It’s become one of the most common formulas for creating movies and TV shows.

From Netflix to Amazon, everyone wants a piece of the action.

While not every project is a knockout, audiences have seen some successful franchises flourish from this method.

Just off the top of my head are the Harry Potter movies, Twilight, Hunger Games, 50 Shades of Grey, and even the Bridget Jones movies.

And it’s not just the big screen. TV saw the opportunity and jumped on board with shows like The Vampire Diaries, Game of Thrones, Percy Jackson, and The Witcher.

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We likely have the 1697 classic Cinderella to thank for our current state of adaptations. The fairytale was the first book to be made into a movie in 1950.

Although streaming services are the biggest adaptors, some apps take things too far.

Over fifty percent of Apple TV+’s shows in the last five years have all been novel-to-screen adaptations.

Apple TV+ Doesn’t Leave Kids Out Just Because They Don’t Have Credit Cards

Because novels host a whole plethora of genres, the media has been a shortcut to stories for all age groups over the years.

So, it’s unsurprising that a streaming giant like Apple TV+ would have optioned kids’ books for families and young viewers.

While children aren’t exactly signing up for streaming services, kids can be a great motivator for parents. Who doesn’t love a family TV night?

First up, there is Amber Brown, based on Paula Danziger’s book series from the ‘90s.

The show follows Amber Brown, a multiethnic girl navigating the typical pitfalls of growing up while dealing with her parents’ divorce. It’s heavy stuff for kids.

Then there is Surfside Girls, which is based on the graphic novels by Kim Dwinell.

The Apple TV+ series focuses on best friends Jade and Sam when they encounter a ghost who tells them about a pirate ship and curse surrounding the hidden treasure of Surfside.

They may be shows for children, but Apple TV+ knows how to cherry-pick some exciting stories for kids.

Comedy Is The Kind Of Genre That Flourishes When It Goes From Page To Screen

Still, the streamer’s catalog of shows for adults far exceeds that for its younger viewers.

If there is one thing every person on the planet can agree on, one of the best feelings is laughter.

Comedy can be tough to get across on the written page as tone can be challenging to nail down.

However, when an author gets it right, the humor usually translates and magnifies when the novel is adapted for the small or big screen.

Film and TV creators can flesh out projects and enhance the story through a multitude of visual elements and components.

If you’ve seen Palm Royale starring Kristen Wigg, based on the book Mr. & Mrs. American Pie by Juliet McDaniel, then you know a splash of color goes a long way in storytelling.

Even Vince Vaughn’s show, Bad Monkey based on Carl Hiaasen’s novel of the same name, makes sure the physical comedy and visual humor match up to the eccentricity of the book.

Novel-to-screen adaptations are also a great way to bridge language barriers.

Land of Women stars Eva Longoria in a series based on Sandra Barneda’s novel of the same name, but in Spanish, and toes the line between English and the native language of its characters.

There are plenty of laughs from books to be had at Apple TV+, including The Big Door Prize, based on M.O. Walsh’s novel of the same name.

But these kids and comedy shows aren’t why we are concerned with Apple TV+’s obsession with adaptations.

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Apple TV+ Is The Originator And Instigator Of The Drama

Have you ever heard the phrase “too much of a good thing?” Well, the same goes for any TV or film genre. And Apple TV+ seems to have its hooks in as many dramatic stories as possible.

Most of the streamers’ series fall under drama, and most of those shows are based on novels.

Let me clarify that every single streaming app develops stories from books, whether literary or graphic.

However, Apple TV+ seems to exclusively work with adaptations, at least in the last five years, with more on the way.

Still, it has to be said that the stories the executives are choosing offer an out-of-this-world level of entertainment.

Especially when that drama is introduced with comedic flair, profoundly dark undertones, or science fiction that makes you question reality.

The Rashida Jones sci-fi show Sunny, based on The Dark Manual by Colin O’Sullivan, has been a whirlwind of comedy, drama, and thriller action.

There’s actually a point to be made in favor of Apple TV+. Even though the app is shelling out show after show, a huge name is always attached to every project.

Take, for example, Lady in the Lake, based on Laura Lippman’s 2015 novel of the same name.

