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. 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. However, Sarah was livid as she doesn't know what he did or what drama he was pulling her into. 4. During this whole show, we didnt even get close to finding out who killed Ben. Andy tries to forget his fathers involvement, but the truth eventually comes out. Privacy Policy. Laurie expresses concern at the end of the final episode that Jacob might not believe it was an accident does this mean shes forgotten what she did? Defending Jacob ending explained: Who killed Ben? | Radio Times Not Quite, Apple TV+ Is Most Divisive Streaming Service. And I think for each of them, theyre going to always have a lingering doubt.. 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. Jacob is initially surprised, and then frightened as his mother drives erratically. New episodes of Defending Jacob will be released every Friday through May 29. One day after Laurie notices a peculiar red stain on her sons bathing suit, Hope is declared missing. Andy gets drunk and revealshis fathers involvement with Laurie. 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 . Defending Jacob is a limited series made for Apple TV. The following story contains spoilers from the eighth and final episode of "Defending Jacob," "After." . 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. Though, the book does lean towards suggesting that Jacob might be the actual killer. The central premise of the show has been how the Barbers unite against all the odds. Andy had always suspected Patz, and after the police get the note confirmed to be that of Patz, Jacob is acquitted. Was she trying to kill Jacob or herself? The discussions of empathy or lack of empathy coming from the parents was also interesting on this point. Who Was The Real Killer In Defending Jacob? - Mastery Wiki Mark Jacob is a journalist, media critic, and former metro editor at the Chicago Tribune. Conversely though, at the end its his mother who is an attempted murderer. The 50 greatest TV and movie detectives of all time. Jacob's parents defend him but struggle to ascertain whether their son is actually guilty. 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. In Landay's source material, the Barbers go to Jamaica (rather than Mexico), and Jacob does indeed meet a girl named Hope Connors. The one sees the best in the child and the other only sees the worst. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. She was really good at her job as well. An alum of the Eugene ONeill Theater Centers National Critics Institute and Poynters Power of Diverse Voices, she leads workshops on arts journalism at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. Defending Jacob: The 10 Best Characters, Ranked - Screen Rant We did that scene quite a lot in the car because if it was too on the nose, it was too obvious that she was doing something that she thought through. Defending Jacob Reader Q&A - Goodreads Part of her must know that she was in a horrible place that morning, Bomback says. Bomback opted to change the ending because this felt more true to the story we were telling over these eight hours, whereas in the book, Laurie is in the dark, and [the crash] is more a reaction to the realization that Jacob killed another person and might become a serial killer. Jacob Barber has been accused of murdering his classmate, Ben. At the age of fourteen, he blackmailed Sarah Grohl. I think it unravels. Defending Jacobimplies that Billy framed Patz, but it's also highly likely that Patz did indeed kill Ben and then accepted his fate. Andy tells Laurie the truth about Patzs death. And no one dies in the crash as Laurie recovers in the hospital, with Jacob in a coma, Andy has been on the witness stand, asserting that Lauries sudden swerve was an accident. Laurie begins to think that Jacob is really Ben's killer. "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. Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the final episode of Defending Jacob. For Bomback, it was far more interestingand devastatingfor Jacob to survive and be left unconscious. Could Patz really have been forced to write that suicide note without more pleading, or force on screen? And thats exactly the point. [This story contains spoilers from the finale of Apple TV+s Defending Jacob.]. Billy had asked Father OLeary to go to Patz and ask him to take the charge upon him, strangling him to death later. Ultimately, however, Andy . While it seems that they met their happy ending, there is yet another piece of information revealed. The series consists of eight episodes. Yes, she did. How is the shows finale different from the books ending? He had built his marriage on a lie by not telling Laurie about his father being in prison. Andy admits that his father is a murderer named Billy who is in prison. Defending Jacob writer dissects the shocking final episode | EW.com Retiring to their room after a romantic meal, Andy and Laurie find Jacob back earlier than expected - without Hope or the white shirt hed worn. The finallesson reinforces the underlying theme of faith in Defending Jacob. 