Every now and then, I feel lucky to see early previews of up and coming shows and as Apple TV have been knocking it out of the park recently, with drama of the highest level – I’m more than happy to confirm that they’re certainly not stopping with the brilliant Presumed Innocent, that’s coming the streaming service from 12 June, as it’s a must-watch if you love slow-burning crime drama, with a lot of intense performances.

**Spoiler-Free**

Starring Jake Gyllenhaal, who also exec produces, Presumed Innocent is based on the New York Times bestselling novel of the same name by Scott Turow, for this series it’s the multi Emmy Award-winner David E. Kelley, alongside executive producer J.J. Abrams, who bring us fresh TV and have said that this version is “…a re-imagining of Scott Turow’s work, which we hope inspires the same kind of spirited whodunit discussion from week to week as the series rolls out.”

While I haven’t read the novel, or seen the 1990 film version starring Harrison Ford, I can tell you that this series bears all the hallmarks of a classic, vital and modern TV event which continually questions your own thoughts on the characters, on where the storyline is going, and it’ll inspire conversation as the story takes you through intense cliffhangers, all the way up to the finale which, incidentally, supposedly even Gyllenhaal didn’t know the outcome of, and I certainly won’t reveal it here.

This is a gripping journey which begins with a suspicious murder that upends the Chicago Prosecuting Attorney’s office… after chief deputy prosecutor Rusty Sabich (played by Gyllenhaal) is suspected of the crime. From that early reveal, and a horrific crime, the series explores obsession, sex, politics, alongside the intensity and edges of love, as the accused fights to hold his family and marriage together.

Directed episodically between Anne Sewitsky and Greg Yaitanes, with writing duties from David E. Kelley, Sharr White, and Miki Johnson, Presumed Innocent is a genuinely mesmerising modern whodunit that traipses the murky edges of truth and lies, whilst unravelling a string of possible clues, or at least propositions of such, because it becomes clear that everyone has secrets but do they also have the answers we think they do, or do the characters even know their own family, or friends?

It contains has a killer ensemble cast that includes Ruth Negga, Bill Camp, O-T Fagbenle, Chase Infiniti, Elizabeth Marvel, Nana Mensah (check out her outstanding film Queen of Glory by the way), Renate Reinsve, Peter Sarsgaard and Kingston Rumi Southwick, who all give important progression to the plot, and offer time for their characters to develop. Along the way, we get snippets of other possible outside influences, and occasion insights, but with both J.J. Abrams and (of course) David E Kelley on board, the wealth of cliffhangers and mystery boxes definitely make you want to find out what happens next, as the credits roll on each episode.

If you recall the outstanding The Night Of, interestingly also starring the underrated Bill Camp (and he’s magnificent here), then you’ll appreciate the level of tension and character building, and in Presumed Innocent, you’ve got Jake Gyllenhaal in pure hot form, hitting that balanced level between wholly believing his character Rusty, but then again… do we really know him at all as our guide through the story?

Ruth Negga gradually almost steals the show along the way, with a conflicted and family-loving situation to contend with, Peter Sarsgaard’s Tommy Molto is working full-on in the unknown, and also there’s O-T Fagbenle’s ‘Nico Della Guardia’ alongside him – and they begin as a rather uncomfortable creepy duo, with a political relationship that shifts and changes. At every point, the question over who is doing what, and for what reasons, lingers in the dark ether that surrounds it.

It’s also beautifully filmed, in a murky sense, throughout and I especially enjoyed seeing a stormy Chicago, with a Hans Zimmer-like score that here is composed by Danny Bensi and Saunder Jurriaans. The series also reflects the world today, with an additional Gone Girl vibe, as I’d say we’re in this era of mistrust, with a collective obsession over true crime, deep personal knowledge of political unease, and when you’re throwing in the ever-present psychology of personal desires, will the truth out?

Presumed Innocent is absorbing, must-watch television… in every regard. Kelley takes you on one hell of a ride and my advice? If you don’t know the original, don’t seek it out (or spoil it here) because I think this is a one-set structure to fully immerse within due to stellar performances in this compelling, modern drama.

Presumed Innocent makes its global debut on Apple TV+, premiering the first two episodes on Wednesday, June 12 followed by a new episode every Wednesday through July 24