Do you trust your child unconditionally? What would it take to cast doubt? Defending Jacob journeys with a family coping with murderous accusations and the pursuit to exonerate a teenage son. A gripping story that bonds you through a family’s turmoil as they not only face the charges by the state, but must also face a community they have been a part of. A well written story paired with some great performances makes Defending Jacob the next show you should watch.

Chris Evans (Andy Barber) plays a prosecutor whose son is accused of murder. Evans is amazing at taking you through the painful journey of a parent who is desperate to save his child’s life. Michelle Dockery (Laurie Barber) plays a hurt mother struggling to cope with the shadow cast from the community around them. The character growth Dockery shows as she watches her family fall into the depths of public opinion is heartbreaking. Jaeden Martell (Jacob Barber) plays a quiet young man who is charged with the murder of a fellow student. Jaeden does well playing the quiet teenager that is a bit awkward in social situations. He is a great catalyst for the family’s anxiety. Cherry Jones (Joanna Klein) and Pablo Schreiber (Neil Loguidice) are great support as the prosecutor and defender on the case. Altogether this is a great ensemble that grab your attention throughout and bond you to this family.

Defending Jacob is an 8 part mini-series on Apple TV. If you don’t have Apple TV you can do the free trial and have plenty of time to watch the 8 episodes. You will be so entrenched in this families life you will have to get to the next episode. Shot in dark tones similar to Ozarks, Defending Jacob sets the stage for drama that questions your own resolve. Not only do you experience the court of law, but also feel the full weight of public opinion. You will question the lengths one would go for their child while judging the choices of the family on screen. For a show that debuted months ago it has yet to find a majority audience which is a shame given its high quality. So instead of making that social media post asking for new shows take the time to soak this one in, by the end you will be shook.