As someone who has spent years immersed in the legal thriller genre, both as a devoted viewer and an avid reader, I must confess that the latest episode of “Presumed Innocent” left me both shocked and somewhat unsatisfied. The revelation of Jaden’s guilt, while a well-executed twist, felt more like a manipulation of the audience than a necessary development in the characters’ stories.
In summarizing the initial episode of “Presumed Innocent,” I noted that legal dramas often feature two types of lawyers: those with idealistic beliefs and those who have become disillusioned. I used Paul Newman’s character, Frank Galvin from “The Verdict” (1982), as an illustration of the latter. Towards the end of the film, despite facing a significant setback in the trial, Galvin addresses the jury with conviction. With his key piece of evidence deemed inadmissible, he appeals to their sense of honor and justice, urging them: “If we are to trust in the fairness of our judicial system, all we need is faith in ourselves and act accordingly.”
Despite Rusty Sabich’s unreliable demeanor and struggles with alcohol, which contrast sharply with Galvin’s trustworthiness, his closing argument effectively conveys the same message. After debating whether Barbara should testify on Rusty’s behalf, Mya firmly advises against it. However, when Rusty declares his intention to deliver the summation as the defense team prepares to conclude their case, everyone is hesitant due to his unpredictable behavior during cross-examinations. Yet, they eventually relent, knowing that Rusty will ultimately get what he wants regardless of his past actions.
Different from Rusty, Tommy, or Nico, I acknowledge my capacity for humility. Consequently, I must confess that Rusty’s closing argument left Tommy’s in the dust. Galvin and Rusty are both correct; when it comes down to it, the jury holds the ultimate power to decide based on their human instinct, unbiased yet compassionate judgment. Even if Rusty doesn’t grasp much else, he recognizes this truth. He admits to the jury that the harm he has caused his family is probably irreversible, and he acknowledges his mistakes and the guilty appearance. The audience feels it as Rusty’s voice cracks, the music intensifies, and the camera focuses on his face. It’s a compelling argument and a rare moment of sincerity from Rusty – I wish they had let him continue. By the time he exposes Tommy Molto as a politician with public pressure and a personal vendetta against Rusty, I am fully invested in Rusty’s story, wanting to silence the annoying violin’s melody.
Tommy appears unpredictable next to others. Following the fire poker incident in his kitchen, where “The Verdict” begins, Tommy reveals the truth when Nico queries about his well-being. He responds negatively and takes his cat upstairs. During a meeting with Judge Lyttle where lawyers attempt to determine the use of the cleansed fire poker as evidence, Tommy confesses that he frequently leaves his house’s side door unlocked for his neighbor to monitor his pet while he’s absent, apprehending criminals and seeking revenge. The next day at trial, Tommy retorts when Raymond introduces another medical expert witness who claims Carolyn’s stomach was empty during the time of her death (an inaccuracy by Kumagai). Tommy challenges this testimony since she consistently acts as a defense witness, making it doubtful to rely on any opinion she offers. Bravo. It would have been wiser for him to stick with indisputable reasoning until the end.
When it’s Tommy’s turn to conclude his defense, he reverts back to being a stubborn kid. However, Rusty was present during the murder night. His prints were found at the crime scene, and they had an affair. After Rusty finished speaking, there’s nothing left for him to argue. No amount of allure from his distinctive bolo tie can change the inescapable truth: Tommy has not met the burden of proof to establish Rusty’s innocence beyond a shadow of a doubt, which is the basic requirement to put someone behind bars for life. Tommy grows increasingly agitated; he thrusts his finger at Rusty angrily; he labels him as a murderer, just as Rusty had waived his hand self-confidently during his ill-advised attempt to represent himself while Raymond was absent recovering.
In this portion of the episode leading up to the verdict and revelation of the killer, there are no flashbacks or interjections to distract from the chronological tale of the trial. The only exceptions are a few recollections of Carolyn in Rusty’s thoughts. When Eugenia enters Tommy’s office to announce the jury’s decision, the storyline gains momentum. The jury’s verdict is read aloud: “In the case of the People of the State of Illinois vs. Rozat K. Sabich, the defendant is found not guilty.” The courtroom fills with cheers and cries. It’s unclear who is celebrating, aside from Rusty’s family, defense team, and perhaps Rigo and Eugenia. Even the media seemed against him, as did most other characters in the series. However, Rusty’s innocence is now a fact, leaving him as the only one not sharing in the general happiness.
Rusty briefly addresses the media and takes another jab at Tommy before that. Later, we find him in his bedroom donning a sweatshirt resembling Harrison Ford’s Rusty from the movies as a hint or misdirection that the series will reference its ending. In his room, he comes across an already packed suitcase and searches for Barbara, who is now dealing with the reality of continuing to live with him since his acquittal. Rusty maintains the same composed expression upon learning of his release, but it becomes apparent that something is troubling him.
As a seasoned film critic with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen my fair share of twists and turns in movies. But none have left me as frustrated as the ending of “The Fugitive,” where Barbara reveals she was the murderer all along. Having grown up in the golden age of Hollywood, I’ve come to appreciate a good surprise in a movie, but this one felt different.