It stars Natalie Portman as a Jewish woman who leaves her life behind when she pursues her dreams to be an investigative journalist after a local woman is found dead in a lake.

If you like visual fever dreams with a masterclass in acting and a mind-boggling story, this is the career-defining series for you.

And it’s not just that show, but a whole roster of one series based on a book of the same name after another. It’s a long list.

Defending Jacob, The Mosquito Coast, Lisey’s Story, Foundation, The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Pachinko, Shining Girls, The Essex Serpent, Five Days at Memorial, Shantaram, The Last Thing He Told Me, Silo, City on Fire, The Changeling, Lessons in Chemistry, The Buccaneers, Masters of the Air, and Dark Matter.

Whew!

Of course, we have to include the upcoming Cate Blanchett series Disclaimer, about a journalist who discovers she is the main character in a novel that reveals a dark secret from her past.

Just When You Think Apple TV+ Can’t Get Any More Dramatic, It Renews Its Library Card For More Intense Adaptations Starring Heavyweight Hollywood Names

Wait, you didn’t think we were done yet, did you? Oh, gentle reader, we had a legitimate reason to be concerned with Apple TV+’s use of adaptations.

That said, some shows make us understand why the streamer would be so enthusiastic about the novel-to-screen method.

For one thing, it’s how we got the amazing series The Morning Show, based on Brian Selter’s 2013 book Top of the Morning: Inside the Cutthroat World of Morning TV.

Remember what I said about star power? The Morning Show boasts not one but two heavyweight Hollywood names.

Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon play journalists with contrasting personalities who bring their own set of baggage and issues to their news station.

Apple TV+ has always dished out award-winning shows. Even though some don’t always hit the mark, the streaming service is covering the walls with adaptation after adaptation.

Those include Truth Be Told, Slow Horses, Roar, Black Bird, The Crowded Room], Manhunt, Franklin, and Presumed Innocent.

So, whether Apple TV+ is obsessed with adapting novels to shows or has just figured out a sure-fire formula is anyone’s guess.

One thing for sure, though, is that the streaming giant has been making waves in quality television, so there may be a correlation.

Either way, you can count on me to be glued to my TV screen watching every perfectly packaged project Apple TV+ throws TV Fanatic’s way.

Which of the streamer’s many adaptations have you seen?

Will you be watching Cate Blanchett in her new miniseries, Disclaimer?

Drop a comment below to let us know, and join us again when we review all your favorite new and returning Apple TV+ shows!

The post Does Apple TV+ Have An Unhealthy Obsession With Adapting Novels To Shows? appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Defending Jacob Season 1 wrapped up the storylines nicely, but the question remained about whether Jacob was a killer. 

Now, stars Chris Evans and Michelle Dockery have opened up about the series returning for more in a new interview with Deadline. 

“I mean look, I’ll say this. Sometimes what matters more to me than the script, than the role, is the people, you know?" Evans told the outlet.

"The process of acting is such a tricky one and it can be really exacerbated by the wrong environment, and when you find a sweet spot, when you have a playground that you can’t wait to get to because everyone makes it such a safe environment to take risks, it’s understandable to miss it and maybe want to revisit.”

Dockery was similarly enthusiastic about returning to work on a potential second season. 

“We thought we were closing the door but I don’t know, I feel like there’s always an opportunity to revisit something and especially if the audience out there, there’s an appetite for it, so who knows?" she said.

"But as Chris was saying, this was such a pleasure, so we had such a wonderful time and yeah, I would jump in a heartbeat to do it all again.”

William Landay's novel, which the series was based on, does not have a sequel, and the TV iteration was always billed as a miniseries. 

However, it's not uncommon for TV shows to outlive their source material. 13 Reasons Why went on for three more seasons after the source material wrapped. 

Some shows even deviate from the source material, so a potential second season would probably come down to the storyline. 

It's hard to imagine Apple TV+ not wanting to work with the cast again, especially given that the series was well-received. 

The ending was also ambiguous, meaning there are some different directions the storyline go if the opportunity is given to expand the franchise. 

What do you think of this? Would you like a second season, or do you think Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 8 was a perfect conclusion?