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. Jacob does have some other genetic traits, we learn, that make him predisposed towards some anti-social behaviours. Not Quite. Winning several awards, it is not surprising that it would become a mini-series giving the audience time to . He left the party early after arguing with her, and didnt text her once hed left like he promised. The police pull Jacob in for questioning, and Jacobs parents are again filled with confusion about whether their son is a serial killer. Hope cannot be found the next day and the Mexico police think of Jacob as the prime suspect. 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. On the surface, it allows the family toescape from reality as they contemplate an impending move to Denver. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Laurie survives and lives to explain what many would consider an unforgivable act. Voting closed. Will he think that I tried to kill him or not?'" 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. Apple TV+'s Defending Jacob miniseries ends with some closure, but not everything is resolved. Defending Jacob Plot Summary: Jacob's classmate, Ben Rifkin, is found stabbed to death in a park. The Den of Geek quarterly magazine is packed with exclusive features, interviews, previews and deep dives into geek culture. Laurie becomes more withdrawn from Andy and Jacob. Entertainment Weekly may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. A.I. Also, Derek Yoo claims that Jacob wrote a story on a website called "Cutting Room" that greatly resembled the murder of Ben Rifkin. You probably are pretty sure he did it, but theres no real way of knowing, and its possible he didnt. Driving even faster now, Laurie says, I will never know over and over again an improvised moment from Dockery in that soundstage, with the machine-created weather conditions and projected landscape moving at full force. We never find out for sure whether Jacob is the one who killed Ben and Hope, but we think its safe to assume that either he did it, or he has the absolute worst luck in the world. Defending Jacob: Differences Between The Show And Book Ending And then of course, the tragic irony is, Hope is found and he really never needed to tell [Laurie] any of this. Would it really be that easy to fake a mans suicide by hanging? But then Hope show up, unharmed, after being drugged by vacationers. 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? Laurie remembers an incident from Jacobs childhood when Jacob had nearly hit another kid on the head with a bowling ball. As more information came out about him, it was obvious that the child was likely a psychopmore I believe that Jacob not only killed Ben, but Hope as well. 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? Defending Jacob book ending is also open-ended, with Laurie driving Jacob and crashing the car. 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. Jacob Owen "Jake" Barber is the titular character of the Apple TV+ limited series, Defending Jacob. 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. She's beenforced to sort through Andy's lies about the past, and now can't find clarity in the present. 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. But will Laurie ever be forgiven by Jacob, who clings to life in a separate hospital room? 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. Laurie is now convinced that Jacob had killed Benand possibly Hope as well. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. The kid that ran away. Laurie decides to take matters in her own hands. Despite his discovery, Andy believes Jacob is innocent, as does his wife Laurie (portrayed on screen by Michelle Dockery). 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. Same blade size, as well as "teeth" on the blade. Who killed Ben rifkins? Benjamin Rifkin | Defending Jacob Wiki | Fandom stated whether Jacob really did kill . Absolute proof that Jacob did NOT kill Ben. : r/DefendingJacob_TV - Reddit Jacob because of the bullying. I thought it was true to this idea that parenting goes on after the end of the book and the end of childhood.. The Defending Jacobendingdoes not unveil whether Jacob did kill Ben. Andy and Laurie seem to believe that nobody knows who they are in Puerto Vallarta, when in fact a 16-year-old girl named Hope Connors (Jessi Case) immediately recognizes Jacob. The family go to Mexico for a vacation. Just like Andy, as a viewer of Defending Jacob, we start to doubt again whether Jacob really killed Ben or not. 