who really killed ben in defending jacob

who really killed ben in defending jacob

The one sees the best in the child and the other only sees the worst. "What I was most interested in, just as someone doing the writing, was really creating this subjective experience on the viewers' part with the parents. After seeing Mrs Rifkin, she feels so upset she wants Jacob to tell Andy he did it so she can relax. During one last prison chat, Billy admits that he orchestrated thePatz murder, and just so that hisgrandson couldlive a relatively normal life. The story follows an assistant district attorney named Andy Barber, who's investigating the murder of 14-year-old Ben Rifkin. She cleans the knife in the water and goes home. 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. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. 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. She is currently working remotely alongside her dog, Oliver. 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. Andy then admits to his wife, Laurie (Dockery), that the evidence letting Jacob off the hook for murder was fabricated. When the ending rolls around, Jacob's mother has become convinced of his guilt and attempts to get . Shes been an entertainment journalist for more than 15 years previously working at DVD & Blu-ray. We don't yet know the story behind Tucker Carlson's firing. Michelle Dockery (Downton Abbey) co-stars as Andy's wife, Laurie, and Jaeden Martell (IT) rounds out the main cast as the couple's 14-year-old son, Jacob. Due to the finding of Jacobs fingerprints on Bens body and the discovery that Jacob used to carry a knife to school, he (Jacob) becomes the prime suspect. Instead, the show leaves it maddeningly ambiguous all the way until the final frameand that, series writer Mark Bomback tells EW, is the point. Ultimately, however, Andy . Andy gets drunk and revealshis fathers involvement with Laurie. Defending Jacobdeviates from the book's heartbreaking ending. Its more just a process of elimination.. Your next true crime obsession has arrived! 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. 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 ending explained. Assistant District Attorney and Jacobs father Andy Barber (Chris Evans) receives a phone call from family lawyer Joanna Klein (Cherry Jones) to tell him that Leonard Patz (Daniel Henshall) left a note, moments before committing suicide, confessing that hed killed Ben. The family goes home immediately. Andy confronts his father over his apparent involvement. Perhaps, Andy starts to feel that it could be his fault. THE END. Yep, once again, we dont know! Ben was found in Cold Spring Park the morning Jacob walked to school. WARNING: Major spoilers concerning the source materials ending revealed below! Upon the recommendation of Jacobs lawyer, Andy and Laurie send Jacob to a genetic specialist, Dr. Vogel. Apple TV+'s Defending Jacob miniseries ends with some closure, but not everything is resolved. 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. Andy is understandably angry, believing Jacob wouldve cleared his name in court if given the chance. Its ultimately left up to the viewer to decide, however frustrating it may be that we dont get the closure we feel we deserve. [This story contains spoilers from the finale of Apple TV+s Defending Jacob.]. Hence, he is possibly thinking about how his sons life and teenage years got ruined because of the accusation. 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. 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. Since the show has Hope alive, the situation is even muddier. Billy had asked Father OLeary to go to Patz and ask him to take the charge upon him, strangling him to death later. The fact is we just dont know. ALSO READ | The Vast Of Night Ending Explained: What Happens To Everett And Fay At The End? Throughout the season, Laurie has been trying to get to the truth, even if it means destroying herself, while Andy has been trying to protect their son, even if it means lying to himself, said Bomback. 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. Its the result of such a frayed, eroded sense of youre just at your wits end.. Laurie survives and lives to explain what many would consider an unforgivable act. Or are the family just the victims of circumstance? Jacob dies instantly in the car crash. I was always interested in this idea that you can build your whole life on a foundation that has a lie within it, Bomback continued. 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. 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. A later deposition reveals that Laurie began the day by calling attorney Joanna Klein early in the morning, along with Dr. Vogel. At first, it looks like the trial is moving along swimmingly like maybe the defense team will win. When Hope disappears she starts to be reminded of killing Ben and she feels so scared and guilty, that when Hope comes back all she wants to do is go home. Was it a split-second decision, or did she plan it? The peace Laurie found when the charges against Jacob were dropped is irreversibly disturbed. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Its a different kind of bleak but hopefully, one that feels very much in keeping with the story weve been telling.. Joanna Klein. Jacobs friend Derek Yoo (Ben Taylor) also revealed - during the trial - that Jacob had written a story that was eerily similar to Bens murder and posted it online. However, there are some major changes in the series. 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. He just said it to get her to slow down. 