Hit the comments. 

You can stream Defending Jacob globally on Apple TV+.

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On Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 8, the Barbers celebrated Jacob's case being thrown out with the vacation they spoke about on Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 1, but it seemed like history was about to repeat itself. 

I have to be honest: The notion that the Barbers can rebuild after everything that transpired on "After" is laughable. They went from being a golden family that appeared to have it all to a fully dysfunctional family.

Sure, Jacob was always a bit of a wild card, and I'm surprisingly fine with not getting a concrete answer about whether he murdered Ben. 

The hints were there. If we read between the lines, he killed Ben. You don't write violent stories about murdering someone you didn't, well, murder. 

Jacob has got to be the most complicated character on the small screen in recent memory. He's difficult to read and could snap at any moment, and that's the thought Laurie couldn't move away from after learning the true extent of the issues plaguing the family. 

The trip provided a much-needed rest for the family, for sure, but it was obvious where things were going the moment Jacob befriended the girl in the hotel. 

Laurie: I’m trying to remember. Last year, when it was all happening, I don’t think I ever asked you. Not directly. I guess I was just scared of what they might do to you. But they can’t hurt us now. No one can. Still, would you have told me the truth? If I promised to love you no matter what, would you tell me? Jacob, Did you kill Ben?

Jacob: What? No, You know I didn’t.

Laurie: What If I said I don’t believe you?

Jacob: What?

Laurie: A man died, Jacob. You don’t know this, but a man was murdered so that you could go free. So, I have to know.

Jacob: Know what?

Laurie: Did you kill Ben? Just tell me the truth.

Jacob: I did tell you. What’s wrong with you?

Laurie: I will love you no matter what. I don’t believe you.

_{🔗 permalink: I will love you no matter what. I don’t believe you.}

My thought was that he killed her, and the way he acted when his parents returned to the hotel room certainly backed that up. The kid always has a guilty look on his face, and it's going to get hi in trouble for the rest of his life. 

His supposed latest kill being found alive was a pleasant development because it helped add another layer to the mystery surrounding Jacob. 

Everything that happened to Leonard Patz was par for the course, as it allowed Billy's grandson to stay outside of the confines of a prison. 

In his own way, Billy wanted to do what was best for Jacob, even if that meant his grandson would get away with murder. But Billy's henchman forcing the confession out of Patz before killing him was about as predictable as it can get. 

For the most part, the series has shocked audiences with wild twists, but the upside was that it helped change Andy's mindset. 

There's a difference between being a good person and being a good father. Andy's love for Jacob was unconditional, and he would have defended him until the cows come home, even if Jacob was proven to be the killer. 

Chris Evans turned in a riveting performance as the man, a career prosecutor, who didn't care if he was letting a killer go free. His only motive from the beginning has been to defend his son, and that's where the show got its name. 

Out of every member of the family, Laurie is probably the most sane. She had views on Jacob from the jump and entertained the possibility that her son was a murderer pretty early. 

Jacob: Mom, you’re driving to fast.

Laurie: Why would you write that story?

Jacob: Mom, slow down.

_{🔗 permalink: Mom, slow down.}

A mother knows her son, and she understood there were hints in his younger years that could explain his suspected actions. 

She's been haunted by the vision of him getting ready to bash out another kid's brains with a bowling ball. Out of everyone, I feel the most for her. There was desperation in her voice when she tried to get answers from Jacob. 

Every single time she thought things were going in the right direction, the rug was pulled from under her. Attempting to kill herself and Jacob was a devastating turn, but she couldn't live with herself if she knew he killed again. 

Then again, it's possible she thought the guilt of harming her son would help her to understand the decisions Jacob and Andy made along the way. 

We don't know whether Jacob will pull through, but the arcs for every member of the family were fulfilling in the end. 

Yes, there were some weird storytelling decisions early on, but the show hit its stride quickly after the opening installments and has kept up the pace ever since. 

"After" was bursting at the seams with story, and for the most part, the series managed to stick the landing. 

Neal: Why isn’t Laurie here today? On February 22, nearly six weeks ago, you received a call from Massachusetts State Police. Is that correct? You were told that there had been an accident. That Laurie and Jacob were in a car that had gone off the road.

