Unsettled, Andy visits Billy, who indeed arranged for a blackmailed confession and suicide. Jacob, in the book, dies. The fact is we just dont know. Who killed Ben rifkins? OLeary is his right hand man on the outside and we know hes been tasked with looking out for the Barber family but that does not mean he murdered Patz. [This story contains spoilers from the finale of Apple TV+s Defending Jacob.]. Its ultimately left up to the viewer to decide, however frustrating it may be that we dont get the closure we feel we deserve. Thank you for reading this. Hope is eventually found safe and sound, but the damage has been done. Jacob because of the bullying. Andy then confronts his father Billy about this. Andy is at a crossroads where he can do the right thing and come forward with this information, which will mean his sons arrest again, or he can swallow it, says series writer and creator Mark Bomback. Due to the finding of Jacob's fingerprints on Ben's body and the discovery that Jacob used to carry a knife to school, he (Jacob) becomes the prime suspect. The tragic irony is, he didnt have to, and Hope is found.. Landay never had a problem with the idea of making changes from the novel. Defending Jacob ending has posed a lot of questions about the show and the plot in the minds of the audience. At the end of the day, Im not super interested in this binary thing of did he do it or didnt he do it? The book version: The Barbers head off to the Caribbean and Jacob . On top of that, Jacob can clearly recognize that his own parents aren't convinced of his innocence, which could lead to more awkward behavior as he tries to figure out his place in the world as a 14-year-old. Jacob is targetedbecause he's a social outcastwith obvious communication issues. Who do you think killed ben? : r/DefendingJacob_TV - Reddit Voting closed. "The book has one or two clues that suggest that Jacob might've done something to [Hope], and then we're really talking about someone who was a burgeoning serial killer," Bomback says. From there, the book becomes even darker:Laurie's crash results in Jacob's death, and she barely survives. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. Defending Jacob FINALE Review: The Ending Of Chris Evans - Koimoi Winning several awards, it is not surprising that it would become a mini-series giving the audience time to . I would rather leave that to your imagination. There is one single piece of proof that can prove how Jacob can't be Bens killer. Mark Jacob is a journalist, media critic, and former metro editor at the Chicago Tribune. In both cases, something happens to a young girl during the vacation. So thats what I was going for, and it is different than the book. She visits the Rifkin household to seemingly confess to Jacobs guilt but, after seeing Bens mum Joan (Megan Byrne) struggling to cope, decides to take matters into her own hands. With the amount of context involving what Jacob said regarding the murder, it does not persuade me to believe that he did actually kill him. Q.V. Despite his discovery, Andy believes Jacob is innocent, as does his wife Laurie (portrayed on screen by Michelle Dockery). Lastly, it can also be presumed that Andy is thinking about Jacob. Over the course of its eight episodes, the AppleTV+ limited series carefully doles out many of the hallmarks of a standard murder mystery, from red herrings and tense trials to more than a few shocking twists. Laurie is badly injured and Jacob is in a coma. But in the series, everythings still up in the air. Who Was The Real Killer In Defending Jacob? - Mastery Wiki And then of course the scene then that follows is open to interpretation. I felt like the ending was really interesting largely because I thought the show was highlighting her ability to see Jacob's darkness because of some darkness within herself. The suicide, confession and photographs that were deleted by Leonard from his phone point at the fact that he murdered Ben. But it was interesting playing something that is ambiguous, because as actors, sometimes I feel like I like that certainty. Laurie, in the hospital, tells Andy that she wants her family back. It's another change from Landay's original novel: In the book, Jacob dies in the crash. Jacob is installed as the chief suspect by Mexicos police and the Barbers are rigorously interviewed. Jacob dies instantly in the car crash. In the book Hope the girl Jacob meets in Mexico (Jamaica in the novel) washes up dead on the beach. Whether Laurie remembers her own motivation for the crash is also up in the air, but creator Bomback says its much more likely shes decided to go along with