The Apple TV+ crime drama series ‘Defending Jacob’ has slowly and steadily been climbing up the ranks in the list of shows that have captured and held viewers’ attention this summer. We would go as far as to say that the Chris Evans starrer has become the must-watch of the season.
Some outstanding acting from the primary protagonists of the series, coupled with a bracing and affecting storyline, have ensured that viewers are lapping up the crime and suspense thriller that is laced with compelling drama and stirring emotions.
The 8-part series centers on a seemingly happy family — a couple and their 14-year-old school-going son — that is torn asunder when the son is accused of murdering his classmate at school. Chris Evans plays the father, Andy Barber, who is an Assistant District Attorney. The accusation against his son Jacob is devastating for him and he is torn between performing his duty and his unconditional love for his son.
The mother Laurie Barber (Michelle Dockery) has to face being ostracised by the community, but she stands by her son, played oh-so-convincingly by the baby-faced Jaeden Martell.
As the series progresses, the disbelieving parents begin to doubt the innocence of their son, despite defending him stoutly before the outside world. Matters complicate further when the later episodes bring up the subject of genetic inheritance of murderous tendencies – Jacob’s grandfather is in jail for a murder he committed years ago.
The show brings into sharp focus the time-tested nature versus nurture conflict, and compels the protagonists to question every taken-for-granted belief of their hitherto happily peaceful life.
The series streams in the one-episode-per-week format. The seventh episode which dropped this week revealed unexpected twists and tons of emotional drama. Chris Evans is on song in the episode, putting in some of the best acting of his career. He is the lynchpin of the series and he delivers spectacularly. The same is true of Michelle Dockery, who has delivered a restrained and understated performance.
Deadline has declared Defending Jacob as the breakout show from Apple TV+. And we are absolutely in agreement with the declaration.
The final episode of the season drops on Apple TV+ next week, and we suggest that you binge-watch the seven episodes streamed until now, and catch up with the rest of the admiring audiences of the series.
The official description of Defending Jacob reads –
“In this gripping, character-driven thriller, a shocking crime rocks a small Massachusetts town and one family in particular, forcing an assistant district attorney to choose between his sworn duty to uphold justice and his unconditional love for his son.”
Check out the trailer of Defending Jacob –
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