_{🔗 permalink: Why isn’t Laurie here today? On February 22, nearly six weeks ago, you received a call from…}

Ambiguous endings are generally hit and miss, and the series will probably get some flack for traveling this route, but it's satisfying leaving the series with the sense that not all the conflict is resolved. 

The Barbers will continue to argue with each other, but if the events of Defending Jacob Season 1 have taught them anything, it's that they need to communicate better. 

If they can tick that box, they can tackle anything. 

Thankfully, the series is billed as a miniseries, so it looks like we've closed the book on the Barbers for good. 

But, this is Hollywood, and everything finds a way of coming back in some form. 

What did you think of the conclusion? Did you want more conclusive answers? Were you surprised Billy had Leonard Patz killed to save Jacob from prison?

Chat with me in the comments below, TV Fanatics. 

Defending Jacob airs worldwide on Apple TV+.

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Ben's father says that he knows Jacob had something to do with it and sets out to take him down. 

Andy visits his father when points of the case start to lean towards his henchman ochestrating the killing. 

Andy opts to keep it to himself. 

The Barbers go on vacation and Jacob meets Hope. They get close, but it all falls apart when the girl goes missing. 

Andy tells Laurie the truth and she flips out. 

Hope returns to the hotel after being lost. 

Laurie tries to get Jacob to admit to killing Ben. 

She crashes the car and it seems like she's killed both of them. 

In the aftermath, Neal tries to prove that Laurie was being a bad mom, but Andy stands by her. 

The family is torn apart, but Jacob and Laurie pull through. 

We are left wondering whether they can make it work. 

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Schreiber's character has seemed like the antagonist for the run of the series, and Neal going toe-to-toe in the courtroom with Andy gave Schreiber his opportunity to shine.

We had a chance to catch up with Schreiber this week to chat a bit about the penultimate episode.

As I said, on the surface, Neal is the Defending Jacob's antagonist. To that end, we don't know that much about him.

While we got a little bit of backstory during Saving Jacob Season 1 Episode 7, Schreiber has gifted the character with a much more developed history, as he does with any character he plays.

"I create a backstory for every character that I play, otherwise you ended up sort of with a shell of a person. You at least want to know basic facts and details of character history, so you can reasonably decide on behavior patterns, and how they're going to act in the future," Schreiber said.

"But, the biggest thing for me is identifying what your job is in this story."

Schreiber credits the beauty of Mark Bomback's writing as he "hides beauty and exposition in the most sophisticated way," and shares that the Supreme Court scenes that scattered throughout the series provide the story's narration and movies the plot forward.

"Ultimately you'll learn more about the Supreme Court scene and why it's happening. And it will, hopefully, fundamentally change how you have viewed the entire series once you find out why it's happening."

"So, the job is to stay out of the way.

"The job is to be simple, clear, concise, and tell the story in the most simple way possible in those scenes. And then obviously, you have the courtroom episode, where you get to kind of come to the forefront a little bit and play around. And recognizing that [Neal]'s the nemesis, obviously, of Andy, who's the protagonist.

"And my favorite thing about this series is the fact that if you look at the actual behavior that goes on in the series, Andy's behavior is far worse than Neil's. The act of taking the knife that he finds in his kid's room and disposing of it.

"As a prosecutor, that's criminal. It's completely unforgivable. But because he's our protagonist, we want to forgive that."

Schreiber continued, "And, because Neil is an impediment to Andy, the things that he does to successfully prosecute Jacob or the things that are successful in his prosecution, we look at as the actions of the antagonist. But really it's all about perspective, and how you're looking at it, and who you're following through the story.

"Neal, at the end of the day, is really a very effective prosecutor, and he's just really good at his job. And in that, obviously, is the competition factor between Andy and Neil. And so, he revels in that a little bit, and that's probably where some of the less savory elements of the character come in."

As to what's driving Neal, Shreiber believes it's relatively simple: Neal's goal is to become the next District Attorney, and if achieving that lofty goal is done at Andy's expense, Neal's not afraid to do that, even if it means using what Andy once taught him in the case against Andy's son.

