who really killed ben in defending jacob

Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The book version: The Barbers head off to the Caribbean and Jacob . MCU superstar Chris Evans portrays the patriarchal figure, a lawyer named Andy Barber. 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. On its surface, Defending Jacob looks a lot like your traditional whodunnit. You can unsubscribe at any time. Lemme explain. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. I dont think Jacob did it because usually someone would confess when their life was on the line and he kept saying it wasnt him. 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. The ending of the series is much more ambiguous than the book in William Landays 2012 novel, the girl Jacob meets on vacation turns up dead, confirming Lauries worst suspicions. However, Sarah was livid as she doesn't know what he did or what drama he was pulling her into. Defending Jacob Review: Chris Evans Stars in a Twisty Crime Drama, Den Of Geek Book Club: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children, Always Sunny to Talking Sopranos: The Best TV Rewatch Podcasts Hosted By Cast & Creators, The Star Trek Story Bridging the Gaps Between Deep Space Nine and Picard, Taskmaster and The Underrated Comic Genius of Kiell Smith-Bynoe. Related:Defending Jacob Cast Guide: Where You've Seen The Actors Before. Defending Jacob Has a New Suspect - and He May Be Worse Than Jacob - CBR Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. In both the Defending Jacob show and book, the Barber family takes a vacation after the trail ends. Defending Jacob is a limited series made for Apple TV. Same blade size, as well as "teeth" on the blade. But you dont have anything conclusive. 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. Laurie survives and lives to explain what many would consider an unforgivable act. In Landay's source material, the Barbers go to Jamaica (rather than Mexico), and Jacob does indeed meet a girl named Hope Connors. Other reasons for incriminating Jacob come from the knife he had. And what I was interested in is, how do you go forward from there when you know that your son potentially could come out of this thing? The end implants the impact of the disintegration of the Barber family in the viewers minds. At the age of fourteen, he blackmailed Sarah Grohl. 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. The finallesson reinforces the underlying theme of faith in Defending Jacob. The Family is all about DEFENDING JACOB - Patch Now that the explosive and heart wrenching eighth episode has aired, we have the answers some of them, at least. Photo: Apple TV+. Laurie tells Ben not to mess with her, Ben laughs and twists her arm. It sort of strained credibility, especially in the way that I had written the character.". She is currently working remotely alongside her dog, Oliver. Defending Jacob: Differences Between The Show And Book Ending ), At Willie Nelson 90, country, rock and rap stars pay tribute, but Willie and Trigger steal the show, Concertgoer lets out a loud full body orgasm while L.A. Phil plays Tchaikovskys 5th, James Corden gets a star-studded send-off on his final Late Late Show, Kim Kardashian is catching shade from Patti LuPone and Sharon Stone for AHS casting, Jonathan Majors accuser gets full temporary protection order ahead of court date, Review: The Russo brothers spy thriller Citadel has plenty of action and little else, Former Springer bouncer Steve Wilkos pays tribute to TV mentor Jerry Springer. She may not have specifically been trying to kill him or indeed both of them but the crash wasnt an accident. 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. Laurie starts to believe that Jacob might have killed Ben after Andy tells her about his finding. But since the episode closes with Lauries bedside regrets and Andys quiet moment in Jacobs room, They wind up actually flipping at the end, where Andy seems to be quite aware of what his son might have done, and Laurie is willing to accept a lie to preserve their family and move on. "In a purely storytelling way, I'm not sure a definitive answer one way or the other would have been necessarily any more satisfying," says Bomback, who adapted the show from William Landay's 2012 novel. At first, it looks like the trial is moving along swimmingly like maybe the defense team will win. But when a friend of Bens suggests that there was animosity between Ben and Jacob, Andy decides to search his sons room. Next: Apple TV+ Is Most Divisive Streaming Service. She confronts him about bullying her son but Ben doesnt care. The conclusion to the gripping limited series delivers some answers, but also poses more questions. He had built his marriage on a lie by not telling Laurie about his father being in prison. He finds a knife fitting the description of the murder weapon and, in his shock, hastily gets rid of it, but Jacob is arrested when his fingerprint is found on the inside of Bens sweater. 