‘Presumed Innocent’ Finale Shocker: Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich Guilty or Innocent? The Killer Is Revealed to Be [SPOILER]

As a devoted viewer of “Presumed Innocent” on Apple TV+, I have been thoroughly captivated by this legal thriller since its premiere last month. The series, created by David E. Kelley, has taken us on an intriguing journey filled with unexpected twists and turns while exploring the minds of complex and narcissistic characters. Over eight enthralling episodes, we followed Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a former chief deputy prosecutor who was on trial for the murder of his lover and colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve).

Warning: The following discussion reveals the ending of Apple TV+’s “Presumed Innocent” Season 1, entitled “The Verdict.” Please proceed with caution if you have not yet finished watching.

In the past month, David E. Kelley’s “Presumed Innocent” series, now streaming on Apple TV+, has given viewers an intriguing rollercoaster ride with surprising clues and unsettling secrets, delving into the complex thoughts of self-centered and fixated men. Spanning over eight episodes, this gripping show focuses on Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a former deputy prosecutor who stands accused of murdering his lover and colleague, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve).

In the final episode of “Presumed Innocent,” which wasn’t made available to critics beforehand, it was revealed that Carolyn’s murderer was none other than Rusty’s teenage daughter, Jaden (Chase Infiniti). The shocking truth came to light only after Rusty had been acquitted in court.

Right from the start, four primary suspects emerged in the case. Among them was Rusty, who had a strong fixation on Carolyn. Throughout the show’s progression, their deeply emotional connection was unveiled through flashbacks. Following Carolyn’s decision to end their affair, Rusty bombarded her with numerous texts expressing his affection and issuing threats. Despite this, Rusty has consistently claimed his innocence throughout the series. Labeling him as the true culprit might appear too predictable given the conclusion of HBO’s “The Undoing,” a Kelley production featuring Nicole Kidman and Hugh Grant in leading roles.

Viewers have also suspected that Rusty’s long-suffering wife, Barbara (Ruth Negga), was the true culprit. After all, in Scott Turow’s 1987 novel — and the 1990 film adaptation of it, which starred Harrison Ford — Rusty’s wife struck the fatal blow that killed Carolyn, something that wasn’t revealed until the film’s shocking final moments. But since “Presumed Innocent” began, Kelley has woven a narrative wholly distinct from the film and Turow’s novel. More than anything, Barbara seemed desperate to get her family back on track, and Carolyn’s death had obviously done the opposite of that.

Two other plausible suspects came into the picture. The first one was Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), who succeeded Rusty in his role as chief deputy prosecutor and publicly humiliated him during the trial in episode “The Witness.” Besides being jealous of Rusty’s achievements, Tommy had an unhealthy infatuation with Carolyn. So much so that she had lodged a complaint against him prior to her death. It appeared that Tommy might have used Carolyn’s hidden evidence in a case to coerce her into dating him, but things didn’t go as planned. In the closing scene of “The Witness,” Tommy discovered chaos at his home. On his kitchen counter, there was the missing murder weapon – a fire poker – with a message scrawled on it that read, “Go F**k Yourself.” It seemed that either Rusty or Barbara was playing mind games with him.

Lastly, Eugenia Milk, portrayed by Virginia Kull and a fellow prosecutor in Chicago, held a hidden affection for Rusty. She harbored a concealed contempt towards Carolyn, believing her to be the cause of Rusty’s misery. Though some saw Eugenia as an underdog, she was a figure who keenly observed more than she revealed.

Additionally, there were other suspects who came close but didn’t make it, including Michael Caldwell (played by Tate Birchmore), Carolyn’s disgruntled and distant son, and Kyle Sabich (portrayed by Kingston Rumi Southwick), Rusty and Barbara’s son. However, it appears that both young men were more intrigued by their parents’ secrets than capable of committing such a violent and meticulously planned crime.

In the final analysis, not a single suspect, who appeared to be culpable at various stages during the show, ended up being the actual murderer.

In the final scene, the police search Tommy’s home for DNA or fingerprints related to the fire poker left at the crime scene. Finding none, Tommy and Rusty choose to move forward with the trial. The ensuing closing arguments were captivating, resulting in an acquittal for Rusty.

After the Rusty-Carolyn scandal and Carolyn’s tragic murder, those affected attempt to move on with their lives. One evening, as Barbara is working out on the spin bike in their garage, Rusty approaches her. He confides, “I believed it at first, then I doubted, but now I’m certain.” Shocked by his words, Barbara responds, “You’re delusional.” Rusty discloses that he returned to Carolyn’s apartment the night she was killed. Upon discovering her lifeless body and suspecting Barbara, he attempted to stage the scene to make it appear as if convicted murderer Liam Reynolds had committed the crime.

I’ve worked as a detective for over a decade now, and I’ve seen my fair share of twisted plots and unexpected revelations. But this case with Barbara and Rusty took the cake. When Barbara accused Rusty of insanity and being wrong, I thought that was the end of it. Boy, was I wrong.

After Barbara was left speechless by her daughter’s surprising confession, Rusty stepped in to take control. He announced that the three of them would keep quiet about the incident and insisted that Jaden had acted to protect their family. In conclusion, Rusty accepted blame for the entire ordeal.

The popular legal thriller “Presumed Innocent,” which is currently a limited series, has been renewed for a second season on Apple TV+. This comes after the show drew large viewership as Apple TV+’s most-watched drama since its debut in 2019.

2024-07-24 05:47

‘Presumed Innocent’ Finale Shocker: Is Jake Gyllenhaal’s Rusty Sabich Guilty or Innocent? The Killer Is Revealed to Be [SPOILER]

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