Episodes
On the morning of June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman are found stabbed to death outside Brown's Brentwood, ...read more On the morning of June 13, 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman are found stabbed to death outside Brown's Brentwood, Los Angeles condominium. Brown's ex-husband, NFL player, broadcaster, and actor O. J. Simpson, becomes a person of interest in their murders. Deputy district attorney Marcia Clark immediately takes the case, discovering that Simpson physically assaulted Brown multiple times in the past. As African-American defense attorney Johnnie Cochran challenges Christopher Darden for not standing up for his race as a prosecutor, the LAPD questions Simpson who gives vague responses and fails to establish a timeline for the day prior to the murders. Clark becomes further convinced that Simpson is guilty while Robert Kardashian talks Simpson into hiring litigator Robert Shapiro as his new attorney. At Kardashian’s house, Kardashian finds a suicidal Simpson with a gun, and attempts to calm him down. The LAPD arrives to turn Simpson in. When both parties discover that Simpson is missing, Kardashian realizes he has fled with childhood friend Al Cowlings in his white Ford Bronco. show less
In the aftermath of Simpson's disappearance, District Attorney Gil Garcetti issues a statewide manhunt while Shapiro and ...read more In the aftermath of Simpson's disappearance, District Attorney Gil Garcetti issues a statewide manhunt while Shapiro and Kardashian discover Simpson's suicide letter. Shapiro then holds a press conference to save face, with Kardashian reading the letter to the press. A driver on the I-405 spots Simpson in his Ford Bronco and notifies the LAPD, leading to a low-speed chase that dominates the airwaves. Simpson orders Cowlings to drive him to Brentwood and prepares to kill himself when Kardashian calls him and asks that he quietly surrender. Simpson complies and emerges from the car before being taken into custody for the murders. show less
With Simpson now in custody, Shapiro begins assembling his defense team, while Clark confirms to the media that Simpson is to be ...read more With Simpson now in custody, Shapiro begins assembling his defense team, while Clark confirms to the media that Simpson is to be prosecuted for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman, which means he is eligible for the death penalty. Clark also reveals the evidence, the glove, and the blood trail to the media, leading most of the media (and Clark herself) to believe that the case will be an easy win. A controversial issue of TIME magazine featuring a darkened image of Simpson on the cover raises issues of racism among the media. Shapiro signs F. Lee Bailey first onto the team, who recommends bringing aboard Alan Dershowitz. Dershowitz mentions they could argue that the DNA found at the crime scene could have been tampered with, and this is later made the main defense after it is revealed that Mark Fuhrman, the LAPD detective who found the glove that is key to the prosecution's case, has frequently made racist comments during his career. Deciding to go with the argument that the LAPD is systemically racist and has framed Simpson for racist reasons, Shapiro talks to a reporter from The New Yorker, who publishes it as a front-page story. Simpson, after meeting with Shapiro, Bailey, and Kardashian, reluctantly agrees to bring aboard Cochran as the final member of his defense team. Meanwhile, the prosecution is forced to move onto the attack for the trial after most of the key evidence is leaked to the media, and they panic over Shapiro's plan for the defense. show less
Simpson's "dream team" bears down on the trial, with Shapiro adopting a strategy of barricading and objecting to ...read more Simpson's "dream team" bears down on the trial, with Shapiro adopting a strategy of barricading and objecting to every motion the prosecution attempts. However, the defense suffers from dissent in the ranks, as Shapiro begins making desperate efforts to remain the lead defense attorney, despite Cochran's being clearly more qualified for the position as the defense increasingly begins to lean more on racial tension. Eventually, Bailey, Cochran, and Kardashian stage a minor coup while Shapiro is on vacation, and convince Simpson to endorse Cochran as the lead attorney. Lance Ito is called to preside over the trial, and the process of jury selection begins, with both sides seeking a racial composition favorable to their own agenda. While both Clark and Cochran are correct that whites are biased against Simpson and black men are biased in his favor, they each have their own respective theories about why black women would be unsympathetic to him: Cochran believes they would resent Simpson for marrying a white woman, while Clark believes they would be sympathetic to Nicole as a battered woman. However, this theorizing proves inaccurate when all potential black female jurors align with Simpson as much as their male counterparts, denouncing Nicole as a gold digger. Clark is also forced to confront the fact that she herself is singularly uncharismatic to jurors of all demographics. Adding to the media circus surrounding the case is a book published by Faye Resnick, detailing Brown Simpson's lifestyle and relationship to Simpson, and detracting more potential evidence from the trial itself. With Clark and her team realizing the case is not the easy win they initially thought it would be, she and Garcetti decide that the only possible buffer against the charismatic and beloved Cochran is to add a black lawyer to the prosecution. She calls on Christopher Darden, and he joins the prosecution team, surprising the defense. show less