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. The discussions of empathy or lack of empathy coming from the parents was also interesting on this point. If the central question of Defending Jacob is what happens when your child is accused of a horrific crime, the natural follow-up lingering in the background of every episode is potentially even more important: Did he do it? 38. His father, Andy, and mother, Laurie, do everything in their power to prove his innocence. What I was really interested in trying to create for the viewer was this very subjective experience of what his parents are going through. Conversely though, at the end its his mother who is an attempted murderer. So it took it took a lot of time to fine tune that, and I think theyve done it really well in the edit. Chris Evans character Andy learns to own up to everything that hes been trying to conceal, said Defending Jacob creator Mark Bomback. Could Patz really have been forced to write that suicide note without more pleading, or force on screen? stated whether Jacob really did kill . Hes pulled off the case after his son Jacob, a classmate of the victim, is arrested for the crime. In addition, Andy discovers a knife in his son's room - a possible murder weapon - which is what kicks off the story, as the Barbersaren't fully convinced their sonis innocent. After seeing Mrs Rifkin, she feels so upset she wants Jacob to tell Andy he did it so she can relax. But later, in the hospital, she doesnt appear to remember what happened, and both she and Jacob will likely recover. Jacob Owen "Jake" Barber is the titular character of the Apple TV+ limited series, Defending Jacob. Defending Jacob - Was Jacob guilty? Showing 1-50 of 91 - Goodreads Laurie is now convinced that Jacob had killed Benand possibly Hope as well. Jacob refuses again and again. 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 . Here's how the TV show differs from the book ending. Halle Bailey, Melissa McCarthy, and director Rob Marshall share the tale behind making their underwater musical with a groundbreaking Disney princess. Thats one of the plot points thats been altered from the book more on that later. He left the party early after arguing with her, and didnt text her once hed left like he promised. Dr. Vogel concludes that Jacob does not have the murder gene as it is passed maternally but does show genetic traits of manipulation and violence. If the TV adaptation stays faithful to the book, then viewers will be left guessing when it comes to Jacobs guilt. Offers may be subject to change without notice. I do think Jacob was guilty and just had zero remorse for anything. Q.V. And then of course the scene then that follows is open to interpretation. Defending Jacob: Who Is The Real Killer Of Ben Rifkin (Spoiler Alert Even in the book on which the show is based leaves it open for interpretation. More:Is Defending Jacob A True Story? It's up to Andy and his wife, Laurie (Michelle Dockery), to protect their son from a firestorm of media attention, combative prosecutors, and neighborhood gossipall while privately questioning whether their own child could be capable of the unthinkable. At this point, she just wants a definitive answer, and then asks her son if he killed Ben. Not Quite, Apple TV+ Is Most Divisive Streaming Service. 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. Did Jacob Kill Ben Rifkin - 1688 Words | Internet Public Library The teenagers plan to spend time together on New Year's Eve, andit's ultimately revealed that Hope went missing, with the implication being that Jacob could be a serial killer. How is the shows finale different from the books ending? Billy pointedly asks Andy if he is sure, which might be an indicator that he intends to do something about it. The body rolls down the hill and she goes to see if he is dead. Stabbed three times in the chest, his body was found on a dirt path in Cold Spring Park by Paula Gianetto . Jacob, in the book, dies. The viewer is meant to feel the frustration of never really knowing if he is guilty or innocent. Jacob is initially surprised, and then frightened as his mother drives erratically. She asks Jacob about it while they are in a car. It was an accident. So what if Jacob was actually innocent all along? Mark Jacob is a journalist, media critic, and former metro editor at the Chicago Tribune. I would rather leave that to your imagination. And yet hes living with this one massive lie, which is, we are indirectly responsible for the murder of another human being, and everything you thought at the end of episode seven about our son is back on the table., Says Evans, I think in our version, everyone copes with shame and guilt differently and I dont think Laurie has any of the coping mechanisms necessary to process a life of, once she understands that Father OLeary killed Patz, shes a part of the lies now. Billy confesses to hiring a hitman to kill Leonard and make it look like a suicide so that Jacob doesn't suffer the same fate he did. 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 . Part of her must know that she was in a horrible place that morning, Bomback says. 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.. 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. Laurie decides to kill them both by crashing into the side of a tunnel. **CONTAINS SPOILERS**. In the book Hope the girl Jacob meets in Mexico (Jamaica in the novel) washes up dead on the beach. Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell and Chris Evans in Defending Jacob, which ended with a twist-filled episode. AppleTV+s new crime drama Defending Jacob is a twisty turny tale which focuses on a father (Chris Evans) whose 14-year-old son Jacob (Jaeden Martell) is accused of murdering one of his classmates. New episodes of Defending Jacob will be released every Friday through May 29. Defending Jacobimplies that Billy framed Patz, but it's also highly likely that Patz did indeed kill Ben and then accepted his fate. After that is revealed, Laurie starts to think that Jacob might have murderous traits as well. She was speeding. ALSO READ | Disappearance At Clifton Hill Ending Explained: How Does Abby Solve The Kidnapping Case? And as the final episode reveals, Defending Jacob never definitively weighs in on Jacob's guilt or innocence. So all Im really interested in at the end of the day is: What do Andy and Laurie think he might or might not have done? "Now we have this new thing that they're both going to live with, which is: 'When [Jacob] wakes up, what will he think? Jacob, Patz, Derek, Sarah, or even Billys henchman couldve done it. Andy tells his father Billy over the phone that he thinks Patz did it. He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. Jacob is in a coma. Well, what am I playing here? During the holiday, Jacob befriends Hope Connors - a 16-year-old from Toronto - and the pair go to a New Years Eve beach party together. It is not! 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. Could Jacob have been responsible? Winning several awards, it is not surprising that it would become a mini-series giving the audience time to . And is Jacob alive? Andy and Laurie both remember that Jacob wrote a bizarre story online in which he seemingly confessed to Ben's murder, and now they're confronted with yet another tragedy, it seems, that forcesAndy to confess the truth about his father. When the ending rolls around, Jacob's mother has become convinced of his guilt and attempts to get . Defending Jacob ending explained: Did Jacob kill Ben. Did Jacob kill Ben? Laurie remembers an incident from Jacobs childhood when Jacob had nearly hit another kid on the head with a bowling ball. Even thoughJacob didn't killHope in Mexico, Laurie becomes more suspicious than ever about the Rifkin murder. Who do you think killed ben? : r/DefendingJacob_TV - Reddit 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. 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+. As the Barbers prepare for a vacation to Mexico, Andy is told by District Attorney Lynn Canavan (Sakina Jeffrey) that the Patzs case had some inconsistencies. But then Hope show up, unharmed, after being drugged by vacationers. While driving, she asks her son to tell her the truth. [This story contains spoilers from the finale of Apple TV+s Defending Jacob.]. Its deliberately ambiguous. 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. She is the one who helped Andy and Laurie stay calm throughout the process, by giving them tips to avoid the media and attention. Benjamin Rifkin | Defending Jacob Wiki | Fandom Its officially been ruled an accident in court after Andy testifies saying, It was raining. The tragic irony is, he didnt have to, and Hope is found.. Jacob meets a 16 year old girl called Hope. 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. "The monster cannot be killed": What comes next for Tucker Carlson? Ultimately, however, Andy learns that Patz's confession was coerced, and Andy's father (J.K. Simmons)who himself is incarcerated for a decades-old murderordered an accomplice to frame and murder Patz, all to protect the youngest Barber. Patz (Daniel Henshall) had pictures of Ben on his phone and a history of paedophilia. She cleans the knife in the water and goes home. "He finally got away with this one crime, and now he's going to quickly, within the matter of six months, kill somebody else. 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. In an effort to put that whole nightmare behind them, the Barber family goes on vacation to Jamaica, where Jacob hits it off with a girl named Hope. Actor (s) Liam Kilbreth. The revelation that Hope is alive and well is also a deviation from Landay's book, which suggests that Jacob murdered her. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. During the car ride, she tries to make him say it, but now she decides to kill herself and Jacob so her crime will be hidden forever. DEFENDING JACOB Ending Explained Breakdown & Spoiler Talk Review - YouTube Andy carries the knowledge that his son may not be innocent all the way until the Barbers go on vacation in an attempt to destress after the trial. 113. Andy decides not to tell Laurie and Jacob. In fact, the onscreen ending is closer to the initial conclusion of the story when he first submitted his manuscript as he told Bomback. 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. Jacob put the idea of killing Ben back in Lauries head after Hope went missing too. Fox Says Battle With Parkinsons Disease Keeps Getting Tougher: Im Not Going to Be 80, TV Premiere Dates 2022: The Complete Guide, Broadcast TV Unscripted Scorecard 2022: Whats New, Renewed and Canceled, TV Pilots 2022: The Complete Broadcast Guide, The Definitive Voice of Entertainment News. The possibility of the murder gene is floated. When she realises Andy knows about Patzs murder she blames Jacob because nobody but Andy knows about Patz, so Jacob is anyways safe. There has been a lot of stress, so why not go relax. It is based on a book with the same name byWilliam Landay. 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. I think it unravels. The bleaker ending is that hell know what she did, shell know he knows, and Andy will continue to willfully refuse that it was anything but an accident. Their car incident is deemed as an accident and Laurie is also hurt gravely. Defending Jacob Ending & Book Differences Explained: Did Jacob Kill Ben? Hope cannot be found the next day and the Mexico police think of Jacob as the prime suspect. 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. 