The Verdict – The finale begins with the authorities processing the scene at Tommy Molto’s (Peter Sarsgaard) house. It’s the next morning before Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Raymond Horgan (Bill Camp) hear about it, but it becomes immediately apparent that Tommy thinks Rusty is trying to intimidate him. Despite the fire poker potentially being the murder weapon, there is no way for the prosecution to legally introduce it as evidence. This eventually leads to Judge Lyttle (Noma Dumezweni) offering another mistrial, which neither side is interested in taking.

In private, Rusty is thrilled by the discovery and claims that it only further proves his innocence. Raymond and Mya Winslow (Gabby Beans), on the other hand, aren’t so confident. The decision to not use the fire poker becomes the ultimate decision when Raymond helps Rusty see that it will only make him look bad.

The trial restarts the following morning with Raymond questioning another medical expert (Mary Lynn Rajskub). This questioning ultimately leads to Raymond establishing that Herbert Kumagai’s (James Hiroyuki Liao) time of death assessment was wrong. Tommy manages to somewhat salvage the blunder by getting the expert to admit that there is no way to ascertain with 100% certainty that Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) even consumed the Chinese takeout she ordered and paid for. It doesn’t hurt that Tommy brings attention to the expert redesigning her practice to testifying for defense attorneys.

Later that evening the defense debates how they can use the new time of death to establish that Rusty was at home when Carolyn was killed. Barbara Sabich (Ruth Negga) sees the solution as simple: she’ll testify that he was at home. It doesn’t take Raymond and Mya to prove how this would only work against them. Although end up agreeing on resting their case, problems arise when Rusty announces that he’ll be giving the closing. Raymond advises against it but his later discussion with Lorraine Horgan (Elizabeth Marvel) suggests he’s agreed to Rusty’s request. This discussion eventually segues into talks of his health and retirement after this case.

Rusty spends the evening working on his closing until he is joined by Jaden Sabich (Chase Infiniti). She also appears to be concerned with him doing the closing.

From the moment Rusty stands to deliver his closing, it becomes clear that he’s taking the honest and redemptive approach. He not only admits to loving and being with Carolyn but he shows shame for losing the respect of his wife and children with his actions. He also shines light on Tommy’s feelings for Carolyn but above all, he proves that there is no real evidence indicting him as the killer. Tommy’s closing is equally good, but it practically follows the same formula the prosecution has followed from the beginning: proving that Rusty concealed and obstructed pertinent evidence and is a violent man.

When deliberations begin, Nico Della Guardia (O-T Fagbenle) briefly attempts to get Tommy to go home, but it’s almost as if Tommy doesn’t even hear him and counties franticly theorize why Rusty would have planted the fire poker in his house. When Nico does finally get his attention, he asks him how much he really cared for Carolyn. He doesn’t get a chance to respond thanks to Eugenia’s (Virginia Kull) interruption that the jury has delivered a verdict.

After going through the typical motions, the verdict is revealed to be not guilty. Rusty is officially a free man. Despite Rusty appearing humbled by the verdict, he doesn’t hold back when he finally addresses the media. He accuses Tommy of putting on blinders and being inspired by ambition, which led to Carolyn not getting justice.

In the following days after the verdict, Nico revisits Tommy to encourage him to move on past Rusty and the Carolyn case. Nico assures him that he tried an exceptional case and did everything he possibly could but it’s time to move on. Elsewhere, Rusty confronts Barbara after discovering her packed suitcase in their bedroom. He becomes affronted when she tells him that the suitcase was Dr. Liz Rush’s (Lily Rabe) idea for the next time that he tried to impulsively destroy their family.

Rusty is clearly insulted and claims that he knew from the beginning that it was her who killed Carolyn. She is completely stunned by his allegations and even further so when he admits to tying Carolyn up to protect her. Rusty’s explanations of finding Carolyn and his proceeding actions are followed by a brief reenactment. Barbara starts at him in complete disbelief but when he finishes she tells him that he is insane. Much to her surprise, he tells her that after her dalliance with the Clifton (Sarunas J. Jackson), he started tracking her car. This led to him discovering that he visited Tommy’s house on the night the poker was planted.

This is when Jaden reveals herself as Carolyn’s murderer. While Barbara breaks down in tears, Rusty asks Jayden how she had the poker in the first place. Jayden’s story of confronting Carolyn about sleeping with Rusty is followed by another brief reenactment. Carolyn’s smug revelation about being pregnant is apparently what set Jayden off.

Barbara has been completely horrified throughout Jayden’s confession and is even more so when Rusty begins to justify her actions. He tells Jayden that she acted in self-defense of their family; they love each other and will put this behind them.

After vowing to never speak of the events again, the episode ends with a few brief future scenes. Raymond and Lorraine have apparently taken up gardening; Tommy appears to be happier, although he celebrates Thanksgiving alone. The Sabich’s laugh and smile as Barbara readies to the turkey. All appears to be well.

 

Presumed Innocent Finale Review

Well, if nothing else that was certainly a fulfilling ending. Even if I hadn’t read the book, it would have been clear from the beginning that Rusty was likely innocent. They simply just went at him too hard. From what I hear this has been slated for a second season, which I did not at all expect. I would love to see more but I honestly don’t how they are going to justify the story. Barbara is obviously the family’s weak link but I don’t think she would rat out Jayden to save her own skin.

I’m just unsure where the story goes from here. I do feel that a big problem with the series from the beginning was the excessive use of montages. Some of the reenactment scenes are easily justifiable while others only drew out the episodes and made certain scenes unnecessarily long-winded. All in all, I’d give this finale a 6 out of 10. Jake did an exceptional job with the closing, and Tommy and Barbara were equally convincing in their roles as well.

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