Questions we need answered every week after the supposedly innocent season 1
The Presumably innocent season finale answered a lot of viewers’ questions, but also left a few things up in the air.
The Jake Gyllenhaal-led series became a phenomenon thanks to social media after Apple TV+ premiered in June 2024, becoming the streamer’s most-watched drama. Based on the bestselling book of the same name Scott Turowthis eight-episode series was not the first film adaptation of the novel. The 1990s Presumably innocent movie was playing Harrison Ford – but has a very different ending.
Spoilers for Presumed Innocent ahead.
Gyllenhaal stars as Chicago prosecutor Rusty Sabich, who was charged with a brutal first-degree murder after his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve) was found dead in her home. It is later revealed that married man Rusty and Carolyn were having an affair – which she tried to end, much to his chagrin. Although things looked risky for Rusty when the trial went to trial, he was ultimately acquitted of the crime.
As for who killed Carolyn, it initially seemed like viewers would be left without answers. However, in the final moments of the season 1 finale, the killer is revealed. The night of Carolyn’s death, Rusty returned to her home, discovered her abused corpse and staged the crime scene – falsely linking Carolyn’s murder to the MO of a previously convicted murderer. After following his wife Barbara’s (Ruth Negga) car, Rusty confronts her about committing the crime. Barbara, shocked by her husband’s accusation, begins to deny her guilt, but is cut off by their teenage daughter Jaden (Chase Infiniti) who admits she did it.
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While visiting Carolyn to demand she end the affair, Jaden discovers that her father’s girlfriend is pregnant. In anger, she grabs the poker by the fireplace and viciously beats Carolyn with it, killing her. Jaden then tries to cover up her crime by burying the fire poker. The fire poker eventually returns as Jaden tries to save her father’s case by placing it on prosecutor Tommy Molto’s case (Peter Sarsgaard) apartment.
Presumably innocent Season 1 comes to an end when Rusty tells Jaden and Barbara that they will never speak of Carolyn’s death again, leaving their once rocky marriage and family intact despite all odds.
Now that the show has announced a second season, there are still tons of questions that need to be answered. Keep scrolling for a full overview:
What will happen to Jaden?
Jaden mentions that she learned about dissociative states in her high school psychology class, but it seems she remembered killing Carolyn. Will guilt eat her alive or will the family be able to live with a murderer under their roof? There’s also the possibility that Jaden will snap and confess or even kill again.
Does Kyle know what his sister did?
Jaden and her younger brother, Kyle (Kingston Rumi Southwick) were each other’s support system during Rusty’s murder trial. Although he was at one point painted as a suspect when video footage showed him cycling past Carolyn’s house the night she died, it is unclear whether the teen knows what his sister did. There is also the question of whether he also had a part in the crime.
Will Barbara and Rusty stay together?
Barbara told Rusty during the season finale that she packed an emergency bag in case he ever cheats on her again. But will his cover-up of Jaden’s crime change things? Will they still project this fake happy relationship?
What will happen to Tommy?
Sarsgaard revealed in August 2024 that he has no plans to reprise his role for the show’s second season. “I guess I’m a one-season person,” he told IndieWire. But what does that mean for Prosecutor Tommy? Since no one has been convicted of Carolyn’s murder, he may be able to move on career-wise.
However, author Turow wrote one Presumably innocent sequel in 2011 titled Innocent which is a rematch between Tommy and Rusty. So anything is possible regarding their future.
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What happened between Tommy and Carolyn?
With Tommy gone, viewers may never get this answer again. However, it was often said that Carolyn was uncomfortable with Tommy and did not want to work with him. She even filed a human resources complaint. But what really happened between them is never revealed.
Why didn’t Carolyn talk to her son?
Carolyn’s relationship with her son, Michael Caldwell (Tate Birchmore), is discussed, but not really. Yes, they were estranged, but why? And honestly, why was he standing outside Carolyn’s house filming her and Rusty the night she died?
Will season 2 continue the story?
It is unclear what story the second season will follow. However, Apple TV+ did announce that the show will “unfold around an exciting, brand new case.” When it comes to Turow’s popular legal thrillers, Rusty is not a recurring character. So it’s unclear whether Gyllenhaal will appear at all. However, the actor will certainly remain as executive producer alongside Turow. David E. Kelley And JJ Abrams.
