True Detective REPLACED?! Apple TV+’s New Show is the Perfect Substitute

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True Detective, which has yet to find a worthy successor, seems to be edging closer with the intriguing narrative of season 2 on Apple TV+. More than a decade since its debut, the first season of True Detective remains one of the most captivating detective dramas ever produced. The initial season established such an incredibly high benchmark with its storyline, character development, acting, and direction that no subsequent seasons have managed to replicate its brilliance.

Although the first season of True Detective remains unsurpassed, some subsequent episodes in the HBO series offer distinct contributions to the crime thriller genre. Given True Detective’s distinctive storytelling style and its knack for crafting multiple captivating and layered narratives within this genre, it could be argued that it’s impossible for any other show to fully replicate its success. Nevertheless, upon examining the storyline of the second season of a legal drama on Apple TV+, it is challenging not to acknowledge how it might approach or even rival True Detective in various aspects.

Presumed Innocent Season 2 Is Not Adapting Scott Turow’s Original Book Sequels

The Apple TV+ Show Is Adapting A New Book In Its Second Installment

Upon the announcement of Presumed Innocent‘s second season, it was only natural to expect that the upcoming episodes would follow a similar path and continue the storyline with familiar characters, much like how the first season mirrors the 1990 Harrison Ford movie adaptation of Scott Turow’s original novel. Given that there are two sequels to the novel, Innocent and Presumed Guilty, many speculated that the show might adapt one of these stories for its second season. However, contrary to expectations, as confirmed by Turow himself (via The Wrap)), the new season will not be directly based on any of the original sequels.

Instead, as verified by Deadline, Season 2 of Presumed Innocent will base itself on Jo Murray’s Dissection of a Murder. The novel delves into the tale of Leila Reynolds, who takes on her first murder case. Similar to Jake Gyllenhaal’s character from season 1, she experiences growing internal turmoil when the defendant in a murder case requests her aid. Matters escalate further when her spouse is unveiled as the prosecutor, subtly uncovering that she, too, harbors hidden secrets.

According to the storyline of the book “Presumed Innocent,” season 2 is expected to introduce a new female character and possibly an entirely different group of characters and actors. If the series were to follow Scott Turow’s sequel novel “Innocent,” season 2 would have primarily centered around Peter Sarsgaard’s character, Tommy Molto. However, since Sarsgaard stated he wouldn’t participate in sequels, the show never had the opportunity to adapt the sequel novel. The challenges of adapting “Innocent” arise from the fact that it takes place two decades after the events of the first book, making its adaptation more complex.

Due to these aspects, it’s logical that Presumed Innocent is choosing to tell a different tale and follow an anthology structure rather than extending season 1’s narrative. Notably, this method shares characteristics with True Detective, potentially making it a strong contender to succeed the popular HBO show.

Presumed Innocent’s Anthology Approach Makes It A Great Replacement For True Detective

Presumed Innocent Could Adopt The Same Approach In Future Seasons

Instead of extending the storyline from season 1, Presumed Innocent is adopting a similar approach as True Detective, by choosing to present an anthology. While some might argue that Presumed Innocent’s first season didn’t quite reach the brilliance of True Detective’s debut, both shows share striking similarities. They both delve into intricate male characters who grapple with solving their respective murder mysteries while battling personal issues and complicated family relationships that could potentially jeopardize the investigation.

In both “True Detective” and “Presumed Innocent,” the initial storylines concluded with the main characters undergoing self-discovery during their pursuit of justice and mending their broken family ties, finding a sense of tranquility. Notably, “Presumed Innocent” opted to restart its narrative in season 2 by focusing on a new female detective’s investigation into a murder, which echoes the anthology structure of “True Detective.” Although it may be premature to declare the “Apple TV+” show as a replacement for “True Detective,” it will undoubtedly be intriguing to compare their respective second seasons with those of the HBO series.

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2025-05-15 06:48