Apple TV's 8-Part Thriller Is So Good, You'll Finish It in One Sitting

The best television shows are ones where you feel compelled to zoom through each episode until you reach the very end. These types of binges point to a series being altogether addictive, and who doesn't love becoming obsessed with a fantastic new show? Within Apple TV's already impressive streaming library, one series released in the summer of 2024 is guaranteed to have you binging it in one sitting.

What Is 'Presumed Innocent' About?

Presumed Innocent is based on the 1987 novel by Scott Turow, and you might have already seen the 1990 film version starring Harrison Ford, but that shouldn't deter you from checking out the Apple TV series, which puts its own spin on the source material. The eight-episode thriller follows Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a successful prosecutor with a loving family, but viewers quickly learn that there's a very different side to his character.

Rusty has secretly been having an affair with his co-worker, Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve), and this only comes to light after Carolyn is brutally murdered in her home. Rusty's life would have been complicated enough after her murder, but things become even more disastrous when his colleague, Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard), decides to charge him with Carolyn's murder. Presumed Innocent unfolds at breakneck speed as Rusty fights for his innocence, but the question remains: is Rusty truly innocent — and if he didn't kill Carolyn, who did?

'Presumed Innocent' Is a Thrilling, Wild Ride From Start to Finish

Each episode of Presumed Innocent will have you glued to your screen. The narrative is told through multiple flashbacks that dig deeper into Rusty's life and his past with Carolyn, as well as brief, haunting images that force the viewer to question the facade Rusty presents to the world. These types of visuals elevate the series from just a standard psychological thriller and create a tension that will leave your heart racing. There's also the fact that Presumed Innocent doesn't stick to just one genre. Later episodes pivot to a courtroom drama, with Rusty's trial center stage. The overwhelming stress tied to Rusty's fate is depicted realistically and harshly, especially as it affects everyone from his dedicated lawyer (Bill Camp) to his loyal wife (Ruth Negga). The finale brings down the curtain in a super satisfying way, with every loose end wrapped up, and it's certainly a wild ride to the conclusion.

Presumed Innocent would be compelling enough with its propulsive writing and the story's twists and turns, but the series is truly electric because of its impressive ensemble. Gyllenhaal is perfectly cast as a conflicted man who struggles to hang on to a life that he's partly responsible for destroying. His scenes with both Reinsve (recently nominated for an Oscar for her work in Sentimental Value) and Negga are brimming with differing chemistry that is all too fascinating to watch. Another standout performance comes from Chase Infiniti, who has popped up on everyone's radar with her recent turn in the Oscar-winning One Battle After Another; her breakout role in this Apple TV series shows her earliest potential as an actor. Each member of the cast ensures that the show draws you in; Gyllenhaal, Negga, Camp, and Sarsgaard were even nominated for Emmys for their work.

Presumed Innocent has already been greenlit for a second season, based on an entirely new story and with a brand-new cast. Season 2, which is expected to be released later this year, will be adapted from the novel Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray, starring Rachel Brosnahan, Matthew Rhys, and Fiona Shaw. This means that Season 1 of Presumed Innocent acts as a standalone series, making it a perfect binge-watch if you're looking for a new show to become your latest streaming obsession.