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. Its the result of such a frayed, eroded sense of youre just at your wits end.. ALSO READ | Disappearance At Clifton Hill Ending Explained: How Does Abby Solve The Kidnapping Case? The last episode of Defending Jacob starts with the Assistant District Attorney and Jacob's father Andy Barber getting a phone call from their family lawyer, Joanna Klein, that Leonard Patz had left a note moments before he had committed suicide. The body rolls down the hill and she goes to see if he is dead. Related:Defending Jacob Cast Guide: Where You've Seen The Actors Before. Derek yoo and sara because of the blackmail. The story follows an assistant district attorney named Andy Barber, who's investigating the murder of 14-year-old Ben Rifkin. Jacob Barber | Defending Jacob Wiki | Fandom The final scene of the show sees Andy drinking alone in his house while You Were a Kindness by The National plays in the background. 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. Defending Jacob Episode 7 officially sets Jacob's trial into motion. A few days later, he was murdered. Youre at the mercy of the narrative in the same way that Andy and Laurie are.. When the ending rolls around, Jacob's mother has become convinced of his guilt and attempts to get . At the request of his sons lawyer, Andy visits his dad behind bars, who acts indifferent towards Jacobs plight. Laurie starts to believe that Jacob might have killed Ben after Andy tells her about his finding. 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. WARNING: DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED DEFENDING JACOB!!! Andy finds out that a pedophile named Leonard Patz may have killed Ben. From there, the book becomes even darker:Laurie's crash results in Jacob's death, and she barely survives. He uses Apple products. A few days later Jacob writes a story about what happened between Laurie and Ben, calling Ben Brent and changing Laurie to a boy called Jason. Did Jacob do it in 'Defending Jacob'? It shows the negative impact of wrongful accusations. Was it a split-second decision, or did she plan it? Jacob's parents, Laurie and Andy, try to help get him out. **CONTAINS SPOILERS**. The novel Defending Jacob hit the shelves in 2012 and became an immediate best-seller. Why is Frank McCourt really pushing this? Yet nobody knows for sure if Jacobhad anything to do with Ben's death. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. He's pulled off the case after his son Jacob, a classmate of the victim, is arrested for the crime. 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. Read More: Is Defending Jacob Based on a True Story? and our 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. During the trial, she is shocked to hear the story because she didnt know about Jacob seeing her there. Ann Warman I believe that Jacob not only killed Ben, but Hope as well. If he killed somebody, she believes shes guilty as well for letting it happen. "Now we have this new thing that they're both going to live with, which is: 'When [Jacob] wakes up, what will he think? The family goes home immediately. But Bens mother Joan was struggling to cope. His father, Andy, and mother, Laurie, do everything in their power to prove his . "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.". Jacob says he didnt do it but he also wrote a story which sounded like it could have been a description of what happened. And what do I believe? While Jacobs trial is going on, Patz commits suicide after confessing to have killed Ben in a letter. The Apple TV+ crime drama web series - based on Willian Landays novel - has had viewers wondering whether Jacob Barber (Jaeden Martell) killed Ben Rifkin or not. The ending of Defending Jacob might not prove to be completely satisfactory for viewers. Defending Jacob Episode 7 recap: Jacob's trial gets underway - Show Snob And if hes guilty? Reply. In both cases, something happens to a young girl during the vacation. One similarity between the book and the series that remains intact is how its never explicitly stated whether Jacob really did kill Ben. Andy is understandably angry, believing Jacob wouldve cleared his name in court if given the chance. When a young girl named Hope goes missing under mysterious circumstances, Andy can't help but wonder whether Jacob might be involvedagain. 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. She freaks out because she is becoming more and more paranoid that someone will find out she killed Ben. 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 . I dont think that our ending is any less bleak than the ending of the book, Bomback added. The Defending Jacobending reveals that Billy Barber orchestrated Patz's murder. The one where EW follows up with the cast. Whatever you want, just slow down, please., This is what Laurie, and the audience, have been waiting to hear, and yet its validity is still in question. Patz (Daniel Henshall) had pictures of Ben on his phone and a history of paedophilia. Laurie decides to kill them both by crashing into the side of a tunnel. Jacob was not a suspect to begin with and his father, Andy Barber, worked on the case and Leonard Patz was a suspect initially . Set in Massachusetts, Defending Jacob revolves around the Barber family. 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. You can unsubscribe at any time. 