In Defense of O-T Fagbenle’s Wacky Voice on Presumed Innocent

As a dedicated fan of “Presumed Innocent,” I have been utterly captivated by O-T Fagbenle’s performance as Nico Della Guardia in the series. His unique portrayal of the character, with his wickedly delightful accent and mannered delivery, has left me enthralled week after week.

I’ve been pondering over O-T Fagbenle’s unique delivery of the word “issue” in the penultimate episode of “Presumed Innocent”‘s first season. In this role, Fagbenle brings Nico Della Guardia to life as a charmingly devious character, exuding smug confidence while building a case against Rusty Sabich for the murder of Carolyn Polhemus.

In “The Witness,” newly elected chief prosecutor Nico interrogates Detective Rigo, who was once allied with Rusty and is now required to defend his actions concerning Carolyn’s case before becoming the prime suspect in her murder. Fagbenle portrays Nico’s tone as sarcastic and disdainful as he ridicules Rigo’s judgment and scrutinizes his ethical stance towards Rusty’s offer of early release for a felon in exchange for potential information regarding Carolyn’s death. With “Did you find this proposed bribe objectionable? Did you have qualms about this method?”, Nico infuses “issue” with vitality and musicality, making it an engaging and captivating exchange as he delves deeper.

Fagbenle deliberately prolongs the two-syllable word, giving it both a drawn-out “s” sound and a soft hissing noise. It’s as if Nico initially pronounced it with a British accent but then switched to an American one halfway through. Picture Sir Hiss from Robin Hood attempting to blend in America, which isn’t far off since Fagbenle is a British actor portraying a Chicagoan. However, he has previously played a Windy City resident – none other than President Barack Obama in the miniseries The First Lady. As Nico, Fagbenle adopts an entirely distinct and more fluid approach, less tied to Chicago’s distinctive accent and more influenced by theatrical arrogance and international slyness. Nico’s issue being unattached to any specific linguistic origin isn’t an error but a means to convey his cartoonish-villain characteristics. (The vocal inspiration for this character was the overzealous EPA inspector from Ghostbusters, Fagbenle shares.) He’s a jerk, and Fagbenle enjoys using his voice to express that.

As a longtime fan of legal dramas, I have seen my fair share of courtroom shows that follow the same formulaic narrative: tense build-up to a trial, dramatic revelations during cross-examinations, and predictable twists at the end. But “Presumed Innocent” is not your typical legal thriller, and one actor in particular, Wunmi Mosaku as Nico Tosini, brings an exhilarating dose of unpredictability to this dark and gripping series.

In “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Daisy Buchanan’s voice was described as having a ring of wealth and privilege, making her alluringly mysterious. Nico, however, doesn’t possess wealth but exudes an amused detachment, observing human behavior with fascination, much like an alien encountering humans for the first time. (Idea for Apple TV+: Bring this intriguing character to “Sugar”!) A significant part of Nico’s aloof and observant demeanor can be attributed to his peculiar accent – its unexpected inflections, melodic tone, and abrupt rhythm. It may seem nonsensical, but it adds a delightful charm; let us have more unique voices in Hollywood! Regardless of what else David E. Kelley plans for the second season of “Presumed Innocent,” he must ensure that Nico Della Guardia continues to be an integral part of the story.

2024-07-23 22:55

In Defense of O-T Fagbenle’s Wacky Voice on Presumed Innocent

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