Does Jake Gyllenhaal’s Presumed Innocent pull off its plot twist ending?

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Does Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent pull off its plot twist ending?

As a seasoned gamer and avid consumer of mystery and crime shows, I have seen my fair share of whodunits that follow a predictable formula: present several potential suspects with ample evidence against each one, build tension leading up to the big reveal, and tie up all loose ends in a satisfying conclusion. Apple TV+’s original series “Presumed Innocent,” however, takes a refreshingly different approach.

In the eight-episode first season of Presumed Innocent, it’s evident that the trial isn’t truly focused on uncovering the truth. Instead, the series shifts its attention to whether sufficient evidence exists to conclusively blame Rusty Sabich for murdering Carolyn Polhemus.

Jake Gyllenhaal delivers an exceptional performance as the complex character, Rusty Sabich. Throughout the first season, audiences are left pondering the possibility of Rusty’s involvement in a crime. Did he murder the woman with whom he had a long-term affair? Was it an impulsive act borne out of intense emotion? Previous instances of violent behavior from Rusty and his alcohol-fueled desperation on the night in question raise questions about his capability for taking a life. Could he have been driven to kill Carolyn by a series of events that pushed him past his limits?

In the novel “Presumed Innocent” by Scott Turow, Rusty’s daughter Jaden discusses her experience of disconnecting from her body. This concept intersects with moments where Rusty’s recollections of past events hint at a possibility that he may have been responsible for harming Carolyn, yet his mind shields him from this unpleasant truth. The narrative skillfully straddles the line, suggesting that Rusty might be misremembering situations while also revealing that he could be concealing more than he lets on.

In “Presumed Innocent,” the murder mystery isn’t like usual stories where various characters are actively searching for the answer of who killed Carolyn Polhemus. Instead, this show primarily explores Rusty’s perspective, as he harbors the strongest reason to uncover the truth. Other possible suspects take a back seat in this season. However, rest assured, the truth will eventually surface.

The novel Presumed Innocent presents several possible suspects for Carolyn’s murder. However, there is insufficient proof to support each theory put forth. Therefore, the question remains: who committed this crime? In the final episode of Presumed Innocent, titled “The Verdict,” a multitude of shocking truths are disclosed.

Later on, Rusty confessed to having played a bigger part than he had let on, revealing Tommy Molto’s accusations against him weren’t entirely unfounded. At first, Rusty had departed from Carolyn’s house while she was still alive. Yet, he went back at an undisclosed time and discovered her lifeless body. The circumstances surrounding this discovery are rather intricate.

When Rusty confronts Barbara regarding Carolyn’s death, he reveals that he believes she was responsible. Given their past, who else could have been involved? Barbara was aware of Rusty’s infidelity with Carolyn. Who else would have had a motive? Upon discovering Carolyn’s lifeless body, Rusty sprang into action, intent on shielding his wife and family from the potential chaos and consequences of her demise. To throw suspicion in another direction, Rusty mimicked the actions of a past murderer by staging the scene with the dead body tied up.

Although “The Verdict” never explicitly reveals why Rusty was convinced that Barbara was responsible for Carolyn’s death, it is unclear from the novel why he held this belief. Barbara didn’t come across as a violent person in “Presumed Innocent,” and even if she had a motive, there wasn’t any solid evidence suggesting she was capable of committing the crime at that moment. Rusty himself admitted that Barbara hadn’t displayed any guilty behavior.

Fortunately, in the TV series “Presumed Innocent,” the story doesn’t need to delve too deeply into that detail since it was a false lead, and the creators made a conscious effort to distinguish their adaptation from the novel and its film versions. Instead, they introduced a surprising plot twist: Jaden turned out to be the one who had killed Caroyln.

In simpler terms, during the first season of the show, Jaden played a minor role as a member of the Sabich family. Her presence was intended to raise the question of whether Rusty and Barbara could save their marriage and keep their family intact. A hint suggesting Jaden’s potential involvement in the crime comes from a mention of her ability to detach from herself. However, this alone may not have been enough evidence to pin the murder on her.

Jaden is barely explored in this series and her connection to Rusty’s trial remains unclear. While it’s possible that Jaden’s anxiety over the trial might be seen as a sign of guilt, there are still many questions left unanswered about her involvement. For instance, we don’t know how or when Jaden learned about Carolyn and Rusty’s affair to confront her. The show “Presumed Innocent” fails to explain this detail. Moreover, although Kyle is shown near Carolyn’s house on his bike, his revelation of knowing about the affair doesn’t involve Jaden.

When Jaden discovers that Carolyn intends to raise Rusty’s child on her own after confronting her, Jaden becomes enraged and unfortunately takes her life in a moment of anger.

In the novel “Presumed Innocent,” the author effectively surprises the reader by avoiding a predictable ending and introducing an unanticipated killer in a non-obvious way. However, the story could have provided additional insight into Jaden’s motivations in confronting Carolyn, going beyond the flashbacks presented in “The Verdict.”

As a dedicated fan of “Presumed Innocent,” I appreciate how the story delves deep into the complexities of character rather than scattering false clues among various suspects like a typical murder mystery might. This approach adds depth and intrigue to the mystery, keeping me engaged and invested in the unfolding events.

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2024-07-26 04:45