"In episode seven, we see that scene where Andy is sort of showing him the ropes, mentoring him, that gives us some history between them. We realize that all of the things that Andy imparted on this guy, he's now using to prosecute his son. And so, the competition is there in terms of trying to get past him.

"But I don't believe that's why he's prosecuting Jacob as effectively or as hard as he is," Schreiber said. "I believe he's doing that because he thinks Jacob's guilty.

"And if you had read the story that Jacob wrote about the day of the murder, I don't believe anybody would have read that story and not believed that kid was guilty."

"So, he's doing his best to prosecute the person who he believes is guilty of the crime. And it just happens to be a convenient detail that that person's father is his professional competition.

"So, the human side of it is that he, unfortunately, or to his discredit, revels a little bit in the competition, in the beating of the person who used to be his mentor, and who is the father of the person who he believes is guilty of the crime.

"And I believe he feels that he went a little too far in the prosecution of the crime in the courts, and especially when Pat confesses to the crime and kills himself, I think that completely rocks Neal's world.

"He feels at that time that he was falsely convinced of Jacob's guilt and that he went too far in pushing for his conviction. And so, he takes that hard."

That stunning change, of course, laid out in the latest episode will dramatically change Neal's outlook on the case, and how that changes that will be revealed on Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 8.

When watching the courtroom scenes, I imagined that Neal, although surely hoping to take Andy's place in the DA's office, was also prosecuting the case that Andy would have in his shoes knowing very well Andy's hands were tied as the father of the defendant.

Shreiber weighed in on that. "I think that's unspoken. Yeah. And I think that's inherent. And I think Andy admits that in episode seven, when he goes to Lynn.

"And I think he's collecting his stuff or whatever, and she asks him if he would ever consider coming back and he says, 'No, I'm done. I can't do it now after going through what I've gone through.' And he has a moment where he has an opportunity to throw Neil under the bus. And he doesn't."

"He instead takes that opportunity to commend the job that he did and say that he has a bright future and that he thinks he's a very talented prosecutor.

"And I think he learned that by being opposite him through the trial. And then watching what happens in the Supreme Court, I think he realizes that, given the opportunity, he would have done pretty much everything that Neil ended up doing.

"Which is essentially, just working hard to be an effective prosecutor. It just happens that Andy was on the wrong side of the law at that time."

We'll have more with Schreiber at the conclusion of Defending Jacob Season 1 next Friday.

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Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 7 was the best episode of this Apple TV+ series to date, and it was all down to the tension inside the courtroom. 

Who could have guessed all of the revelations that came to light would happen in front of everyone? 

Pablo Schreiber is killing it as Neal. He's the character we love to hate, but his obsession with taking Andy down is becoming too obvious. 

His actions on "Job" will have caused irreparable damage to his career, and I wouldn't be surprised to see him ousted from the world of law. 

Johanna did the right thing by making sure Andy's father could not be brought up because that would have derailed the entire case from the jump. 

The last thing I expected was for Andy to bait Pam into telling the court about Andy's father. I let out the loudest gasp at that moment. 

Neal is good at his job, sure, but what is more fascinating about this is that Andy taught him the tricks he's using against him. 

There was a friendship between them at one point, but something went sour along the way, and I'm starting to get the feeling Neal's obsession could turn deadly. 

Even though Andy has done some terrible things to secure his son's future, Neal is trying to make him look worse in the eyes of the law — and he's not even the person on trial. 

Would it have been better if Andy steered away from the case? Sure, but his son's future is on the line here, and he's not going to be able to forgive himself if he does the wrong thing. 

We know Andy struggles to have friends, and that could be attributed to his father being a cold-blooded killer, but the way Neal is using everything against him is only going to push him further away from making lasting connections with potential friends. 

Pam understandably feels terribly for what she said to Andy about them not being friends, but she's going to feel even worse after being baited into telling the jury about Andy's father. 

As things stand now, Jacob looks as guilty as sin. From the graphic story about murdering Ben to the porn site, he's keeping way more secrets than we could ever have anticipated. 

