Presumed Innocent

Season 1: After a long time, finally a courtroom series. And if I add to that the superb Jake Gyllenhaal in the main role, there is nothing to argue about the quality. The series focuses on prosecutor Rusty, who is accused of the murder of a colleague with whom he was having an affair, and due to the animosity between him and his antagonistic colleague, his rival takes the case and the trial can begin. Unlike other purely courtroom dramas, about half of the series rides more of a dramatic wave, with more dealing with family, relationships, deception, and gradually uncovering evidence as the trial progresses, which may initially feel a little unwelcome to a viewer expecting a full trial, but by the second half I realised that this is what makes you so invested in all the characters, fully understanding their motivations and thinking, and therefore able to immerse yourself fully in the process. And that is something to watch. Aside from the perfect dosage of evidence and unraveling of the story, we get absolutely amazing characters of both men facing off against each other in the process, and the whole family drama surrounding it is entertaining as well, with twists and turns thrown at us one after another, and I was just waiting in utmost satisfaction for the final reveal of "who was it then”. And I have to say, I'm satisfied, I've missed a show this compelling, with a great cast and story, for quite some time. For those who like courtroom dramas, this is an obvious choice and it ranks just a close second to my favourite and still unsurpassed, similar in theme, Defending Jacob. Yeah, this is a godsend. (07/24/2024)

Apple TV has once again delivered a fantastic genre contribution to courtroom dramas. Since there aren't many films and series set in this environment, I appreciate this project immensely. I liked how the series starts gradually, with a very clear direction for the story. Then, as time goes on, it begins to really turn up the heat. Such a number of twists is rare (especially when the writers have thought it all through perfectly and everything makes sense). Technically, it’s a top-notch viewing experience (the musical score also contributes to the already precise final result). I have no complaints about the acting. Jake Gyllenhaal is, as always, absolutely excellent, but I also have to highlight Peter Sarsgaard as the prosecutor. He really threw himself into the role at times. Yes, I enjoyed this a lot. Add to that the final episode packed with twists, and we have one of the series of the year. A solid 8/10. (08/01/2024)