Howard Gordon’s Accused is an American crime-drama anthology series. The show is based on Jimmy McGovern’s 2010 British series of the same name. The first episode of Accused Season 1 premiered on January 22, 2023 and it was renewed for a second season in March 2023.
With the first episode of Accused Season 2 premiering on October 8, 2024, here is a complete recap of season 1. Being an anthology series, each episode of the show deals with a fresh case where the perspectives of both the accused and the accuser are shared.
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The following article contains spoilers from the first season of Accused.
Accused Season 1 Episode 1 recap
The first episode of Accused Season 1, titled Scott's Story, deals with the case of Scott Harmon (Michael Chiklis), a successful neurosurgeon, on trial for providing assistance to a school shooter.
Through a series of flashbacks, it is then revealed that Scott’s son Devin has been suspended from school for threatening another student and has violent tendencies. Scott finds a diary in his son’s room that’s filled with dark thoughts and plans of revenge.
Perplexed by the way his son thinks, Scott takes the extreme decision of killing Devin and attempts to stage an accident that will cause his death. However, the plan fails and Scott gives some money to Devin so that he can take a trip and deal with his anger.
However, shortly after Devin returns. Scott comes to know that his son, along with another guy named Jasper have armed themselves and taken hostages in their previous high school.
Scott tries his best to make Devin surrender; but, the later lashes out on him and commits suicide. Jasper gets taken into custody.
Upon hearing the complete story, Scott’s charges are dismissed by the judge.
Accused Season 1 Episode 2 recap
The second episode of Accused Season 1, Ava's Story, follows Ava (Stephanie Nogueras), a deaf surrogate mother facing trial for kidnapping and endangering a minor.
It is then revealed that Ava had given birth to Lucie, the baby for parents Max (Aaron Ashmore) and Jenny (Megan Boone).
However, when the couple learns that Lucie might also be deaf like her biological mother, they think of a cochlear implant so that Lucie can hear. Ava opposes this idea and eventually runs off with Lucie towards Michigan as they have different adoption laws.
Unfortunately, she is arrested and presented before the court. When she finally hires Lauren Ridloff, her deaf counsel, she is finally able to tell her story to the court.
In the end, Lucie’s parents ask the state to drop the charges against Ava and decide to learn sign language for Lucie.
Accused Season 1 Episode 3 recap
Danny's Story, the third episode of Accused Season 1, follows Danny, a teenager on trial for stabbing Alison (Rachel Bilson), his stepmother.
Shortly after his mother Isabel dies, Danny finds his father kissing Alison, Isabel's caretaker. Danny’s father informs him and his brother that he is in a relationship with Alison.
A few days after that, the family dog is killed and Danny accuses Alison of the killing. However, no one trusts him. He then falls sick after eating Alison’s food but nothing is found when he is admitted to hospital.
With his behavior full of constant paranoia, Danny’s character seems to be dealing with mental health issues. When unable to take it anymore Danny goes to Alison’s room to gather some evidence against her, he is confronted by her and stabs her before getting arrested.
It is then shown that while being in a mental health facility, Danny is visited by Alison, who tells him that his father died from a heart attack on their honeymoon and his brother is suffering from stomach aches, thus confirming Danny’s suspicions that she is poisoning and killing the family.
Accused Season 1 Episode 4 recap
Episode 4 of Accused Season 1, titled Kendall's Story, follows Kendall, who is on trial for murder. After Ingrid, his daughter is sexually assaulted at a park, Kendall wants to work alongside Detective Trent Douglas (Wendell Pierce) to find the culprit.
However, Kendall’s coworker and friend Lamar Mingoe convinces him otherwise and asks him to look for the perpetrator himself.
Later, Kendall is told by Lamar that they have found the man, Clyde Ellman, in the park and he along with another co-worker David Perry eventually catch and Lamar beats him to death.
Douglas then visits Kendall and accuses him of being involved in this murder. He, however, says that he was working with Perry and Lamar. Kendall eventually tells the whole story to Alisa (Karen LeBlanc), his wife and she asks him to share his side of the story with Douglas.
However, upon reaching the station, Kendall learns that his friends have put all the blame on him. On trial, Kendall calls Lamar a liar and Douglas tells the former that he does believe him and will fight for his justice.
Accused Season 1 Episode 5 recap
In Robyn's Story, the fifth episode of the first season of Accused, focuses on drag queen Kevin Milstead/Robyn Blind (J. Harrison Ghee), who is on trial for murder.
It is then revealed that Robyn Blind, after being catcalled while leaving a drag show, accepts a car ride from Jamie Walsh, the catcaller’s brother.