Multi-layered characters are great, and I appreciate the way pace in which the reveals are coming. The show is doing well to keep viewers on their toes. 

Jaedenn Martell is playing the role well, to the point that I'm still wondering whether Jacob could be the killer. It's a little bit convenient how Leonard Patz confesses to the murder after all of those revelations in the courtroom. 

My best theory for that is that Patz has been coerced into confessing. 

Why would he suddenly decide to confess after professing his innocence? Maybe we're to assume that the subpoena made him realize the jig was up, but I'm still not sure he's the killer. 

Joanna: Boys make mistakes. But we’re adults, with a grave responsibility before us. A child is dead, don’t destroy another child’s life to make up for it. That isn’t justice, that’s just another tragedy.

_{🔗 permalink: Boys make mistakes. But we’re adults, with a grave responsibility before us. A child is dead,…}

With one episode remaining, there will likely be another wave of revelations about Jacob and his family, but it's likely they will start to drift apart. 

Laurie has been questioning Jacob's innocence from the jump, while Andy's mind started to waver after learning about the story. There's so much this kid is keeping from everyone. 

The standout theme recurring throughout Defending Jacob Season 1, and it's communication. Laurie, Andy, and Jacob do not communicate in the way they should as a family. 

They tell each other things on a need to know basis, and that's why they all act shocked when something new gets revealed. Laurie said some harsh things to Jacob, but this is a woman who learned that her husband's father is a murderer while her son was on the hook for a killing. 

Out of everyone, Laurie has been hit the hardest. Andy has a good poker face, while Jacob sometimes resembles a deranged serial killer when he blankly stares at his parents when they question him. 

The Barber family does not seem like it will be able to bounce back from this, and quite frankly, Laurie deserves better. She feels like the last 20 or so years have been a lie and thinks she's raising the spawn of Satan. 

Andy: What do you want me to say, Laurie? You’re right? Our marriage is a lie. Our whole f*cking family is based on a fairytale, built on nothing. And our son’s a murderer. Is that what you want to hear?

_{🔗 permalink: What do you want me to say, Laurie? You’re right? Our marriage is a lie. Our whole f*cking…}

Defending Jacob started slow with many meandering storylines, but it found its groove quickly and has been giving viewers the right amount of reveals at the right time. 

Now, all eyes are on Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 8 to see whether the show can stick the landing.

There is a lot to wrap up, but some of the minor storylines could be overlooked if the main arc surrounding Jacob's innocence and the effect it has on the Barbers comes to fruition. 

What did you think of the latest twists and turns in the case? Were you surprised Billy had a gangster follow the family to offer up protection? 

Do you think Neal went too far in his quest to take down Andy?

Hit the comments below. 

Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 8 airs Friday, May 29 on Apple TV+. 

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Johanna asks if they can make a motion to dismiss talk of Andy's father's past. 

Neal, however, stoops to new lows in his mission to get Andy discredited and Jacob sent away. 

Pam accidentally reveals all about Billy and it makes the jury wonder what happened. 

Derek reveals that Jacob was writing graphic stories about murdering Ben on a website, something Pam confirms. 

The gangster is revealed to be someone to do with Billy. 

In the end, Laurie officially turns on Jacob, and Andy starts to wonder whether his son has been lying all this time. 

Just when the family gets ready to say goodbye to Jacob, Leonard writers on a piece of paper that he killed Ben.

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With excellent writing, acting, and a convincing mystery that is keeping fans on their toes every week, all of the pieces of the puzzle are starting to come out to play. 

Betty Gabriel plays the role of Pam Duffy on the series, a detective who is invested in finding out the true murderer, and, of course, what the motive was. 

Pam initially seemed to be close enough with Andy to be friends, but their friendship fizzled out when the series strongly suggested they were on two very different sides. 

We recently chatted with Gabriel about her role on the series, allowing us the opportunity to ask about her process when it comes to reading scripts, who she thought was the killer, and so much more. 

The actress reunited with Mark Bomback, with whom she worked with on Starz drama Counterpart. 

"I really responded to Mark Bomback's writing," she said. 

"It felt incredibly authentic, witty, and searing. I also really wanted to work with Morten Tyldem who I knew from Counterpart, he was the EP on that, but I didn't actually get to work with him on that one."

