The highly successful courtroom drama Presumed Innocent Season 1 concluded in July 2024, with its finale revealing who killed Carolyn Polhemus.
The Apple TV+ series focuses on the trial against a prosecutor's murder. Eventually, Jake Gyllenhaal's Chief Deputy Prosecutor, Rusty Sabich becomes one of the suspects in the mysterious murder.
However, the truth about Carolyn's murder kept viewers on the edge for weeks. If you are yet to watch the finale, we must warn you: Spoilers ahead!
The actual killer proved to be none other than the titular character's daughter, who confessed to her crime in the last episode of the legal drama.
Who was the killer in Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent: Ending Explained
Everyone presumed Barbara to be the culprit with jealousy as her motive, as depicted in the 1987 book and the 1990 film.
However, Jake Gyllenhaal's Presumed Innocent is beyond an average murder mystery, as the finale left fans and viewers shocked to learn who the actual killer was.
In the courtroom battle, Tommy Molto is determined to prove Rusty Sabich guilty of his mistress' murder, and despite trying hard to put his former colleague behind bars, the jury declares Rusty not guilty of the murder.
While Rusty is relieved that he didn't fall into Tommy's trap, the Chicago prosecutor must find out who the killer is. In the last episode, Rusty and his wife Barbara are seen having a feud over Carolyn's death as Rusty believed she killed his girlfriend out of rage and jealousy.
Following the heated exchange of words, their daughter Jaden shows up at the garage with a strained look and explains that she's involved in Carolyn's murder. Her bombshell revelation shook her parents as Jaden confessed that she went to Carolyn's house the night after Rusty left.
The only reason why Jaden met Carolyn alone at her house was due to her parents' strained marriage. Jaden wanted Carolyn to step away from Rusty's life as it was gradually ruining her family.
However, Carolyn refuses to part ways with Rusty as she becomes pregnant with his child and tells Jaden that she cannot hide the truth from her boyfriend. Following the revelation, Jaden is riddled with confusion, rage, and hate, and ends up taking Carolyn's life with a fireplace poker.
Her confession about the murder left Rusty and Barbara shattered and heartbroken as they never imagined that their teenage daughter could commit a heinous crime.
Will there be a Presumed Innocent Season 2 featuring Jake Gyllenhaal?
Even though Presumed Innocent season one ended with the revelation of the murderer, there's more to tell. And if you've been wondering whether the show has been renewed, there is good news! Apple TV+ has renewed the legal drama for another season.
In an interview with Deadline, Presumed Innocent's executive producer J.J. Abrams shared that "Nothing was ever shot to set up a second season", but the show's creator along with Abrams are "very excited about the possibilities [they're] discussing" for the legal drama's next chapter.
Presumed Innocent features a wide range of talented actors from the industry including Ruth Negga as Barbara Sabich, Renate Reinsve as Carolyn, Peter Sarsgaard as Tommy Molto, Chase Infiniti as Jaden Sabich, Bill Camp as Raymond Horgan, and many more supporting actors who significantly contributed to the show's remarkable run on Apple TV+.
Presumed Innocent is available on Apple TV+
Stay tuned to SoapCentral for regular entertainment!