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. Trailer Mimicking Filmmakers Style Divides Social Media, On the Set of The Masked Singer: How the Team Produced the Show Safely During the Pandemic, This Is Us Star Sterling K. Brown and Writer-Director Kay Oyegun on Crafting an Emotional Story About Randalls Birth Mom, The Crown: All the Details About Its Final Three Seasons, 'Awards Chatter' Podcast Chris Evans ('Defending Jacob'), How Boston-Based 'Defending Jacob' Landed Hometown Hero Chris Evans, John Oliver Mocks Matthew McConaugheys Five-Hour Virtual Motivational Seminar, The Morning Show Snags Early Season 4 Renewal at Apple TV+, Barry Star Sarah Goldberg on Sallys Point of No Return: Its the Final Nail in the Coffin, Succession Director on Filming That Surprise Cameo and Tying Up Her Kendall Trilogy, Melanie Lynskey Says Cate Blanchett, Sarah Paulson Lent Their Trailers on Mrs. Laurie becomes convinced again that Jacob killed Ben, even though Hope turns up alive the following day. After seeing Mrs Rifkin, she feels so upset she wants Jacob to tell Andy he did it so she can relax. Andy had always suspected Patz, and after the police get the . This Is What Went Down in the Last Ever Episode of 'Modern Family', Here's Who Kills the Mom on Lifetime's 'A Killer Among Us'. So thats what I was going for, and it is different than the book. 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. In the car while they wait for Andy and their lawyer, Laurie decides to tell Jacob the truth, unaware he saw the whole thing. The following story contains . Crucially, Andy doesn't tell Laurie about Billy until a family trip to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. THE END. She may not have specifically been trying to kill him or indeed both of them but the crash wasnt an accident. He just said it to get her to slow down. It is based on a book with the same name byWilliam Landay. Now that the explosive and heart wrenching eighth episode has aired, we have the answers some of them, at least. Still,Laurie becomes convinced that her son is guilty, and tearfully breaks the news to her husband. 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. In contrast to Jacob, Leonard Patz is a grown adult who must be accountable for his decisions. 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. 8. Im not kidding. 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. 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. 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. It must be Jacobs lucky day, says a brawny old friend of Billy (J.K. Simmons), Andys estranged father, who is currently serving a life sentence in prison for murder. 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. Its ultimately left up to the viewer to decide, however frustrating it may be that we dont get the closure we feel we deserve. Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery and creator Mark Bomback explain what happens and why the . And now this murderer is walking free and even though its my own son, its my fault.. Rosie Fletcher is the UK Editor of Den Of Geek. Who do you think killed ben? : r/DefendingJacob_TV - Reddit Q.V. He possessed a knife very similar to the one that killed Ben Rifkin. Yep, once again, we dont know! He says no, and then he says yes, but neither answer is reliable since hes afraid for his life. Photo: Apple TV+. 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. A distraught Sarah confided in Derek, who took a dark turn and said he'd fix the problem. The next day, she realises that Billy followed their plan earlier than usual and thanks the henchman. But if I didnt, if I went too far the other way, it just looks like shes completely bonkers. During one last prison chat, Billy admits that he orchestrated thePatz murder, and just so that hisgrandson couldlive a relatively normal life. 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. In an attempt to put this whole ordeal behind them, the family heads to Mexico for a quiet vacation. After weeks of twists and turns, Defending Jacobs finale had one final shock up its sleeve. RELATED: Defending Jacob Just Dealt the Barber Family a Shocking Blow. Who Really Killed Ben Rifkin? - Katie's blog 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. 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. "That to me was a really interesting and tragic moment that nevertheless felt like a moment of growth for the character. She confronts him about bullying her son but Ben doesnt care. Defending Jacob doesn't confirm whether Jacob murdered Ben, but all signs point towards him doing so. In the novel, youre a little more sure Jacob did do it, because of the disappearance of Hope, said Bomback. Of course, not everyone is convinced. Anyways, Bye. At the end Andy is alone at his home. I felt bad for the mom, and Andy, besides being a stick in the mud, had his head buried in the sand at anything to do with his family.
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