The Simpson murder trial begins when in his first contribution to the prosecution, Darden attempts to sway the jury from any ...read more The Simpson murder trial begins when in his first contribution to the prosecution, Darden attempts to sway the jury from any racist implications of the case. His wording backfires severely when Cochran delivers a fiery and moving rebuttal, humiliating the prosecutors. Clark also assigns Darden to interview Mark Fuhrman and coach him on how to speak during the trial as a credible witness. Darden gets a bad feeling about Fuhrman, strongly suspecting him to be the latent racist suggested by his murky history, but Clark disregards his suspicions, leaving him increasingly conflicted about his role in the case. Meanwhile, Cochran redecorates Simpson's home, re-imagining him as being more proud and in touch with his African American identity, for a tour by the jury. After the defense springs a surprise and illegal move by introducing new witnesses, William Hodgman suffers a panic attack and faints in court. Clark nominates Darden to replace him as the co-leading prosecutor. A new obstacle emerges to the prosecution, unbeknownst to Clark when Darden's suspicions are confirmed and Fuhrman is shown to have a collection of Nazi memorabilia. show less
Clark is going through a bitter divorce. The media criticizes her attitude and appearance and she becomes overwhelmed by her ...read more Clark is going through a bitter divorce. The media criticizes her attitude and appearance and she becomes overwhelmed by her sudden celebrity status. Television networks interrupt their daytime programming for coverage of the trial. Darden and Clark bond at the office after-hours with drinks and dancing. A reporter from the Los Angeles Times confronts Cochran about alleged past domestic violence against his first wife. Clark decides to get a haircuit in response to the media's criticism of her, but it is not well received. Bailey cross-examines Fuhrman, asking him if he has ever used the word nigger in the last ten years, which Fuhrman strongly denies. Darden consoles Clark, who bemoans finding herself being turned into a public personality like the defense lawyers. show less
Shapiro tries to convince others to agree to a plea deal. Kardashian finds himself unable to believe Simpson's story because ...read more Shapiro tries to convince others to agree to a plea deal. Kardashian finds himself unable to believe Simpson's story because of the lack of any other suspects. Clark travels to Oakland with Darden for a friend's birthday, showing the increasing closeness between them both. Simpson tries on the gloves (found at the scene of the crime). After he seemingly struggles to put on the gloves, it appears that they are too small. show less
The members on the jury start to go stir-crazy and deal with cabin fever during sequestration. A few of them are excused for ...read more The members on the jury start to go stir-crazy and deal with cabin fever during sequestration. A few of them are excused for lying on the questionnaire or having connections with Simpson in strange ways. The defense and counsel begin to focus on getting alternates who they are sure would vote favorably at the end of the trial. After the glove debacle, everyone assumes that Simpson is not guilty but when Clark fiercely presents the DNA evidence in court, doubts arise again. Even the ever-faithful Kardashian begins to suspect Simpson's story while Cochran and Shapiro seem unconcerned with this. show less
Simpson's attorneys uncover tapes of Fuhrman recounting horrifying stories of torturing, murdering and framing black ...read more Simpson's attorneys uncover tapes of Fuhrman recounting horrifying stories of torturing, murdering and framing black suspects for fun. It emerges that one of the people Fuhrman attacks in those tapes is his own superior, police Captain Peggy York, who also happens to be Judge Ito's wife and who lied on her affidavit about having connections with Fuhrman so that Ito could preside over the case; a mistrial is barely avoided. The tapes are released, Fuhrman takes the stand and further incriminates himself by refusing to answer any more questions, among them whether or not he deliberately planted any evidence to frame Simpson, much to the dismay of Clark. show less
On the last day of proceedings, Simpson declines to take the stand and instead makes a brief statement, maintaining his ...read more On the last day of proceedings, Simpson declines to take the stand and instead makes a brief statement, maintaining his innocence and expressing his yearning for the trial to end and to return to his family. Following four hours of deliberation, the jury delivers a not guilty verdict, prompting rejoice and shock across the country. Simpson returns to civilian life only to enter a society that perceives him as a different person than he was before the trial; some, primarily his family, and Cowlings, welcome him home with open arms, but his old friends have severed all ties with him, he is ostracised by his neighbors, and establishments he used to frequent are refusing his custom. During a celebration party, after reading out a note declaring his intent to find Ron and Nicole's killer, Simpson sees Kardashian abandon him. A saddened and lonely Simpson goes into the backyard, where he gazes at a life-size statue of himself in his prime. show less