Becoming The Muse

Presumed Innocent 2024 series review

Presumed Innocent is an American legal thriller television series created by David E. Kelley based on the 1987 novel of the same name by Scott Turow. The series premiered on Apple TV+ on the 12th of June 2024.

The show’s premise follows a prosecutor whose investigation into a horrific murder case of a colleague takes an unexpected turn that shakes up tables in the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s Office…..

The Good

The legal drama provides a gripping story-line with intricate twists and bombshells dropped at the end of each episode that will have you reeling as you try to figure out where it all leads.

I sat down to watch one episode and found myself binge-watching the show’s 8 episodes late into the night… I cannot imagine how people who watched the weekly episode releases waited a whole week to find out what would happen next, because the story unfolds like a train wreck and with morbid curiosity you cant look away…

The cast deliver stellar performances especially from the leads. Jake Gyllenhaal is phenomenal as Rusty Sabich, adding an intensity and volatile energy to the character that will leave you unsure if you are on his side on or not…

Ruth Negga who plays his wife Barbara Sabich turns up the drama within the confines of her character.

Presumed Innocent explores thought provoking questions on justice, morality and infidelity… How far would you go to fight for your family… is the justice system just? What would you do with a cheating spouse?

The show takes a different path from the book it was adopted form and an earlier movie adaptation starring Harrison Ford…. So even if you are familiar with those, you will never guess where its headed.

The Bad

While the story-line is compelling outside of the lead characters, the others come across as rather one dimensional with no justification for behavioural traits that don’t make sense.

The show is constantly shifting between two tones, the intensity of court drama and melodramatic family drama which gives the legal thriller a jarring feel punctuated by some steamy scenes which don’t add to the plot.  

The Ugly

The series has a problematic depiction of its female characters, objectification, obsession, victimisation and some rather dizzy takes with the male characters getting away with a lot of icky behaviours..

At the end of the show one is left with a rather cynical view of the justice system… what is innocence?

Final Thoughts

Presumed Innocent is a gripping legal thriller that will have you hooked to the end.

Fun Fact: Presumed Innocent is currently Apple TV+’s most watched show… and was renewed for a second season…. new season new case.

Have you ever had an encounter with the justice system?