A week ago, we spoke to Cobra Kai: Season 6 star Brandon H. Lee on embracing his role as Kwon, working with some of the original cast members, and what we can see from him in future fights. Check out the full interview on Youtube! (link below)
It's great when a show tries to be as realistic as possible, especially for one in the crime-thriller genre like ‘Presumed Innocent’, which is already up there as one of the year's best TV shows and will probably stay that way. I've seen 7 out of 8 episodes, and though it might drag a little, the J.J. Abrams-produced limited series is a perfect blend of courtroom drama with thrilling murder mystery tropes that keep you guessing each episode, with a riveting performance from Jake Gyllenhaal.
The show's opening episode is perhaps among the slowest of the batch, setting up the premise of the show and nothing else in just its 40-minute runtime. It's here where you'll feel like this show will be a slow-burner and one that will be dragged out for no reason. Though, as the series progresses, only the latter is true. Unpredictable reveals along with thrilling dialogue in exceptionally well-crafted courtroom scenes keep you engaged with the narrative offered as Rusty Sabich fights for his (presumed) innocence. As for the show feeling dragged out, the episode lengths, amount, and the number of reveals in each episode explain how this is the case.
Everything is weaved together with some fantastic dialogue, but you can tell this story could have been wrapped in 6 episodes rather than the 8 we are given (even though I've only seen seven). The characters, especially our protagonist Rusty, are nuanced. Though, instead of dragging out the plot, the show could have taken the time to explore motivations and insights in different ways rather than relying on mental flashbacks a few times per episode, which often become repetitive and again, add to the idea of the show being prolonged for no apparent reason.
However, as far as I'm concerned, this is where the show's problems end. From a technical standpoint, this show is impeccably done, particularly the tone and acting.
Gyllenhaal shines as the convicted and lovesick Sabich, who does a great job of being a protagonist you can root for but also question—adding to the show's mystery as a whole. The rest of the cast is superb, including Ruth Negga (Sabich's wife), Bill Camp (Raymond Horgan, Sabich's good friend), and his children played by Chase Infiniti and Kingston Rumi Southwick, respectively.
The show's dialogue is also some of the best you will see on television in the last couple of years, especially in the courtroom—as those scenes genuinely have you on the edge of your seat and are thrilling in all elements. These appear frequently in the final episodes, and it's here when the show becomes more quick-paced. You'll also come to respect the show's realism too, especially with the courtroom terminology and accurate usage of it. It's like you're actually watching a real court case unfold at times—and the performances, as mentioned before, are so believable that they elevate the show to this level.
Ultimately, from the 7 out of 8 episodes I've seen so far, I'm very happy with ‘Presumed Innocent’. It's based on a book that's had a movie adaptation, yet this feels fresh and very well put together on all fronts. Its both compelling and believable story will make you want to tune in week to week to fetch answers and unravel the case in your mind. Now, here's me having to wait about a month until episode 8—and the truth is, I just can't.
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