Defending Jacob Ending Explained, Cast, Plot, And More
by A Maria
Updated Apr 28, 2023
Defending Jacob - Miniseries
Defending Jacob is a crime drama miniseries produced by Apple TV+, based on the novel of the same name by William Landay. It was created and written by Mark Bomback and directed by Morten Tyldum, and stars a talented cast including Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Betty Gabriel, Sakina Jaffrey, and J.K. Simmons. The series premiered on April 24, 2020, and wrapped up on May 29, 2020, receiving generally positive reviews from critics who praised the performances, emotional weight, and ambiguity of the storyline, while criticizing the pacing, length, and ending. The miniseries was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on July 6, 2021.
Defending Jacob Ending Explained
In the final episode of Defending Jacob, Andy Barber, the Assistant District Attorney, and Jacob's father, receives a call from the family lawyer, Joanna Klein, informing him that Leonard Patz had left a suicide note confessing to killing Ben. Andy had suspected Patz from the beginning, and the police confirm the note's authenticity, leading to Jacob's acquittal. However, when Ben's father Dan tries to meet the Barbers in a car park, he is intercepted by a henchman named Father O'Leary, who was hired to protect the family by Andy's father, Billy, a convicted murderer. The suicide note and deleted photos from Leonard's phone clearly indicate his guilt in the murder. Just when it seems like the story has reached a happy ending, another piece of information is revealed.
Is Defending Jacob a True Story?
Defending Jacob is not based on a true story, but rather takes inspiration from a novel of the same name. The book, written by William Landay, gained significant recognition from critics and received the Strand Magazine Critics Award. It is a crime drama story about Jacob, a 14-year-old who is suspected of murdering one of his classmates, Ben. The story follows top prosecutor Andy Barber, Jacob's father, as he struggles with the mounting evidence against his son and his love for him. The TV series, consisting of eight episodes, stays true to the book's narrative and is based on its storyline.
Defending Jacob Cast
Chris Evans
Andrew "Andy" Stephen Barber
Michelle Dockery
Laurie Barber
Jaeden Martell
Jacob "Jake" Barber
Cherry Jones
Joanna Klein
Pablo Schreiber
Neal Logiudice
Betty Gabriel
Pam Duffy
Sakina Jaffrey
Lynn Canavan
J. K. Simmons
William "Bloody Billy" Barber
Daniel Henshall
Leonard Patz
Ben Taylor
Derek Yoo
Jordan Alexa Davis
Sarah Grohl
Megan Byrne
Joan Rifkin
Christopher Buckner
Young William "Bloody Billy" Barber (flashbacks)
Patrick Fischler
Dan Rifkin
Poorna Jagannathan
Dr. Vogel
Lizzie Short
Marianne Barber (flashbacks)
Evan Risser
Young Andy Barber (flashbacks)
William Xifaras
Father James O’Leary
Lenny Clarke
Food Truck Guy
Michelle D. Violette
Paula Gianetto
CAST
CHARACTER
Defending Jacob Plot
"Directed by Morten Tyldum, ‘Defending Jacob’ is a crime drama miniseries that stars Chris Evans (known for his role in Captain America: Civil War), Jaeden Martell (from Knives Out), and Michelle Dockery (famous for her role in Downton Abbey). The story revolves around a father who is confronted with a daunting situation involving his son. The family's life in Massachusetts takes an unexpected turn when Jacob is accused of committing first-degree murder. As the district attorney, Jacob’s father faces challenges at work due to this case. The plot of the series takes all the characters on a thrilling journey as they try to uncover the truth behind the crime. The suspense builds up with the question of whether Jacob is guilty, and his father struggles to reconcile the truth with his love for his son."
About Defending Jacob
Genre
Crime drama
Created by
Mark Bomback
Based on
Defending Jacob
by William Landay
Screenplay by
Mark Bomback
Directed by
Morten Tyldum
Country of origin
United States
Original language
English
No. of episodes
8
Running time
45–65 minutes
Original network
Apple TV+
Original release
April 24 – May 29, 2020
SPECIFICATIONS
DETAILS
Defending Jacob Ending Explained - FAQs
"Defending Jacob" is a crime drama miniseries produced by Apple TV+. It is based on the novel of the same name by William Landay, and was created and written by Mark Bomback and directed by Morten Tyldum.
"Defending Jacob" stars a talented cast, including Chris Evans, Michelle Dockery, Jaeden Martell, Cherry Jones, Pablo Schreiber, Betty Gabriel, Sakina Jaffrey, and J.K. Simmons.
"Defending Jacob" premiered on April 24, 2020, and wrapped up on May 29, 2020.
"Defending Jacob" received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances, emotional weight, and ambiguity of the storyline. However, some critics criticized the pacing, length, and ending of the series.
"Defending Jacob" was released on Blu-ray and DVD by Paramount Home Entertainment on July 6, 2021.