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. According to Billy, Andycan either be a good man or be a good father; hegets to "choose." Outside, the rain pours and makes navigation difficult. The novel Defending Jacob hit the shelves in 2012 and became an immediate best-seller. And sometimes you really have to leave it up to the people around you and take that pressure off yourself, and then it will all unfold onscreen., For his part, Evans says he doesnt think the crash was a hugely premeditated move: I do believe its born of a subconscious choice. But then a witness goes missing, and Jacob's fascination with the macabre, like "The . Im not kidding. When Laurie wakes up in the hospital, she insists that the crash was an accident, but Andy isn't so sure. Laurie tells him to let go but he doesnt. one who killed Jacob's classmate, Ben. I wouldnt extend it to another season just to simply spend more time with these characters. Chris Evans in 'Defending Jacob': Recap of Episode 1 - TVLine At first, the Barbers are shown attempting to fight the case as best as they can. America So She Could Breastfeed Privately, Michael J. Though Andy is questioned about the crash, he refuses to cooperate or incriminate Laurie in Jacobs death. Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery and creator Mark Bomback explain what happens and why the series ends on a more ambiguous note than the book. Making a splash: A deep dive into the live-action Little Mermaid with a new generation's Ariel. Defending Jacob Plot Summary: Jacob's classmate, Ben Rifkin, is found stabbed to death in a park. 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. The book is told from Andys point of view while the show has made changes to retain the spirit of the ambiguity without being tied to an unreliable narrator. As it turns out, the henchman - Father OLeary (William Xifaras) - was instructed by Andys father and convicted murderer Billy (J. K. Simmons) to protect them. Defending Jacob is an Apple TV+ series that tells a slow-burn tale revolving around a couples attempt to prove their sons innocence with regards to the murder of his classmate. If you havent watched every episode, youll want to turn back now. He could have lived with this burden of guilt in the same way that he's lived with this other lie for so long and gone on to live a more or less contented life, but he doesn't.". The Barbers were on a holiday when Jacob meets Hope Connors. Surely Patz would have struggled, or left other evidence, something in the note perhaps to suggest he was being coerced? Defending Jacob FINALE Review: The Ending Of Chris Evans - Koimoi The subsequent car crash suggests that Laurie felt purely isolated from reality - even from her husband and son. He possessed a knife very similar to the one that killed Ben Rifkin. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Just as one single thought crushed Andy's psyche in Mexico, a few simple words destroy Laurie's frame of mind, resulting in a near-fatal accident after swerving off the road. In an attempt to put this whole ordeal behind them, the family heads to Mexico for a quiet vacation. A later deposition reveals that Laurie began the day by calling attorney Joanna Klein early in the morning, along with Dr. Vogel. In case you are wondering who killed Ben, we are sorry to disappoint you because theres no evidence presented in the show as to whether Jacob is the killer or not. 'Defending Jacob' Finale Explained: Chris Evans Michelle Dockery Privacy Policy. We see Laurie speeding up the car more and more hysterically asking Jacob if he killed Ben. Andy finds out that a pedophile named Leonard Patz may have killed Ben. It makes you empathize with Laurie, and the torture that causes her to snap.. Did Jacob do it? 'Defending Jacob' book, TV endings explained - Los Jacobs parents, Laurie and Andy, try to help get him out. The Defending Jacobending reveals that Billy Barber orchestrated Patz's murder. The ending connotes how the three Barbers end up isolating themselves because of the accusation. The final irony is that everybody seems to know what Laurie did - in fact, there are even witnesses whosaw her failed suicide-murder attempt. Hes on vacation with his family, theyre living, they escaped. Defending Jacob Reader Q&A - Goodreads Ann Warman I believe that Jacob not only killed Ben, but Hope as well. As he visits a hospital after the hearing, its revealed Jacob is in a coma and on life support. Defending Jacob | Season 1 - Episode 8 | Discussion Thread She has overheard Jacob talking about being bullied by Ben. Jacobs comatose status arguably leaves the story open for a second season. Andy's drunken emotional breakdowneffectively splits the family apart. 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. 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. Later when the family are in Mexico Andy drunkenly tells Laurie he thinks his dad was responsible. Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery and creator Mark Bomback explain what happens and why the . Andy wanted the best lawyer in the town for Jacob's defense, so he approached Joanna Klein, who seemingly shared a good professional relationship with Andy. Voting closed. Defending Jacob: The 10 Best Characters, Ranked - Screen Rant This event echoes the ending of the 2012 book on which the show is based. The whole town starts to treat them differently, and they end up becoming outcasts. And then look at their partner and really talk about the question were asking: Is unconditional love bigger than our own morals?What happened in the last episode? The Cop Who Killed Breonna Taylor Just Got a New Policing Job

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