. Peter Sarsgaard’s chilling portrayal of Tommy’s vengeance is still echoing in my mind.
Later that night, Barbara turns to Rusty with a puzzled expression and asks, “What’s next?” As a movie lover, I can’t help but ponder the same question. Tommys face lights up with satisfaction as he makes his way home, but this feeling is short-lived. The moment he steps inside, he’s met with chaos – papers scattered everywhere and thankfully, his beloved cats are safe. But the ominous presence of a fire poker on his kitchen counter leaves him uneasy. A note attached to it bears the message, “Go fuck yourself.” I couldn’t help but notice that we’ve recently seen Rusty at home talking with Barbara. Based on this, it seems unlikely that the Godfather-esque intimidation is his style. If only cats could talk and shed some light on what’s going on!
Addendum
The heartfelt scene where Lorraine learns that Raymond will recover in the hospital may be the most moving moment in this series. Elizabeth Marvel delivers an exceptional performance as Raymond’s spouse. Although she has a minor role in the show, she manages to make every second of her screen time unforgettable.
Rusty expresses his love for Barbara when she inquires about Raymond’s condition in the hospital. “I love you,” he says. However, Barbara merely replies with a casual “Yeah, bye.” The state of their marriage seems to be beyond repair – we haven’t checked in on Dr. Rush recently. Yet, in the early stages of “The Witness,” Rusty wraps his arms around Barbara as they ascend the courthouse steps.
In this episode, we witness more recollections of Rusty and Carolyn’s past. However, a pivotal moment occurs during the office’s customary first-conviction tie-cutting ceremony. When Tommy attempts to kiss Carolyn’s cheek, she evades his lips. This memory lingers in Tommy’s mind, causing him to remove her tie from the wall and then his own bolo tie, which he wears as a protective talisman on the day Rusty testifies in court.
• Where is Dr. Rush? I’m still thinking about how the show set up the fact that she’s a smoker, then we never saw her again. This is one of the uncrossed-tees I’m hoping will reemerge in the finale, along with the fact that Rusty hid Kyle’s bike in his trunk and whatever freaky knowledge is in Brian Ratzer’s possession.
As a longtime fan of crime dramas and having binge-watched “Presumed Innocent” during its recent release, I’ve been intrigued by the twists and turns this show has taken so far. Having not yet seen the finale with a heavy heart, I issue a potential spoiler warning. Given my background in crime investigations and having read the original novel, I find it challenging to predict if “Presumed Innocent’s” killer will align with the source material. However, based on the show’s pattern of taking liberties, I believe the most likely scenario is that they’ll introduce an accomplice.
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2024-07-22 17:57