Defending Jacob Season 1, Episode 3 recap: Does Laurie doubt Jacob’s innocence?

Jacob is released on bail in the third episode of Defending Jacob, Andy pursues Leonard Patz, and Laurie battles doubts about her son’s innocence.

In episode 3 of Defending Jacob, Jacob is released on bail, and the Barber family tries to cope with his impending trial. Laurie has a hard time adapting to her new way of life, which includes potentially doubting her son’s innocence.

Meanwhile, Andy tries to conduct his own investigation into Leonard Patz, who he still believes might be Ben’s real killer.

The truth about Andy’s father

We finally learn the truth about Andy’s strange nightmares and visions of a knife, jail cell, tattoo, and prison inmate. His father, Billy Barber, is a convicted murderer serving life in prison.

It is a point of contention with Laurie and Andy. He did lie to her for 17 years, after all. It was easier for him to say he never knew his dad than to admit the truth.

In reality, Andy hasn’t seen his dad since he was six-years-old. His father killed a college girl. Andy only decides to tell Laurie now because the prosecution could find out and try to use it against Jacob in court.

After doing some research, Laurie becomes concerned that they will try to say Jacob was predisposed to murder because he could have inherited the “murder gene.” Joanna reassures her that if that happens, they will fight the accusation “tooth and nail.”

Does Laurie doubt Jacob’s innocence?

A lot of the third episode focuses on Laurie and her attempts to keep life as normal as possible. Unfortunately, that is almost impossible. The Barbers can’t go out in public without being hounded by the press or receiving unsavory and judgmental looks from other people.

Joanna Klein, Jacob’s defense attorney, says it best when she warns the Barbers that Jacob won’t be the only one getting judged — they all will. People believe that Jacob’s parents are potentially responsible for his behavior.

The surrounding pressure begins to weigh heavily on Laurie’s mind, especially after she loses her job. She recalls a memory of a birthday party where Jacob almost hit another kid with a bowling ball.

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Later, Andy and Laurie attend a therapy session. It is part of the defense team’s strategy to research the “murder gene” theory for their records. While talking to the therapist, Laurie’s fears about her son become tangible.

She admits that Jacob was a difficult child. He showed aggressive tendencies in kindergarten, including pushing a little girl off a playground resulting in her needing stitches.

According to Andy, Laurie is overdramatizing these violent spells. He remains convinced that Jacob was an ordinary boy with ordinary problems, and that he grew out of that troublesome phase.

Laurie says she’s not so sure about that, or why else would they be where they are now? That sounds like she thinks Jacob could be guilty, and the counselor says as much.

But Laurie denies it (methinks the lady doth protest too much though, right?). It remains evident that she has concerns about her son’s sensibility.

The last time we see Laurie in this episode, she is repainting the garage door. Someone spraypainted “Murderer, rot in hell,” on the Barber’s house. Andy tried to clean it off, but Laurie decides to paint it away.

To me, it seemed like the act of a desperate woman. It’s like Laurie is trying to deny all the doubts in her head by doing something she deems productive. As if painting the graffiti will also remove the thought from her head.

Odds & Ends

• It looks like Sarah has finally decided to come forward with whatever it is she knows about Ben’s murder. She contacts the tipline at the end of the episode and speaks to Duffy, but we don’t find out what she has to say before the credits roll.
• Andy cajoles Duffy into giving him Leonard Patz’s case file. He plans to do a little sleuthing to learn whether Leonard could be the real culprit.

What did you think of Episode 3 of Defending Jacob? Do you think Laurie is doubting her son’s innocence? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

New episodes stream Fridays on Apple TV Plus.