They eventually begin a relationship but it ends only after the second meeting as Jamie mentions that his wife is dead.
A month later they reconnect at Robyn’s show but notices Jamie with another woman. In a series of unfortunate events that follow, Jamie while leaving with Robyn, confesses that he has killed his wife Natalie (Kristen Connolly) in a moment of rage and they need to dispose of the body.
Upon learning this, Robyn runs away. Finally during the trial, Robyn appears in the court in a drag costume to prove how difficult it is to dispose off a body in that costume
After this, Robyn is acquitted of the charges.
Accused Season 1 Episode 6 recap
In Naataanii's Story, the sixth episode of the first season of Accused, Naataanii Desmond and his friends Chase and Shandiin are on trial for murder.
After getting arrested for protesting at a uranium mine, Derrick (Kiowa Gordon), Naataanii, Chase and Shandiin’s friend, devises a plan to stop mining operations.
While Shandiin, with the help of a friend, steals a keycard from a mine guard at a bar, Derrick stays back to have a conversation with a man (Dash Mihok). The group successfully breaks into the plant, but when Shandiin notices the man from the bar and FBI agents appearing, they try to escape.
Though Derrick takes a guard as a hostage, the group confronts him on suspicion of being an informant. A standoff follows and as the group is arrested, the lead agent shoots Derrick and plants the gun on him.
During the trial, the guard testifies against Derrick, saying he had the gun. However, ultimately, because of the bailiff recording a conversation of an FBI agent trying to turn Naataanii into an informant, the group is released and the plant is closed by the DOJ.
The FBI agent is charged for his involvement in the coverup.
Accused Season 1 Episode 7 recap
Episode 7 of the first season of Accused, Brenda's Story, follows stand-up comedian Brenda (Whitney Cummings), who is charged with murder.
It is then revealed that after a show, Brenda and her friend Chad (Baron Vaughn) had visited Zeke Thompson’s party. Zeke happened to be their friend who made it big in the stand-up industry.
After the party, Chad leaves, but Brenda stays behind. She is then raped by Zeke. The next day, when she takes the rape kit, Zeke is arrested. Brenda then meets a woman, Tess, who supports her both online and in person.
However, Zeke is released after the ADA interviews as it is found that it will be difficult to charge him since he had consensual sex with Brenda in the past. Out of custody, Zeke is set on fire by Tess, who has been inspired by one of Brenda’s comments on one of Zeke’s posts.
At her trial, Brenda is asked about the comment but is eventually found not guilty.
Accused Season 1 Episode 8 recap
Laura's Story, the 8th episode of Accused Season 1, focuses on Professor Laura Broder (Molly Parker), who is charged with murder.
After Laura’s son Liam is killed in a school shooting incident (shown in Scott's Story), she advocates for a gun bill. Then she learns that a group of conspirators, lead by Joanna Lynn Pierce (Margo Martindale), believe that the shooting was only a hoax.
Eric, Laura’s husband, secretly purchases a gun. With an unfortunate turn of events that lead Joanna filing a restraining order against Laura and her family, the gun is found by Jonah, the younger son.
He breaks into Joanna’s house and shoots her but Laura takes the blame and pleads guilty, which would land her a minimum 15 years of prison sentence.
Accused Season 1 Episode 9 recap
Ritter is on trial for statutory rape and transportation of a minor accross the state border.
The story then shows that when Clara Palmer, one of Jack’s students attempts suicide because of being pregnant, he intervens. He takes her to New Mexico for an abortion but lies to his fiancee about this.
However, when Jack learns that Ritchie, whom Clara claimed to have impregnated her never touched her, he confronts Clara. She then reveals that her stepfather abuses her. Jack tells this to his fiancée Britney (Wrenn Schmidt) but gets arrested.
Clara’s stepfather convinces Clara to testify against Jack and accuse him of grooming her. However, ultimately Britney realizes that Jack has been truthful and talks to Clara’s mother. She confronts her husband and he is ultimately arrested.
Accused Season 1 Episode 10 recap
Esme's Story, the tenth episode of season 1 of Accused, features Esme Barnes (Abigail Breslin), who is charged with murder.
The story reveals that Esme, while being out with Aaliyah, his black girlfriend, encounters a white supremacist rally, which gets interrupted by counter protesters.
Esme then finds Aaliyah posing as a white supremacist to find the driver whose vehicle had crashed into the rally. When Ancel, a white supremacist turns up at their apartment as a result of Aaliyah’s investigation, Esme, poses as the white supremacist to befriend him.
In an attempt to discover more, Esme reaches the compound, accepting an invitation. However, despite finding the car and a Nazi flag, Esme is caught by the group’s leader, Shaggy (Kyle Schmid).
