Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent Avoids True Detective’s Sophomore Slump

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While the first season of True Detective was a huge hit, later seasons didn’t measure up. However, the new version on Apple TV seems to be avoiding a similar drop in quality.

Often, True Detective struggled to live up to the incredibly high expectations set by its first season. Each subsequent season felt disappointing in comparison, and season two, in particular, faced criticism for trying too hard to be different within the crime thriller genre.

It’s still too early to know if season 5 of True Detective will be a success, but Apple TV+’s new show is already looking very promising.

Presumed Innocent Has The Potential To Become Apple TV’s Answer To True Detective

While the first season of Presumed Innocent didn’t quite reach the captivating heights of True Detective‘s debut, it shared a strength: outstanding acting from well-known stars like Jake Gyllenhaal, Chase Infiniti, Bill Camp, and Ruth Negga. Like True Detective, the show focuses on more than just solving a murder; it explores deeper themes as well.

Similar to True Detective, the show focuses on the flaws and moral struggles of its main investigators and lawyers, presenting them as far from typical crime thriller heroes.

I’m really excited about season two of Presumed Innocent! It sounds like they’re doing what True Detective did – completely starting over with a brand new story and characters instead of continuing the first season’s plot. And just like season two of True Detective, they’ve lined up an amazing cast – Rachel Brosnahan, Matthew Rhys, Courtney B. Vance, and Fiona Shaw are all going to be in it, which is fantastic!

If the second season of Presumed Innocent is as good as the first, it could avoid the common pitfall that prevented True Detective from becoming a classic after its initial success.

Presumed Innocent Upcoming Season Is Already Avoiding True Detective’s Sophomore Mistakes

Credit: Michele K. Short / © HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection

Unlike previous seasons of True Detective which featured original stories, both seasons of the Apple TV+ show Presumed Innocent are adapted from popular novels. Season one is loosely based on Scott Turow’s book of the same name, and season two draws from Jo Murray’s Dissection of a Murder. The source novel by Murray is highly rated on Goodreads with a score of 4.6 out of 5, suggesting the new season may be well-received.

The upcoming season of Presumed Innocent will follow a similar format to its first season, unlike True Detective season 2, which tried something new. Both seasons of Presumed Innocent will center around a lawyer who becomes personally involved in a murder case while defending a suspect.

While Apple TV’s Presumed Innocent isn’t taking as many risks as True Detective, its use of the successful formula from True Detective‘s first season gives it a better chance of doing well in its second season.

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2026-01-03 05:58