The actress opened up about the novel of which the series is adapted from, and how she feels about the differences. 

"I was not but did read after getting cast, and while there are some differences between the novel and the script, I see where some of the authenticity of the storytelling comes from. The author was an attorney himself. Makes sense."

Gabriel was fascinated by the idea of the series using genetic testing as a means of assessing whether Jacob has the traits of a serial killer. 

"I found the genetic testing most intriguing. It is something that I've thought about personally. How much of our behavior is completely due to our nature and, therefore, somewhat out of our control?"

Indeed, the series is tackling that particular story very well, with Jacob's own mother, Laurie starting to question whether there is more to her son than meets the eye. 

At the heart of the show is Andy Barber (Chris Evans), the father of Jacob. On Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 1, it seemed like there was a genuine connection between Andy and Pam. 

They worked together to try to find out everything they could about the killer, even interviewing students in the school. 

Along the way, however, their friendship became fraught, with Pam conceding that she never knew the real Andy, and that they were never real friends. 

While it was never revealed in those early episodes whether Pam believed Jacob was the killer, she has started to grow closer to Andy, and appears to be trying to help him. 

"I think she's thinking of Andy, and sees his desperation and conviction, and as a parent herself, can understand his actions."

"There's also a sense of loyalty to this person that she's worked with for many years, uncovering the truth and fighting for justice. How could she not help him in his personal fight?"

Given that the series has a murder mystery at the wheel of it all, I wondered whether Gabriel changed her mind about Jacob's innocence every time she was handed a new script to read. 

"No, that's not really how I go about it. I glean as much information as I can from the page without coming to any sort of conclusions," Gabriel said, adding:

"I think the same applies for the character. As a detective, you follow every lead, gather evidence, establish a timeline, etc."

Betty has appeared in a string of hit movies and TV shows. The Purge: Election Year, Westworld, Get Out, and Counterpart spring to mind here. 

I asked the actress what was the most challenging about the role of Pam compared to some of her previous roles. 

"Believe or not, I found the heavy bag boxing quite challenging for sure."

"It's on screen for 5 seconds, but I wasn't sure if I could fully commit to it."

"I just don't inhabit that realm very often. I'm more of a yogi, but she's someone who has to be incredibly tough and steely. So that activity actually really helped with finding that quality."

We have just two episodes remaining on Defending Jacob Season 1, and that means we should get closer than ever to the truth about what really happened. 

If you've been keeping up with our Defending Jacob reviews, you know that I've been on the fence about Jacob all along, so it will b exciting to get some more insight into what happened that fateful morning. 

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Additionally, we also have an interview coming with Pablo Schrieber, who plays Neal Logiudice, so please look out for that one later this week. 

Defending Jacob continues Fridays on Apple TV+.

The post Betty Gabriel Talks Catching a Killer on Defending Jacob, What Fascinated Her About the Series, and More! appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 5 welcomed the superb J.K. Simmons into the fold as Billy Barber, and boy, he's a piece of work. 

Billy made his bed when he murdered a young woman, so the very notion that he feels his son has failed him by not getting his sentence reduced was absurd. 

What should have been a father pleading with his son for forgiveness was a man pulling strings because he was in a position of power. 

Andy is understandably affected by his childhood, mostly because of that visit with his father in prison. There's resentment from Andy because he feels like his father robbed him of a childhood. 

Defending Jacob plays with expectations, and it was refreshing that the creative minds behind the show zeroed in on how wicked Billy is. 

He baited Andy on multiple occasions. He wanted a reaction from his son, and holding the DNA sample over his head was horrible. 

Billy: You gonna say something? You’re sitting there like somebody’s got a gun to your head.

Andy: You wanted me to come, I’m here.

Billy: So, that’s how it is, huh?

Andy: What did you expect?

Billy: I don’t know. I mean, I spent my whole life, almost and not once did you ever come visit. What kind of a son turns his back on his own father like that, huh? What kind of a man? I know I’m a fuckin’ bad guy and all, but I’m still your father.

