Ep 4. 100% Not Guilty

In American Crime Story season 1 episode 4, titled "100% Not Guilty," the trial of O.J. Simpson begins in earnest. The episode opens with a montage of television anchors describing the now-famous "trial of the century," emphasizing the importance of the case for both the accused and the American justice system as a whole.

The prosecution team, led by Marcia Clark (played by Sarah Paulson), presents its opening arguments, painting Simpson (played by Cuba Gooding Jr.) as a jealous, abusive husband who murdered his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ron Goldman. The defense team, led by Robert Shapiro (played by John Travolta), counters with a narrative that suggests LAPD detectives were biased against Simpson and that the evidence at the crime scene was mishandled.

Throughout the episode, the prosecution and defense present their cases to the jury and the public, each side bringing forth a flurry of witnesses and evidence. We see testimony from witnesses who claim to have seen Simpson's Bronco near the scene of the crime on the night of the murders, as well as from experts who discuss DNA and forensic evidence. One of the more dramatic moments of the episode comes when LAPD detective Mark Fuhrman (played by Steven Pasquale) takes the stand and denies ever using racial slurs, despite being caught on tape doing so.

As the trial proceeds, tensions rise between the prosecution team and the media, who criticize Clark for everything from her hairstyle to her demeanor in the courtroom. This episode also shows the defense team's efforts to control the narrative around the case, with Shapiro hiring a public relations firm to manage Simpson's image and crafting a strategy to paint him as a victim of police incompetence and racism.

As always, the acting in this episode is superb, with standout performances from Paulson, Travolta, and Gooding Jr. The attention to detail in the sets and costumes is also impressive, transporting viewers back to the 1990s and immersing them in the world of the trial.

Overall, "100% Not Guilty" is a gripping and emotional episode that captures the drama and tension of the Simpson trial. While we all know the eventual outcome of the case, watching the proceedings unfold in this show highlights the complexity and nuance of the trial, with no easy answers or clear winners.