Warning, this article contains many spoilers for the finale of The Jacob Barber Affair. If you haven’t seen the episode yet, go ahead.
This Wednesday, March 13, from 12:40am, TF1 viewers will finally be able to discover the outcome of the mini-series The Jacob Barber Affair, which will probably leave a good portion of the public wary of this ambiguous conclusion.
This finale, with its multiple twists and turns, differs from the novel it is adapted from. When the mini-series aired on Apple TV+ in May 2020, creator Mark Bombeck returned to the reasons for these changes.
A surprising finale
The finale of The Jacob Barber Affair doesn’t directly answer the question everyone is asking: Is Jacob to blame for his classmate’s death? Really, it’s up to the viewer to ask. Way to draw a parallel to the many doubts Andy (Chris Evans) and Laurie Barber (Michelle Docker) had during their investigation.
In this episode, the charges against Jacob are suddenly dropped after a local pedophile confesses to a crime he did not commit. A false confession given by Andy’s father (JK Simmons), who is serving a life sentence for murder.
Hoping to put this story behind them, the little family goes on vacation to Mexico. Jacob immediately befriends another teenage girl, Hope, who mysteriously disappears the morning after the party.
The teenager is once again accused by the police. It is then that Andy admits to his wife that the evidence that allowed Jacob to be released was fabricated.
In doing so, he may have allowed his son to be killed a second time. This information greatly worries Lori. While driving, he asks his son to tell him the truth.
Frightened by the gradual speed of the car, Jacob confesses everything to her: “Yes, I killed it, okay? All you want, but slow down, please.” A half-sincere confession that always leaves the fatal question unanswered.
Laurie then drives his car straight into a wall. A desperate act that seems to be on purpose, but Lori says she doesn’t remember, even though she and her son are ultimately out of danger.
A different ending to the novel
This end result is different in William Landey’s novel, published in 2002. It is actually much darker. While young Hope reappears peacefully in the series, in the novel the teenager is found dead. On the other hand, Jacob died in a car accident, he died instantly.
Creator Mark Bombeck explained Los Angeles Times that he chose to change the ending because “It seemed more in line with the story we told during those eight hours. In the book, Laurie is in the dark and is reacting to the realization that Jacob has killed someone and may become a serial killer..”
“After all, it’s not this binary question of his guilt, “Did he commit a crime?” which interests me“Hollywood Reporter Defends Creator at Microphone.”“If we were given a definitive answer, the public would be a little disappointed, I think, because both possibilities have already been explored extensively.”
“What I was interested in was creating a very subjective experience for the audience so that they could feel what these parents are going through (…) for them, no matter what happens, the doubt will always remain..”

As for whether Lori’s actions were truly premeditated: “I think this is the result of an unconscious choice. He did not calculate. He’s at the end of his rope.” Did he really forget what happened?
For Bombeck, “A part of him must know that he was very sick that morning. But she wants to believe her husband’s version (…) What I was interested in was this turn of Jacob’s situation: on the other hand, is his mother guilty or not? We leave these characters in the mental prisons they’ve created for themselves and must continue to live in..”
Find the latest episodes The Case of Jacob Barber This Wednesday March 13 from 9.10pm on TF1.
Source: Allocine

Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.