While arguing over Esme and whether to kill him or not, Ancel asks Esme to drive the car home. However, when a police officer opens the trunk of the car, a bomb goes off, and six people are killed.
Esme eventually runs over the two white supremacist before getting arrested. In her trial, she is found guilty.
Accused Season 1 Episode 11 recap
Jiro's Story, episode 11 of the first season of Accused, centers on soccer coach Jiro Tamura (Ian Anthony Dale), who is charged with negligence and assault.
Osamu, Jiro’s brother, is sent to Wildwood Gardens facility after their mother’s death. There, Jiro encounters Kyle "Kip" Tanner, an aggressive resident.
Jiro comes to know that Osamu has been pushed down the stairs by Tanner. Upon further investigation, Jiro learns that Tanner had been sent to the Wildwood Gardens facility for an assault.
Finally, Jiro brings Osamu home while shoving Leon, the caretaker of the facility, unconscious along the way. In his trial, Jiro says he did not accept any plea deal because that would result in him being ineligible to take care of Osamu.
Jiro is finally acquitted.
Accused Season 1 Episode 12 recap
Episode 12 of Accused Season 1, Morgan's Story, focuses on schoolteacher Morgan Knight (Meaghan Rath), who is on trial for drug dealing.
It is revealed that Morgan and Jason (Christopher Gorham), her husband, have marital problems. Eventually Morgan files for divorce and gets full custody of Ari, their son.
Jason cannot accept this and goes to Eric, police officer brother to talk about hiring a hitman. However, Eric says no to this idea and instead plans for Morgan’s arrest.
They plant cocaine in Ari’s bag, which is retrieved from Morgan’s car. However, despite all his efforts, Morgan’s attorney successfully proves that the drugs were planted and did not belong to Morgan.
All the charges against Morgan are dropped and Eric gets arrested.
Accused Season 1 Episode 13 recap
In Samir's Story, the 13th episode of the first season of Accused, Samir Khalil (Adam Bakri), a limo driver, is on trial for murder.
The story reveals that Samir got infatuated with Alice Baylor (Julia Goldani Telles), a real-estate agent, who happened to be his passenger and mistakenly leaves her phone in his car.
However, Samir soon discovers that Alice has a boyfriend. As Joshua Donovan, the boyfriend, sees Samir outside Alice’s house, he mistakes him for a Lyft driver. Samir drives him home and finds out that he is a married man with children.
Samir thearents Joshua to tell Alice about his truth. Samir goes on a date with Alice, but later going to her house, finds her with Joshua, who has apparently split from his wife. The two men argue and Alice leaves both of them.
As Joshua confronts Samir, he runs him down. In his trial, Samir is charged with second-degree murder as he is found guilty of it.
Accused Season 1 Episode 14 recap
Episode 14 of Accused Season 1, Jessie's Story, focuses on Jessie, a teenager, who is on trial for breaking and entering.
It is then shown that ever since Jessie had to quit running because of a genetic disorder, she has been asking Kara (Betsy Brandt), her mother, about her father. Her mother, however, refuses to give any information.
It also appears strange that Kara is extremely against Jessie dating their neighbor Will. When Kara finds Jessie taking a DNA kit, she gives her sperm bank file that says her father died in a car accident.
However, unable to get the sperm bank on the phone, Jessie and Will break in. Unfortunately, they trip an alarm and though Will flees, Jessie’s condition gets her caught.
It is ultimately revealed that Will’s father Donovan is Jessie’s father as Jessie’s mother and Donovan had an affair.
Jessie is found guilty in her trial but is let go with a light sentence and zero prison time.
Accused Season 1 Episode 15 recap
The last episode of the first season of Accused, Billy's Story, follows Billy Carlson (Keith Carradine), an aging musician, who pleads guilty to manslaughter.
It is revealed that Billy’s son Leo was sent to rehab after he had caused a fire after he overdosed. After being released, Leo meets Tommy and Ramona, his more successful siblings.
When Leo learns that Billy is recording a greatest hits album, he wants to include one of his songs that has not yet been published. However, Billy does not agree to this.
When Leo hears his parents arguing, he takes some of Billy’s cancer medication and goes boating with Jo Jo, his daughter. He crashes and almost kills both of them. After this Billy takes Jo Jo’s custody.
When Leo comes to know that he is being sent to rehab again, he wants to see Jo Jo, who is with Ramona. Billy realizes Leo is overdosing as he hears his unpublished song being played. However, Anne starts to administer narcan but ultimately decides against it. When the paramedics come, Billy takes the blame, which lands him in his trial.
Accused Season 1 can be streamed on Hulu.
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