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. She then swerves and crashes them headlong into the side of a bridge. It sort of strained credibility, especially in the way that I had written the character.". Specifically, he enlisted a long-time friend known as "Father O'Leary" (William Xifaras) to frame and kill the pedophile,which would allow hisgrandson, Jacob, to receivelegal "proof of innocence." He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. It is not! Everything changes when a local pedophile namedLeonard Patz (Daniel Henshall) kills himself andadmits that he killedRifkin. Surely Patz would have struggled, or left other evidence, something in the note perhaps to suggest he was being coerced? Their car incident is deemed as an accident and Laurie is also hurt gravely. Jacob keeps declining and Laurie believes he did kill Ben so she crashes the car deliberately. The new Apple TV+ miniseries, Defending Jacob, is sure to suck you in if its anything like the book its based on. Jacobs parents, Laurie and Andy, try to help get him out. 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. The book and the show end differently but both come with a crushing blow. 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. We want people to watch it and say, Holy , Morten Tyldum, who directed all eight episodes, told The Times. However, I have figured out the real killer of Ben Rifkin, at it is none other than: Laurie! Of course, not everyone is convinced. Apple TV+ From left, Chris Evans stars as Andy Barber, Michelle Dockery as Laurie Barber and Jaeden Martell as Jacob Barber in the miniseries "Defending Jacob," streaming on Apple TV+. Laurie and Andy are depicted to be going through a lot as they defend their son. The novel Defending Jacob hit the shelves in 2012 and became an immediate best-seller. Onscreen, Hope turns up alive. Warning: This article contains major spoilers for the final episode of Defending Jacob. Benjamin "Ben" Rifkin was the son of Dan and Joan Rifkin. But then a witness goes missing, and Jacob's fascination with the macabre, like "The . If Jacob survives (and thats not a given) he will know that his mother believes hes a murderer and tried to kill him. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Billy pointedly asks Andy if he is sure, which might be an indicator that he intends to do something about it. However, Laurie becomes increasingly preoccupied with the idea of Jacobs guilt and on a drive, crashes the car into a tunnel, killing Jacob and leaving herself in a critical condition. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. If I have a new narrative that took this as a starting point, Id be happy to explore it. The ending connotes how the three Barbers end up isolating themselves because of the accusation. I wouldnt extend it to another season just to simply spend more time with these characters. When Jacob becomes a murder suspect, Laurie feels guilty that her son is being accused of the murder she committed. She embraces this lie, you know, it must have been an accident. 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. Read More: Is Defending Jacob Based on a True Story? As a character,Billy underlines Andy's life-long guilt. Landay never had a problem with the idea of making changes from the novel. Apple TV+ limited drama Defending Jacob stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery as the parents of a teenager accused of murdering a classmate. In Apple TV+'sDefending Jacob, there's a somewhat hopeful ending as the Barbers all survive. It premiered on April 24, 2020. Cookie Notice The kid that ran away. Any difficulty or complexity that your child brings into this world becomes a part of your own life. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. And I think for each of them, theyre going to always have a lingering doubt.. https://nerdround.com/ Defending Jacob Season Finale Explained | Who Killed Ben Rifkin ?#defendingjacob #whokilledbenrifkin #nerdroundMake Sure To Subscribe . You can unsubscribe at any time. While driving, she asks her son to tell her the truth. Laurie tells him to let go but he doesnt. Jacob says he didnt do it but he also wrote a story which sounded like it could have been a description of what happened. She is disturbed and cannot seem to trust Jacob. During the trial, she is shocked to hear the story because she didnt know about Jacob seeing her there. Im not kidding. Naturally, Laurie panics about the reveal, and once again believes that her son is indeed a killer. Andy decides not to tell Laurie and Jacob. By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. Despite his discovery, Andy believes Jacob is innocent, as does his wife Laurie (portrayed on screen by Michelle Dockery). Bens father Dan (Patrick Fischler) confronts the Barbers in a multistorey car park, but is apprehended by the henchman who had supposedly been stalking the Barbers. Hes on vacation with his family, theyre living, they escaped. Photo: Apple TV+. She herself does not know how to get her own family back. Laurie is badly injured and Jacob is in a coma. He confessed that he was the one who killed Ben. And then of course the scene then that follows is open to interpretation. Do you need the cleansing of truth or can you compartmentalize and find a balance just being a little bit darker?. Did Jacob do it in 'Defending Jacob'? But when a friend of Bens suggests that there was animosity between Ben and Jacob, Andy decides to search his sons room. 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. He possessed a knife very similar to the one that killed Ben Rifkin. Did Jacob kill Ben? 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. Jacob does have some other genetic traits, we learn, that make him predisposed towards some anti-social behaviours.

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