paigenicole27 I am a true crime fanatic, fascinated by the entirety of the process from the offense to the investigation to (especially) the trial. An avid watcher of most true crime shows and investigative reporting (including Dateline, 48 Hours, etc.) I've found that really good productions are rare. So many are vapid, trite, repetitive, unimaginative, and cliched. THE LAST DEFENSE regards crimes I have seen and read about many, many times in different media forms. However, the perspective, narrative, and new + old information is so masterfully conveyed that these over-told stories seem fresh and refreshing; it is just like hearing of these crimes for the first time as told by the most consummate of story tellers. ABC has provided true quality programming here.

joycarnahan-17180 Any viewer who truly wants to evaluate the evidence and substantial challenges raised on appeal by Routier and Jones, they should read the state and federal court appeals online.... Everybody enjoys watching a variety of interesting tv shows...and this program IS entertaining. However, in addition to the Defendant, there the jurors, victims and their families, lawyers and judges, law enforcement, the presentation and quality of evidence, and the appellate courts that review this process.... ALL must be considered. In the real world of criminal trials (not Hollywood's version), the players don't get to cherry pick the facts and evidence. The more interesting debate in the Jones case is whether a 19 year old should be on death row?? As far as the verdict and the case against Jones....guilty. Period. His issues on appeal were fully raised and soundly rejected.As for Routier....she was convicted on the blood evidence and the absence of any evidence (DNA or other) that another person was there to do this crime. Her changing stories cannot possibly explain the crime scene evidence and the 911 call. This show practically ignored those issues entirely. The unfortunate "silly string" incident is a red herring but was shamefully overplayed by the DA and damaging to the defense. That's just my two cents but, at least it is based on reviewing facts and evidence from the appellate briefs, not just putting a "maybe innocent??" spin on two cases for a transparent anti-death penalty agenda.

dshell102 While this is a great example of a trial, it does nothing to refute the evidence in my mind and just shows how weak the defense was. The way it's presented is similar to trial - evidence against her followed by rebuttal. It shows my clearly why they lost the trial.Evidence is pointed out of glass over the footprints. A lack of grief. Coincidences of money. The response is "maybe this, maybe that" and it's hours and hours of evidence, not just one or two things. The defense wasn't strong. No actual contradicting evidence. Nothing disproved. It's a sad situation, it's especially sad if she's innocent, but wow! Everything from her mental state to how she lived to evidence at the scene to the vast difference in knife wounds. I'm looking for signs of innocence, but how they sat down with the nurses isn't evidence of innocence, just how the prosecution prepped. A great deal of evidence of guilt, though. Claims of "no motive" and "her character was the centerpiece"....I don't find them to be very honest. Money is a motive. Lots of evidence had me leaning toward guilt long before her character was brouht up. It's all for show, I get it, but to those of us who think it's awful deception.So yes, this is what a trial is like. And so far I haven't found anything that indicates innocence.

ellenirishellen-62962 Had to watch after friend put me on to this show.Reality,the kind of reality show I will watch.Saw the case of Darlie Router portrayed,a mother convicted and sentenced to die for supposedly killing her kids.Did not realize the events happened two decades ago,until pointed out here.Viola Davis does a terrific job in producing the cases,and having the actual participants is essential to help understand all that happened so many years ago.Will continue to watch,this is quality television.