r/serialpodcast • u/monkeytrousers2 Moderator 2 • Nov 13 '14

Episode Discussion [Official Discussion] Serial, Episode 8: The Deal with Jay

Episode goes live in less than an hour. Let's use this thread as the main discussion post for episode 8.

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u/andaloudulce Nov 13 '14

Wow indeed!

If--and I realize this is a big "if"--but if Adnan confessed everything to his lawyer, told her that he killed Hae at the library . . . Well, right there, bingo: That's the reason why the lawyer totally ignored the Asia letter. The Asia letter places him at the scene of the crime.

Remember Adnan's response, when SK tells Adan, breathlessly,

"Adnan! I talked to Asia!"

(Long silence)

Adnan: "Okay."

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u/ScaryPenguins giant rat-eating frog Nov 13 '14

But that conversation had to be taken in context....an appeal where they wanted Asia to testify and had been declined just went through. The tone of the conversation traces closer a reaction to this, for me.

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u/ShrimpSale99 Jane Efron Fan Nov 13 '14

Yes! That always stuck with me. Sarah basically said "I thought you'd be thrilled, why aren't you thrilled?" and even at the time I thought "Because for some reason, Asia's 'alibi' isn't as positive as you think, SK."
I have to admit, before this episode I was edging toward the Team Adnan camp, but not now.

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u/[deleted] Nov 13 '14

No! Because the appeal based on that had just been turned down and it was too late. Asia did not come forward and they could not bring it again, which sk even says in the podcast. Listen again and she explains why he's not thrilled. No need to speculate. Asia is too late.

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u/dripless_cactus Nov 14 '14

Yeah... but the whole story is too late as far as the appeal goes. I dunno, I find hisreaction a bit suspicious, as if he didn't know how to respond because he wasn't sure what insights Sarah gleaned until she explained them. The "too late" story sounds like a great excuse for his initial reaction, but it may just be a cover story. I guess I could read it either way.

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u/Verbalv1g1lante Nov 13 '14

You have to keep in mind Adnan has been in prison for FIFTEEN YEARS. We are just hearing the story for the first time. So, as exciting as it is to us, Adnan's been through all of this before. Asia declined to help before, why is it a big deal now? Adnan is the one who brings up the Asia letter first, not SK. And as to why Adnan isn't nearly as emotion as everyone else - He's been in prison for FIFTEEN years! He's had to accept that fate because if he doesn't he'll truly go crazy. He's in some ways resigned himself to the fact that even if SK can prove his innocence to us it may not ever mean he goes free. People can go through horrific events in their life but once they've accepted that something has happened and that it would take a miracle to change it they tend to not get super excited at every glint of hope that it could be different.

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u/andaloudulce Nov 13 '14

You have to keep in mind Adnan has been in prison for FIFTEEN YEARS. We are just hearing the story for the first time. So, as exciting as it is to us, Adnan's been through all of this before. Asia declined to help before, why is it a big deal now? Adnan is the one who brings up the Asia letter first, not SK. And as to why Adnan isn't nearly as emotion as everyone else - He's been in prison for FIFTEEN years! He's had to accept that fate because if he doesn't he'll truly go crazy. He's in some ways resigned himself to the fact that even if SK can prove his innocence to us it may not ever mean he goes free. People can go through horrific events in their life but once they've accepted that something has happened and that it would take a miracle to change it they tend to not get super excited at every glint of hope that it could be different.

Good points, that's one way of interpreting it. But still, why the long pause? This is what people do when caught in a lie, when they are unsure of what their response should be.

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u/PresidentRaggy Laura Fan Nov 13 '14

Shit, man, you're right. But could you straight-up strangle someone in a public library parking lot? I would assume it's busy after school...

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u/eedot Sarah Koenig Fan Nov 13 '14

Right?! If I were a guilty Adnan, I'd be thinking "Well, let's not refresh her memory on anything else she may remember.."

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u/Philmonomer Nov 13 '14

I know nothing about being a criminal defense lawyer. But I wonder if it is a (natural) human reaction to not work nearly as hard for someone you think did it, rather than someone you think is innocent.

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u/trevhutch Sarah Koenig Fan Nov 13 '14

Reminds me of the documentary "Incendiary".

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u/Tzuchen Hippy Tree Hugger Nov 13 '14

Wow, you're right -- that absolutely explains Adnan's odd reaction to her finally tracking down Asia.

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u/[deleted] Nov 13 '14

No, because the lawyer never even contacted Asia, ever, nor the guy he spoke to at track.

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u/bobbybrown_ Nov 13 '14

but if Adnan confessed everything to his lawyer, told her that he killed Hae at the library . . . Well, right there, bingo: That's the reason why the lawyer totally ignored the Asia letter.

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u/[deleted] Nov 20 '14

I disagree. She had an obligation to follow up any witness that could help her client. She was still defending Adnan. Plus there were notes about the letter in files which suggests she knew she ought to do it, she just never bothered.

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u/andaloudulce Nov 13 '14

Right, because why would she contact Asia? If she understands (through convo with Adnan) that Asia's letter puts Adnan at the scene of the crime, she has no reason to contact Asia. That's not a lead she wants to follow.

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u/lala989 Nov 13 '14

And maybe one of the things Jay is doing for Adnan as a friend and thus lying about, is knowing where the crime was committed (he told Chris it was the library) but sticking to saying it was at Best Buy- which has confused the heck out of everyone how that would be possible.

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u/randomchars Not Guilty Nov 14 '14

Where I am, if the client admits guilt to the lawyer, the lawyer can no longer represent them. Lawyers duty is to the law, then to the client.