The 2025 Emmy nominations were just announced, and Apple TV+’s original series Presumed Innocent was nominated for four of TV’s most prestigious awards.
That’s got the Watch With Us team thinking about why we love this legal thriller, which stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Negga, and why it’s still underrated when compared to other shows like The Pitt.
With a stellar cast, an impressive pedigree and a gripping story, Presumed Innocent definitely stands out in Apple’s programming lineup.
Read on to learn why you should watch this powerful, newly Emmy-nominated show on Apple TV+.
The Cast Is Getting Well-Deserved Awards Attention
The four awards nominations that Presumed Innocent received are all in the acting category — Outstanding Lead Actor in A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Gyllenhaal), Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Bill Camp), Outstanding Supporting Actor in A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Peter Sarsgaard) and Outstanding Supporting Actress in A Limited Or Anthology Series Or Movie (Negga). It makes sense that the talented cast is where the awards attention is concentrated, because the acting in Presumed Innocent is excellent.
Gyllenhaal leads the cast as Rusty Sabich, a prosecutor who becomes the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague Carolyn (Renate Reinsve), with whom he was having an affair. As Rusty, he is a mess of conflicted emotion — anger at being accused, guilt for his affair, anger at Carolyn, who he feels initiated the affair, grief for her loss and many more contradictory feelings.
Negga (you may recognize her from Loving or Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.) is another standout as Rusty’s wife Barbara, who portrays marital strife in a marvelously layered way — she shows a depth of rage and love that go hand in hand in her relationship with Rusty. As Rusty’s best friend and lawyer, Camp exudes a stressed-out likability, while Sarsgaard is the complete opposite as a slimy prosecutor.
It Comes From the Same Man Who Made ‘Big Little Lies’
David E. Kelley is a giant in the world of TV writing, having created shows that vary wildly in tone. From Doogie Howser, M.D. to Big Little Lies, Kelley has proven himself to be a master storyteller on any topic — but legal dramas are definitely his first love.
A former lawyer himself, Kelley understands the intricacies of what makes a court case exciting, as well as the personalities and politics that collide around high-profile cases like Rusty’s.
While this show is an adaptation of the novel by Scott Turow, Kelley isn’t afraid to make bold moves and pivot away from the original text. Without giving anything away, we’ll just say that if you’ve read the book or seen the 1990 film starring Harrison Ford, don’t assume you know exactly what’s going to happen.
It Could Become Your New TV Addiction
While the story of Rusty Sabich is over on Apple TV+, Kelley is turning Presumed Innocent into an anthology series that will adapt different legal thriller novels. Rachel Brosnahan of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Superman fame has been tapped to star in the second season of Presumed Innocent, which will be based on an upcoming legal thriller called Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray.
Few details have been released about the plot, but according to Deadline, it follows Leila Reynolds, an attorney who has just been handed her first murder case. She’s way out of her depth, but the defendant only wants her — and to make matters worse, her husband is the prosecutor.
If you’re into courtroom dramas, Presumed Innocent has the potential to do what True Detective has done for detective stories — present consistent, high-quality seasons of television that elevate the genre. Legal thriller fans, rejoice.
Watch Presumed Innocent on Apple TV+.