Andys version of events that it was a horrible accident than the truth that its something she purposefully (though potentially subconsciously) did. As a character,Billy underlines Andy's life-long guilt. Episode eight follows on immediately from episode sevens ending. To write an ending that allows Andy and Laurie to slip out of that permanent relationship with Jacob in any way isnt true to the experience of most parents, who are in a permanent relationship with their children whether they like it or not.. She angrily confronts him and pleads with him to tell her that he murdered Ben. He left the party early after arguing with her, and didnt text her once hed left like he promised. Dockery says that its clear Laurie is in a fog of her own trauma, and the ambiguity about her decision took a lot of work to calibrate correctly. Andy goes back home and drinks alone. I think he was a seriously screwed up kid. The finallesson reinforces the underlying theme of faith in Defending Jacob. . The car crashes. Sad times, we dont know! Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell and Chris Evans in Defending Jacob, which ended with a twist-filled episode. Jacob keeps declining and Laurie believes he did kill Ben so she crashes the car deliberately. Any difficulty or complexity that your child brings into this world becomes a part of your own life. She asks Jacob about it while they are in a car. In Defending Jacob, based on the book by William Landay, creator Mark Bomback takes on the murder gene. We looked into the science behind it. Instead, the show leaves it maddeningly ambiguous all the way until the final frameand that, series writer Mark Bomback tells EW, is the point. How Palm Springs ran out Black and Latino families to build a fantasy for rich, white people, 17 SoCal hiking trails that are blooming with wildflowers (but probably not for long! Defending Jacob: Differences Between The Show And Book Ending When Laurie sees the henchmans car. 113. Laurie starts to doubt Jacobs innocence, causing a rift between her and Andy. Andy tells Laurie the truth about Patzs death. The ending of AppleTV+'s 'Defending Jacob' series diverts from William Landay's 2012 novel in two key ways. But I think if you read the book and you like the book, hopefully youll be a little sideswiped by this in a good way., Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Inside the business of TV with breaking news, expert analysis and showrunner interviews. one who killed Jacob's classmate, Ben. Andy is understandably angry, believing Jacob wouldve cleared his name in court if given the chance. Defending Jacob writer dissects the shocking final episode | EW.com Despite Billy hinting that he wasnt involved, flashbacks show that he was. Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery lead the cast while Jaeden Martell and Cherry Jones also play key roles. When they find Jacob's fingerprint on Ben and other kids start talking on social media about how Barber owned a knife he liked to show off . Driving at full speed on a wet road, she crashes the car into the wall of a tunnel entrance, seemingly killing them both. In fact, the onscreen ending is closer to the initial conclusion of the story when he first submitted his manuscript as he told Bomback. Apple TV+ limited drama Defending Jacob stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery as the parents of a teenager accused of murdering a classmate. Benjamin "Ben" Rifkin was the son of Dan and Joan Rifkin. When Laurie wakes up in the hospital, she insists that the crash was an accident, but Andy isn't so sure. We want people to watch it and say, Holy , Morten Tyldum, who directed all eight episodes, told The Times. Laurie gets distant from Andy and Jacob and goes to Rifkin's'to confess about Jacob. As Laurie begs Jacob to tell her the truth, she pushes the car to go faster and faster, ultimately crashing and seriously injuring them both. I think it unravels. This we do know in the TV show at least. 'Defending Jacob' on Apple TV mentions 'murder gene.' Is it real? - Los Jacob is initially surprised, and then frightened as his mother drives erratically. Browse our new catalogue to inspire you with homeware, gardening tools, books and more! Anyways, Bye. Joanna Klein. The dark truth may be that someone elsein the community just may be the real killer - someone who steadily appears on camera but never exhibits any suspicious behavior. Defending Jacob is an American crime drama web television miniseries, based on the novel of the same name by William Landay, produced by Apple TV+. And once again, the Barbers find themselves wondering how well they really know each other. I wouldnt extend it to another season just to simply spend more time with these characters. Their car incident is deemed as an accident and Laurie is also hurt gravely. Andy admits that his father is a murderer named Billy who is in prison. Before you give us your thoughts on Episode 1, let's break down what happened in the series premiere: Based on William Landay's 2012 novel, Defending Jacob stars Evans as Andy Barber, an . The following story contains . More:Is Defending Jacob A True Story? The kid that ran away. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Of course, not everyone is convinced. He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. ALSO READ | 'Raktanchal' ending explained: A final face off between Waseem Khan and Vijay Singh. However, towards the end, the pressure gets to them. Andy has kept his feelings bottled inside for years, whether protecting Jacob throughout his trial or lying about his father's incarceration, but the disappearance of Hope is the thing that finally breaks him, and he tells Laurie the truth about Patz. The series was created and written by Mark Bomback and directed by Morten Tyldum. When Jacob becomes a murder suspect, Laurie feels guilty that her son is being accused of the murder she committed. Jacob's parents defend him but struggle to ascertain whether their son is actually guilty. Is Defending Jacob Based on a True Story. At first, the Barbers are shown attempting to fight the case as best as they can. Did Jacob Do It in 'Defending Jacob'? Spoilers on Who Killed Ben Jacob immediately befriends a fellow teenager named Hope who, the morning after a party, has mysteriously gone missing. Questions of Jacob's guilt drive Laurie to a breaking point, culminating with a tense confrontation between mother and son in the car. Not Quite, Apple TV+ Is Most Divisive Streaming Service. Defending Jacobimplies that Billy framed Patz, but it's also highly likely that Patz did indeed kill Ben and then accepted his fate. Yes, she did. Billy sent Father OLeary to force Patz to confess to Bens murder, before strangling him to death and making it look like suicide, to prevent Jacob ending up in prison like him. He's also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor. Andy cant help but feel suspicious over Leonards death, and learns that his gut feeling is spot-on during another trip to see his father. If the TV adaptation stays faithful to the book, then viewers will be left guessing when it comes to Jacobs guilt. Now that the explosive and heart wrenching eighth episode has aired, we have the answers some of them, at least. A few days later, he was murdered. Jacob may not have inherited the murder gene from his fathers line, but he may have inherited traits from his mother it may be the case that both he and Laurie are capable of murder. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Apple TV+s limited series Defending Jacob, Apples new TV show reconsiders the murder gene. Heres what the science says, Review: Defending Jacob might be Apple TV+s first big flop, Tucker Carlson, Don Lemon blasted at White House Correspondents dinner, Tom Jones review: PBS Masterpieces latest period drama is laid-back and enjoyable, Michael J. Patz because of some pedo infatuation. Jacobs fingerprint is on Bens jacket but Jacob says that got there when he found the body but didnt tell anyone. You probably are pretty sure he did it, but theres no real way of knowing, and its possible he didnt. However, Andy finds out that his father had arranged for Patz to be threatened into writing a confession and be killed. The one sees the best in the child and the other only sees the worst. The last episode of Defending Jacob starts with the Assistant District Attorney and Jacobs father Andy Barber getting a phone call from their family lawyer, Joanna Klein, that Leonard Patz had left a notemoments before he had committed suicide. Defending Jacob (2020) - Ending Explained. | DMT - Digital Mafia Talkies And hes going to look at you and wonder, did you or didnt you? Still,Laurie becomes convinced that her son is guilty, and tearfully breaks the news to her husband. She confronts him about bullying her son but Ben doesnt care. Laurie - also hospitalised with various injuries - is told by Andy that the jury voted in favour of a car accident, and he heads home to sit quietly in Jacobs room as the credits roll. I like that its ambiguous, that it could have been premeditated or that shes trying to put them both out of their misery, Dockery says. Cookie Notice And now this murderer is walking free and even though its my own son, its