_{🔗 permalink: I don’t know. I mean, I spent my whole life, almost and not once did you ever come visit….}

Any hope of Andy letting his father back into his life was dashed at that moment, and that's okay. Andy is a product of his father's sins. He's an introvert who struggles with letting people in, and that also helps to explain why he's never had any close friends. 

Andy will vehemently defend his son, and that's only natural. He gives his son unconditional love, while Billy thinks everyone should drop everything for him … even if he's been the absent father. 

I'm starting to get the sense that Andy is so worried about his relationship with Jacob breaking down that he's pushing himself head-first into finding evidence to make Jacob look innocent. 

Indeed, the DNA sample will go along way in giving Jacob's defense a boost, but the sample will likely be the thing that makes up Laurie's mind on whether her son is a killer. 

She's second-guessing everything she knows about Jacob. That's not a bad thing. Unlike Andy, Laurie is entertaining the possibility that her son is a killer. 

That's why she wanted the test completed. It would go a long way in putting her mind at ease. Wouldn't it make for a wild turn of events if she stopped supporting Jacob if he does have the gene? 

She's struggling physically and emotionally, and that was flawlessly illustrated in her comments to the undercover journalist. Of course her words were going to have an inflammatory effect on Jacob's case. 

While it seemed to everyone that she got Billy to agree to the test so that she could help the case after hindering it, it was nothing more than a thinly veiled attempt at learning more about her son's machinations. 

The opening episodes of Defending Jacob were slow, with a lot of meandering plots, but the show hit its stride with this installment. That's thanks in large part to the compelling storylines. 

Sarah revealing her side of things was needed to advance the plot. She's popped up here and there, and it's been frustrating because she clearly knew some more about the days leading up to the murder than she was telling anyone. 

Ben telling everyone about the supposed oral sex from Sarah was horrible, but instead of making Jacob look worse, it gave Derek a motive for murder. 

That's not to say Jacob is off the hook. The details about the violent porn website Jacob was using were disturbing, to say the least.

How do we know the two boys didn't coordinate the killing? 

They were in Jacob's home after the death, and Derek was clutching his bag like it was filled with a million dollars. Yes, it could have been Ben's phone in the bag, but there's more to this story than meets the eye. 

Which brings me to the Matt of it all. 

I've been wavering on whether Leonard has been innocent all along and been brought in as a red herring, but if those phone calls from Matt are any indication, there's a lot of drama still to come before we get our killer reveal. 

Matt is clearly struggling to come to terms with what happened. He's calling Andy in the dead of night, as well as self-medicating with drugs. 

Introducing Matt and his mom on Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 4 was intentional. He is a crucial piece of the puzzle in unmasking the killer. 

Whether Andy will be able to trust him, I don't know, but we already know Andy is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of freedom for his son. 

The more intriguing aspect to me, however, is how Laurie will react to this news. If Jacob is ruled innocent, will she feel terrible about ever thinking he's the villain in this tale? 

Billy: You came out big. She must have fed you good.

Andy: She did fine. With everything.

Billy: I heard the cancer got her.

Andy: What do you care?

Billy: I don’t.

Andy: Then don’t talk about her.

_{🔗 permalink: Then don’t talk about her.}

There are so many questions and very little answers. With three episodes left, we should be getting some meaningful progression. 

What are your thoughts on the lengths Andy is going to? Do you sympathize with Laurie? What was your reaction to Billy being the wickedest father on all of TV?

Hit the comments below. 

Defending Jacob continues Fridays on Apple TV+.

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The post Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 5 Review: Episode 5 appeared first on TV Fanatic.

Andy visits his father in jail. 

Billy says that he will not be giving over the DNA sample because Andy doesn't deserve it. 

Andy leaves the prison, frustrated. 

The article from the journalist Laurie spoke to comes out and everyone learns more about the faily history. 

Andy takes Jacob away for the day. 

Laurie visits Andy's father and forces him to sign. 

Sarah says that Derek has Ben's phone and that it was all because of a nude picture she sent him. 

She claims that Ben forced her for the photo and that he asked for oral sex and that she declined. 

The post Defending Jacob Season 1 Episode 5 Recap: Episode 5 appeared first on TV Fanatic.