How well can and should a parent know their child? What is he capable of and what is not? What is it like to suspect your flesh and blood in the worst? Is there a limit to the human ability to bury one’s head in the sand? About this eight-episode drama “Defending Jacob” with Chris Evans in the title role.
Just yesterday, Assistant District Attorney Andy Barber had a perfect life: a loving wife, a teenage son; big house, successful career, mowed front lawn, vacation plans in Mexico. But then something went wrong. However, no. “Not so” is when you find out about your wife’s affair or that your son flunked his exams or changed his mind about going to college. What Andy Barber faced is much more serious: his son Jacob is accused of killing a classmate.
A 14-year-old boy is under investigation, his father is understandably deprived of the opportunity to conduct his case, and suddenly it turns out that the small world of the Barbers is much more fragile than it always seemed to its inhabitants. They have their secrets, their “apple trees” hidden in the far corner of the garden – the very ones from which, as is commonly believed, apples do not fall far. And their own ways to deal with adversity.
So what really happened? Does Jacob have the so-called killer gene – a genetic predisposition to commit crimes? And even if there is, what overpowered him: genetics or internal morality? Perhaps the deceased offended Jacob or someone else. Probably no. Maybe it’s not the boy’s fault.
The series “Defending Jacob” is good, first of all, because it goes far beyond the detective or court drama. Whether Jacob committed the crime he is accused of is largely secondary. Much more interesting is what happens to the characters and to ourselves.
After all, it is absolutely impossible at least once while watching this Scandinavianly restrained series (director Morten Tyldum is Norwegian, and this is very felt) not to ask questions: what would I do? How would you feel if you had to blame your child for the worst? Would you have understood in time that something was wrong with the child? Would he trust him unconditionally, would he defend to the bitter end? What would you do if? .. What would you go for? .. How would you continue to live with the realization that, perhaps, you turned out to be a bad parent who missed the beginnings of something terrible in a child? How would you live, knowing that everyone, including the closest people, has lost faith in your child, and he, perhaps, is not to blame for anything? And could he live at all?
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“One Night” (The Night Of, 2016) – A Pakistani-American student is arrested on suspicion of killing a girl. His lawyer is John Stone, played by John Turturro. He plays in such a way that for him alone it is worth watching the series.
“How to Avoid Punishment for Murder” (How to Get Away with Murder, 2014-2020) is a seemingly completely opposite show with the brilliant Viola Davis. But having started it once, after a couple of days you find yourself watching the 4th season (there are 6 in total).