my fault.. Privacy Policy. Wes Anderson Directing Star Wars? The finale of the Apple TV+ declines to answer that question, instead leaving viewers just as in the dark as Andy and Laurie Barber, the parents of the titular character who spend the series defending their eighth-grader against charges that he murdered a classmate. Defending Jacob: Who Is The Real Killer Of Ben Rifkin (Spoiler Alert ). Jacob Owen "Jake" Barber is the titular character of the Apple TV+ limited series, Defending Jacob. Youre at the mercy of the narrative in the same way that Andy and Laurie are.. Andy gets drunk and revealshis fathers involvement with Laurie. Conversely though, at the end its his mother who is an attempted murderer. Are his wife and son both murderers? But then a witness goes missing, and Jacob's fascination with the macabre, like "The . Its perhaps not surprising but also not indicative of veracity that it would only be after the trial, when Jacob isnt at risk of going to prison and Andy is fully smashed, that hed drop his guard. Laurie already knows Patz is a suspect, and to make it seem even more believable, she finds the kid Andy talked to before, who then confesses to having a deal with Patz. She is disturbed and cannot seem to trust Jacob. Laurie starts to believe that Jacob might have killed Ben after Andy tells her about his finding. Its told through Andys eyes and its not clear whether the crash is an accident or not, though Andy refuses to incriminate Laurie at all. For Bomback, it was far more interestingand devastatingfor Jacob to survive and be left unconscious. He had built his marriage on a lie by not telling Laurie about his father being in prison. Will he think that I tried to kill him or not?'" Upon the recommendation of Jacobs lawyer, Andy and Laurie send Jacob to a genetic specialist, Dr. Vogel. Entertainment Weekly is a registered trademark of Meredith Corporation All Rights Reserved. The viewer is meant to feel the frustration of never really knowing if he is guilty or innocent. The show never explicitly states whether Jacob (Jaeden Martell) committed murder. Copyright 2023 Meredith Corporation. And as the final episode reveals, Defending Jacob never definitively weighs in on Jacob's guilt or innocence. Defending Jacob: The 10 Best Characters, Ranked - Screen Rant Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Billy had asked Father OLeary to go to Patz and ask him to take the charge upon him, strangling him to death later. The ending of Defending Jacob might not prove to be completely satisfactory for viewers. He says no, and then he says yes, but neither answer is reliable since hes afraid for his life. And then of course, the tragic irony is, Hope is found and he really never needed to tell [Laurie] any of this. The suicide, confession, and photographs of Ben that Patz deleted from his phone - in episode two - all point towards him murdering Ben. Laurie begins to think that Jacob is really Bens killer. "In fact, he's going to now be having the same doubts about his mom that she's been harboring about him throughout the entire story.". What I wanted to leave you with is the same sensation the parents have, which is, 'We'll never really know.'". She was previously a New York-based editor at the Hollywood Reporter and has written for the Washington Post, Backstage and American Theatre, among others. By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. In an attempt to put this whole ordeal behind them, the family heads to Mexico for a quiet vacation. Then again, the final image shows Andy sitting in his son's room, still in the dark, which suggests that Jacob's potential off-screen death essentially closes the door on clarity - not only about Ben's murder, but also about whether hecould forgive his own mother, Laurie. Photo: Apple TV+. The new Apple TV+ miniseries, Defending Jacob, is sure to suck you in if its anything like the book its based on. Andys journey has been this challenge to own up to everything that hes been trying to conceal: He comes clean about who his father is, and he tells Laurie the truth [about the forced confession], even if it means destroying everything hes been fighting to preserve this whole time. At first, the premise seems like a simple murder investigation: A local Massachusetts boy named Ben Rifkin is found stabbed in a suburban park, and assistant district attorney Andy Barber (Chris Evans) takes up the case. This Lincoln car is similar to the one Father OLeary drives. If the Apple TV+ series stays faithful to the book, here's what'll happen to the 14-year-old. The Defending Jacob ending reveals that Billy Barber