In the television program “Presumed Innocent,” Rusty had an opportunity to question the established narrative. He suspected his wife, Barbara, of murder after discovering her body in a shocking state in the garage. On that fateful night, Rusty’s motives for visiting Carolyn’s place remain unclear. Upon entering, he was confronted with Barbara’s lifeless body. Somehow, Rusty came to believe that his own wife was responsible for the crime, and went to great lengths to conceal her body and make it appear as if Bunny Davis had been murdered instead. The quickness with which he devised this plan, along with his nonchalant admission that false confessions can be easily extracted, suggests Rusty’s deeply ingrained sociopathic tendencies. Essentially, Rusty challenged the initial assumption of Barbara’s innocence and provided evidence pointing to her guilt.
When confronting Barbara with unfounded accusations, as if he were Tommy in the courtroom, Rusty repeats her defensive arguments, now aimed at his suffering and disheveled spouse: she wasn’t really in control when she committed the act. She simply “lost it” (incredibly, isn’t it?). And, being the noble protector, Rusty bravely took action to shield his family; to protect her. Amazingly, despite all the hardships this unfortunate woman has endured, Rusty manages to position himself as the virtuous hero, worthy of forgiveness and appreciation. This deplorable tactic, popular in today’s society, is referred to as gaslighting.
Barbara, in a state of understandable tension, appears on the verge of breaking down due to the heavy accusation against her. With Rusty staring at her unyieldingly, Jaden unexpectedly enters the room. In a straightforward manner, Barbara confesses, revealing that she had placed the fire poker in Tommy’s house following Rusty’s testimony. The rationale behind this action is something that Jaden will never disclose. The background music thankfully comes to a halt. Lastly, we finally witness the truth of what transpired that fateful night, as depicted through Barbara’s anguished expressions in the flashback sequence. These scenes are difficult to watch.
I followed Jaden as he made his way to Carolyn’s house, intending to confront her about something. She asked Carolyn to leave her job and keep her distance from Jaden’s family, but Carolyn promised she would stay away while acknowledging their lives would still be connected due to her pregnancy with Rusty’s child. Given how little we know about Carolyn – she’s mostly been depicted as a sexual fantasy in various stories – it’s hard for me to understand what could have driven her to behave so cruelly towards Jaden. I find it highly unlikely that she would have revealed such sensitive information to Rusty’s teenage daughter before sharing it with him. In an instant, Jaden made the decision to match Carolyn’s cruelty and struck her repeatedly with a fire poker. The following day, Jaden cleaned the car thoroughly and hid the murder weapon – the rest, as they say, is history.
Rusty speaks softly to Barbara, “Let’s not mention this incident again.” In a surprising turn of events, he offers an explanation for his own actions: “This was your defensive response, safeguarding our family. I instigated it all. We’ll pull through as a family, understand?” The underlying theme in “Presumed Innocent,” which emphasizes the need for families to shield themselves from unconventionality and intense emotions, persists despite the unexpected plot twist. As the episode concludes with a harmonious Thanksgiving dinner scene, the audience is left pondering the hidden dangers beneath the seemingly idyllic suburban life.
since Kyle had remained a mystery, if he was the murderer, we would be startled but not entirely surprised. I was indeed taken aback by Jaden’s revelation as the killer; it was an effective twist. Her emotional turmoil was portrayed vividly, reflecting Chase Infiniti’s strong acting abilities. In a courtroom drama, teams of defense and prosecution are vying to outmaneuver each other, as Tommy explains when he laments, “He beat me.” Yet, there is an additional layer of competition in legal thrillers: the creators strive to outsmart the audience’s expectations and theories. Despite the skillful execution, I can admit that they successfully caught me off guard.
Addendum
Although we may have uncovered the identity of Carolyn’s killer, numerous unanswered queries lingered in the finale. For instance, what became of Dr. Rush and her stash of cigarettes? What was the fate of Kyle’s bicycle, which Rusty concealed in his car trunk? The photograph that resurfaced during the investigation – where did it go? And how about Rusty’s Ritalin dependency? Did Clifton reach out to Barbara once more? What transpired with Ratzer – did he possess any crucial information? Lastly, whatever happened to Rigo?
In this episode, I discovered with pleasure the trivial fact that Raymond hails from Maine.
Regarding Raymond, it was noteworthy in this episode how frequently Rusty referred to him as his “dearest friend.” Despite Lorraine’s suggestion for Raymond to step away from the case completely, he declined. I pondered if their friendship could withstand the strain of this trial. Fortunately, all’s well that ends well, but I couldn’t ignore the vindictive glare of a woman bent on destroying their friendship once and for all.
After reaching a consensus not to use the fire poker as evidence in the trial, Rusty persistently referred to Michael Caldwell, Carolyn’s son, by his last name instead of his first name. This shift felt strange to me, almost like an awkward attempt at imitating the intense principal from “The Breakfast Club.”
Just before the final decision is announced, Nico queries Tommy Molto with a profound question, “How deeply did you love her, Tommy? Be honest.” However, Tommy remains silent and dismisses it with a roll of his eyes.
Several people have pointed out that the second season of “Presumed Innocent” is expected to adopt an anthology format, introducing fresh cases and lawyers, along with possibly more intriguing characters. However, I would enjoy continuing to accompany Raymond and Lorraine on their retirement adventure. Maybe a murder mystery on a cruise ship? Definitely worth tuning in for.
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2024-07-24 10:54