Warning! Contains spoilers for Presumed Innocent episode 5.

In Presumed Innocent‘s episode 5, the central trial finally begins before Rusty grows desperate to prove his innocence while Raymond comes up with a risky plan. Although Apple TV+’s Presumed Innocent is based on the same book that a 1990 Harrison Ford movie had previously adapted, it brings several changes to the original narrative to make the overarching mystery more gripping. The show’s narrative structure is still similar to the book and the original film, but it makes viewers suspicious about nearly every main character’s involvement in the main murder mystery.

For instance, after episode 5, it becomes hard not to suspect Rusty’s son, Kyle, when he throws his cycle in the dumpster. A flashback that walks through a conversation between Carolyn and Molto also raises some doubts surrounding Molto’s motives. After setting up so many red herrings and hinting at several intriguing plot developments, Presumed Innocent‘s episode 5 encourages a viewer to become an armchair detective and speculate about who might have killed Carolyn.

8

Raymond Feels Burdened By The Stress From The Case

The Pressure Rises As The Trial Inches Closer

Presumed Innocent‘s opening arc begins with a dream sequence in which Raymond feels his pulse rising while working on Rusty’s case in his office. Although he is able to calm himself down in the dream sequence, his head suddenly explodes, reflecting how burdened he feels by the case. After waking up from the dream, he tells his wife about it, who, as always, discourages him from taking it up. She even seemingly suggests that she does not believe Rusty is innocent, which later leads to Raymond asking Rusty an important question about his relationship with his wife.

7

Rusty Convinces Raymond & Winslow To Reconsider Reynolds’ Involvement In Carolyn’s Murder

Winslow & Raymond Agree To Interview Ratzer

Even though Raymond keeps asking him to drop his investigation on the Bunny Davis case, believing it has nothing to do with Carolyn’s murder, Rusty keeps doubling down on his efforts to find more links. In Presumed Innocent‘s episode 5, Raymond asks Winslow for her opinion on Rusty’s insights, hoping she will talk him out of pursuing the solved murder case. However, when Rusty tells them everything about Ratzer and how Carolyn was keeping the case file’s new details surrounding the second unidentified sample a secret, Raymond and Winslow start believing he may be onto something.

As a result, they even arrange a meeting with Ratzer later in the Presumed Innocent episode. Winslow, like Raymond, is still not completely sold on the idea that Raymond pulled some string from inside the prison to get Carolyn murdered. However, unlike Raymond, she seems way more open-minded to new ideas and discoveries that could help them win the case.

6

Flashbacks Reveal Molto Holds A Grudge Against Rusty

Molto’s Bias Spells Trouble For Rusty

Presumed Innocent‘s episodes 1 and 2 establish that there has always been some political tension between Rusty, Raymond, Molto, and Guardia. However, in episode 5, it becomes evident that Molto also holds some personal grudges against Sabich. In the flashback, Molto asks Carolyn why she does not wish to work with him. Carolyn defends herself by saying she has no issues with him but only prefers working with Rusty. She also adds that, from a career standpoint, working with Rusty benefits her a lot more because he ranks well above Molto.

This flashback confirms that Molto is not trying to find justice in the case. He is biased to believe that Rusty committed the crime and is doing his best to find all the evidence that confirms he was the perpetrator. Molto’s confirmation bias spells trouble for Rusty because he still does not have any concrete evidence to prove his innocence. In many ways, this also makes Motlo a potential suspect because it seems possible that he might have killed her out of jealousy and is now trying to frame Rusty for his crime.

5

Barbara Kisses Clifton But Avoids Having An Affair

Barbara Opens Up About Her Concerns For Her Daughter

After growing closer to a bartender named Clifton, Barbara thinks about having an affair with him to get even with Rusty. She even apprehensively arranges a meeting with him in Presumed Innocent‘s episode 5 and kisses him when they meet. However, as she later reveals to her counselor, she avoids having an affair with Clifton because her hesitation and the guilt about the potential consequences make her reconsider her actions.

She says that she could not help but think about her daughter and how she would judge her for having an affair. Barbara also tells her counselor that she feels judged for even staying with Rusty despite his past actions. Barbara’s guilt for not leaving Rusty even after he cheated on her with Carolyn raises the possibility that she is the murderer.

4

Ratzer Claims To Know Nothing About Reynolds & Bunny Davis’ Murder

Rusty Seemingly Intends To Get Ratzer Involved In The Central Murder Case

After calling Ratzer in for an interrogation, Winslow asks him all about his relationship with Bunny Davis. Although Ratzer initially avoids answering her questions and claims he did not know Davis, he eventually reveals he might have met her a couple of times before her death. When she shows him a picture of Reynolds, he denies knowing him and assures her he had nothing to do with Bunny Davis’ murder. Rusty, however, does not seem convinced by his responses and will likely confront him again in a future episode.

3

Molto Makes A Public Statement To Win The Jury’s Trust

Molto’s Bold Move Catches Guardia Off-Guard

When the press approaches Molto to ask him about the case, he cleverly goes on a rant about how the middle class gets unfair treatment in society and how the rich often get away with their crimes. While his statements initially seem strange, and even Guardia asks him how his controversial statements benefited them, Molto defends himself by revealing the real reason behind his statements against the upper class. He discloses that he said all that because he wants the jury to relate with him. He understands that most people involved in the jury would be middle-class folks, looking to serve justice to wrongdoers.

By addressing issues they face in their day-to-day lives, Molto hopes to earn their respect. This could eventually help him win their trust, making them more receptive to his arguments in the case. Molto’s explanation to Guardia shows that even though he may primarily have circumstantial evidence against Rusty, his strategy to make the jury feel more represented and understood could help sway their final decision in his favor.

2

Raymond Tells Rusty Only Barbara’s Testimony Can Save Him

Raymond Resorts To Extreme Methods To Win The Case

After his initial interaction with his wife, Raymond asks Rusty whether Barbara believes he is innocent. When Rusty assures him she knows he did not commit the crime, Raymond makes him question his own belief by revealing that his wife, who is Barbara’s friend, thinks he is the murderer. Rusty, however, still hides his concerns and confidently claims that Barbara knows him well. This is when Raymond insists that Barabara will have to testify in court.

Although Rusty wishes to keep her out of the case, Raymond claims that only she can reveal how Rusty behaved at home on the night of Carolyn’s murder. He believes the jury would hardly believe anyone else’s word, but Barbara’s testimony about Rusty could convince them he is innocent. Despite understanding where Raymond is coming from, Rusty remains unsure about getting Barbara directly involved in the trial.

1

The Trial Begins & Molto Starts Strong

Molto Reminds The Jury That Carolyn Was A Mother

When the trial finally begins in Presumed Innocent episode 5, Molto starts strongly by not only presenting the facts to the jury but also bringing an emotional spin to the case. He talks about how Carolyn was his friend and even had a family to ensure the jury does not take it easy on Rusty. After hearing Molto in the courtroom, Rusty realizes how well he is preparing for the case, which only further raises his anxiety surrounding the final outcome. After episode 5’s events, Presumed Innocent episode 6 will likely begin with Raymond’s defense.

New Presumed Innocent episodes are released on Apple TV+ every Wednesday.