'Presumed Innocent' Episode 5 Takeaway: Tommy Molto's flashback hints at sinister motive
Contains spoilers for 'Presumed Innocent'
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Apple TV+'s courtroom thriller series 'Presumed Innocent', which is set against the backdrop of a gruesome murder, convincingly demonstrates that Rusty Sabich's (Jake Gyllenhaal) legal problems are far from done.
David E. Kelley's creative brainchild, the show follows Rusty, a famous prosecutor, whose life is turned upside down when he becomes the lead suspect in the murder of his secret girlfriend and colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve).
Rusty maintains his innocence; nevertheless, his professional competitor Tommy Molto (Peter Sarsgaard) believes differently and is determined to implicate Rusty for the murder without even looking for another candidate.
Tommy's desire to implicate Rusty has been established as professional rivalry since the beginning of the show, but the latest episode suggests that his animosity towards Rusty is more than that as it's a toxic brew of enviousness, bitterness, and a desire for revenge.
What did Tommy Molto's flashback hint at in 'Presumed Innocent'?
In the most recent episode, a flashback depicts Tommy's conversation with Carolyn, which provides critical insight into the extent of his hate towards Rusty and his possible involvement in the crime.
It was revealed that Tommy, who appeared to be extremely playful with Caroyln, questioned her insistence not to work with him.
Carolyn, taken aback by his sudden confrontation, answered that she wanted to pursue her cases on her own and that if she had to co-chair them, she would choose Rusty, who is a deputy chief prosecutor.
Tommy then stated that he deduced that she specifically did not want to work with him, to which Carolyn responded that her remarks had been misconstrued.
Did Tommy Molto's unrequited feelings for Carolyn Polhemus drive him to frame Rusty Sabich?
The flashback is critical for understanding the complicated motives behind Tommy's actions and the emotional stakes involved in the case, as it also establishes Tommy as a new entry as a suspect in the murder case.
It's clear that he has something to do with Carolyn's murder, as he even refused to investigate Carolyn's son Michael Caldwell's (Tate Birchmore) claims that his mother was harassed by someone from her office.
It could be possible that Tommy may have had romantic emotions for Carolyn, and upon learning of her romance with Rusty, he was heartbroken and is now determined to punish him by accusing him of the murder.
Tommy's professional rivalry with Rusty may also have an impact on how he handles the case against Rusty.
Overall, the recent discovery raises doubts about whether Tommy's pursuit of justice is tainted by personal revenge, perhaps leading to biased prosecution techniques, or whether he is the one who killed Carolyn.
With three episodes remaining in the series, the courtroom drama will undoubtedly resolve the questions.
'Presumed Innocent' trailer