orchestrated Patz's murder.Specifically, he enlisted a long-time friend known as "Father O'Leary" (William Xifaras) to frame and kill the pedophile, which would allow his grandson, Jacob, to receive legal "proof of innocence." The big reveal is foreshadowed by various meetings between Andy and Billy, with the latter refusing to offer any help. Jacob Barber | Defending Jacob Wiki | Fandom Yep, once again, we dont know! < Defending Jacob ending explained: Did Jacob Barber murder Ben Rifkin? The following story contains spoilers from the eighth and final episode of Defending Jacob, After.. What I was really interested in trying to create for the viewer was this very subjective experience of what his parents are going through. Absolute proof that Jacob did NOT kill Ben. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. The big reveal is foreshadowed by various meetings between Andy and Billy, with the latter refusing to offer any help. The family goes home immediately. Jacob says he didnt do it but he also wrote a story which sounded like it could have been a description of what happened. The eighth episode, which premiered Friday, begins with a big development: The murder charges that troubled teen Jacob (Jaeden Martell) had been facing all season are suddenly dropped. He was accused of murdering a classmate, Benjamin Rifkin. ALSO READ | Disappearance At Clifton Hill Ending Explained: How Does Abby Solve The Kidnapping Case? And to not be able to cope with that, I think the act then becomes about Laurie taking her own life as opposed to the murder of a child. Meanwhile, the defense attorney, Joanna Klein (Cherry Jones), explains to a trial jury that it's not unusual for a teenager like Jacob to have mature images on his laptop. He eventually showed up at her house two days before Ben was killed with Ben's phone. Inside, Jacob's continued silencekeeps dark thoughts swirling in Laurie's head. A later deposition reveals that Laurie began the day by calling attorney Joanna Klein early in the morning, along with Dr. Vogel. I think thats far more interesting and leaves a lot more to examine in terms of how we are able to survive when we learn harsh realities. Defending Jacob doesn't confirm whether Jacob murdered Ben, but all signs point towards him doing so. But will Laurie ever be forgiven by Jacob, who clings to life in a separate hospital room? I do think Jacob was guilty and just had zero remorse for anything. There has been a lot of stress, so why not go relax. As he visits a hospital after the hearing, its revealed Jacob is in a coma and on life support. Jacobs classmate, Ben Rifkin, is found stabbed to death in a park. She decides to go to Billy saying she did it and needs him to help her defend Jacob and they made a plan: If Jacob is found guilty, they get someone to kill and frame Patz. His father, Andy, and mother, Laurie, do everything in their power to prove his innocence. Laurie becomes more withdrawn from Andy and Jacob. Andy - who has been questioned by fellow attorney Neal Loguidice (Pablo Schreier) at a hearing about the accident throughout the series - refuses to implicate Laurie. The story follows an assistant district attorney named Andy Barber, who's investigating the murder of 14-year-old Ben Rifkin. Thats one of the plot points thats been altered from the book more on that later. Not only does he now know that his mother doesnt believe him, he also knows she tried to kill him which no one in the world will believe. Jacob Barbers fingerprint is found on Bens sweater and Jacob is arrested. The ending connotes how the three Barbers end up isolating themselves because of the accusation. THE END. It did bother me, that the night during the trial that Andy and Laurie heard an animal being . While driving, she asks her son to tell her the truth. At the end Andy is alone at his home. Jacob tells police that he tried to revive Ben after spotting his body in the woods, which would explain the presence of his fingerprint, but they still keep him in jail overnight. Since the Apple TV+ series strays from the source material and doesn't provide absolute clarity, viewers may be wondering what it all means, and whether the titular character is indeed a cold-blooded killer. Shes been an entertainment journalist for more than 15 years previously working at DVD & Blu-ray. Jacob, afraid of his mothers gradual speeding on such a rainy day, says, Fine, I killed him, OK? Andy tries to forget his fathers involvement, but the truth eventually comes out. He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. I think if Id given you a definitive answer on either one of those, you would have been a little bit frustrated because youve already entertained the possibility in both directions, says creator Mark Bomback. Here we break down the ending of Defending Jacob, including how it differs from the book. But later, in the hospital, she doesnt appear to remember what happened, and both she and Jacob will likely recover. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. Jacobs parents, Laurie and Andy, try to help get him out. She cleans the knife in the water and goes home. Is Bomback open to a Defending Jacob followup? As more information came out about him, it was obvious that the child was likely a psychopath and his father (unlike the mother) was in denial, refusing to see the . Jacob's trial ends with a declaration of innocence, after a pedophile named Leonard Patz (Daniel Henshall) hangs himself and confesses to Ben's murder in a suicide note. While both District Attorney Andy (Chris Evans) and teacher Laurie (Michelle Dockery) vacillate on their sons innocence (or lack thereof) throughout the series, the later episodes reveal that both have been complicit in covering up suspicious behavior, and the man who came forward and confessed to the crime was blackmailed into doing so by Andys own criminal father. Its deliberately ambiguous. Im more attempting to explore the subjective experience you have of seeing this situation through Andy and Lauries eyes and creating the sensation that they have, which is that you will never know. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Laurie tells Ben not to mess with her, Ben laughs and twists her arm. She was speeding. Even in the book on which the show is based leaves it open for interpretation. Hes drunk, and up until now has been completely unwilling to admit that he ever had doubts over Jacobs innocence, even when Laurie expressed her fears. Since the show has Hope alive, the situation is even muddier. Defending Jacob Ending & Book Differences Explained: Did Jacob Kill Ben? In Defending Jacob Episode 7, the trial begins, and the prosecution does not hold back. An area sex offender who was always the obvious suspect, according to Jacobs father, Andy (Chris Evans) has hanged himself, and left behind a written confession: He was the one who killed Jacobs classmate, Ben. Jacobs behaviour and Hopes disappearance convinces Laurie. Ashley Lee is a staff reporter at the Los Angeles Times, where she writes about theater, movies, television and the bustling intersection of the stage and the screen. Stabbed three times in the chest, his body was found on a dirt path in Cold Spring Park by Paula Gianetto . It makes you empathize with Laurie, and the torture that causes her to snap.. Jacob goes to see if he is dead but then he leaves the body and goes to school. But Bens mother Joan was struggling to cope. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Andy had always suspected Patz, and after the police get the note confirmed to be that of Patz, Jacob is acquitted. Its almost a fitting punishment shared secrets between Jacob and his mother that they both know the other is a killer and neither will ever be believed. Rosie Fletcher is the UK Editor of Den Of Geek. Jacobs case is dismissed. Just like Andy, as a viewer of Defending Jacob, we start to doubt again whether Jacob really killed Ben or not. One day after Laurie notices a peculiar red stain on her sons bathing suit, Hope is declared missing. Andy's drunken emotional breakdowneffectively splits the family apart. While Jacobs trial is going on, Patz commits suicide after confessing to have killed Ben in a letter. Andy had initially suspected Patz - a convicted paedophile - and, after the police confirmed Patzs handwriting on the note, Jacob is acquitted as the trial collapses. Would it really be that easy to fake a mans suicide by hanging? Chris Evans character Andy learns to own up to everything that hes been trying to conceal, said Defending Jacob creator Mark Bomback. Apple TV+'s Defending Jacob miniseries ends with some closure, but not everything is resolved. At the age of fourteen, he blackmailed Sarah Grohl. She takes Jacob with her for a haircut but confronts him, to tell the truth. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action, premise seems like a simple murder investigation, Mark Ruffalo didn't warn Chris Evans about, Chris Evans on why taking the Buzz Lightyear role was similar to playing Captain America. Defending Jacob | Season 1 - Episode 8 | Discussion Thread However, the tight focus of the shot means that its not possible to see if anyone else is in the room coercing him.
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