FX
Each Wednesday, I will break down FX’s ‘The People vs. O.J. Simpson,’ a fictional crime thriller set in 1990s Los Angeles, with the hopes of determining just who dun it. Today, Episode 6: Marcia, Marcia, Marcia.
For perhaps the first time in the series, this week’s episode took our focus away from our main protagonist, The Juice. Instead, we learn much more intimately about the lead prosecutor for the state, Marcia.
Our episode begins showing Marcia in an intense custody battle with her husband, implying that perhaps the trial isn’t getting her undivided attention. She shows up late for court, where one of Nicole’s friends is testifying about the abuse Nicole suffered at The Juice’s hands. It’s intense stuff, the implication clearly being that The Juice is full of rage. Afterward, Marcia goes home to her son.
Back in court another day, the defense is beginning to tell its side of the case. They grill a cop about mishandling evidence, keeping The Juice’s shoes in a car for a day before admitting them to evidence. Where did he take them? To his home in a part of Los Angeles that is known for racially biased cops. Very peculiar, indeed.
Outside of the court, Marcia’s boss has been intently following the gossip coverage of her. People are calling her frumpy, and he wonders if perhaps Marcia doing something about that might help the case.
The defense then tries to stall the prosecution’s case, which Marcia believes is going well, by bringing in a witness who they say can only testify right away. It’s unusual, but Judge Ito allows it. The witness, a housekeeper, originally claimed she could break the timeline of the prosecution, but on the stand she admits to being prepped by the defense attorney, Johnnie. Unfortunately, the jury doesn’t get to see it.
Marcia then goes to the hair salon, getting a drastic haircut, which even the judge mocks. Chris, her co-worker, however, tells her he likes it.
The episode’s double climax comes fast, with the prosecution’s star witness, Furman, detailing everything he found at The Juice’s house, which makes it pretty indicative of The Juice’s guilt. But the defense strikes back in dramatic fashion, with the drunk attorney asking Furman if he’s ever been accused of using racial slurs, implying along with their earlier cross examination of the other detective, that the police were setting The Juice up.
The next day, a topless photo of Marcia leaks to a tabloid, and she breaks down in court.
The case for The Juice: The defense completely tears apart both of the prosecution’s most important witnesses, selling the jury on the narrative that the police tried to frame him. There’s the evidence not entered immediately. The fact that three cops rushed to The Juice’s house after the crime, and the racially charged accusations against Furman. They are certain that these men planted evidence against The Juice, simply because of the color of his skin.
The case against The Juice: There’s so much evidence there, and even one of the defense’s star witnesses admits that the story she originally told exonerating The Juice was inaccurate.
So did The Juice do it? The defense’s grilling of the two detectives is so thorough, so intense, and so meticulous. They seem to really truly believe The Juice was set up, and I’m starting to think so, too.
The Verdict: FRAMED.
Check back next Wednesday for our recap of Episode Seven and let me know in the comments if you think The Juice did it. I can’t wait to find out.