Hit TV Series Shocks With Final Episode, Crazy Twist Ending
"Presumed Innocent" has one of the best series finales in recent TV history.
*WARNING: THERE ARE SERIOUS SPOILERS BELOW. DO NOT KEEP READING IF YOU AREN'T CAUGHT UP. CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED.*
The hit Apple TV+ series starring Jake Gyllenhaal is based on a famous book by Scott Turow of the same name, and it follows the murder trial of Rusty Sabich (Gyllenhaal).
Rusty is charged with murder following the death of his co-worker Carolyn Polhemus, who he was having an affair with and got pregnant.
Throughout the eight episodes of the legal thriller, viewers are introduced to several different theories about who might be responsible.
Did Rusty do it? Did Carolyn's estranged son do it? Did her estranged son's father do it? It's one hell of a crazy ride from start to finish, and viewers are kept on the edge of their seat the entire time as many different options look plausible.
"Presumed Innocent" shocks with final episode.
One of the reasons the show is so outstanding is because Gyllenhaal gives an A+ performance as Rusty. There are three scenes where his absolutely steals the show and elevates it to an elite level:
- When he's on the witness stand.
- When he gives closing arguments in his own defense.
- The ending (more on this later).
There's no question that Rusty is an absolute scumbag. He ruined his family by having an affair with Carolyn. He absolutely destroyed his wife, daughter and son with his actions and with the fact he's been charged with murder.
However, did he do it? There's certainly enough signs to indicate he did….but there's also more than enough reasons to have reasonable doubt.
That leads me to the big reveal.
"Presumed Innocent" shocked fans with an incredible ending. (Credit: Apple TV+)
*REMINDER ABOUT SPOILERS*
Rusty's daughter - a character with very little on-screen time - reveals herself as the killer following Rusty being acquitted. Initially, Rusty thought his wife did and he confronts her in the closing moments admitting that he did, in fact, tie up Carolyn's body after finding her dead and assuming his wife did it. He needed to stage the scene to protect her, even though he was completely innocent.
As horror washes across her face, Rusty's daughter steps out from the shadows to admit she was responsible for Carolyn's death, hid the murder weapon and then used it to intimidate the prosecution. Her motive? She simply went to Carolyn's house to tell her to stay away from Rusty, but snapped upon finding out she was pregnant.
The true killer was never even hinted at, but was right in front of everyone the whole time.
In terms of twists, it's without a doubt one of the best endings I've seen in a long time. Rusty - while innocent of murdering Carolyn - had participated in staging her death scene believing he was protecting his wife's crime. In reality, he was unknowingly protecting his daughter.
The closing moments show everyone moving forward in life without anyone being any wiser.
"Presumed Innocent" had a wild twist ending. (Credit: Apple TV+)
In the end, it was a twist that I definitely didn't see coming as someone who never read the book or saw the movie with Harrison Ford. I absolutely loved it, and I will definitely rewatch it at some point to see if there was ever clear evidence presented that it was his daughter. Have you seen the ending yet? Let me know what you think at David.Hookstead@outkick.com.