OT - CC: Adnan Syed (AKA, The "Serial" podcast discussion thread)

Submitted by FrankMurphy on

He's been in maximum security prison for fifteen years, so he's definitely got that whole toughness thing that Hoke preached about but could never follow through on. Availability is an issue, but the way his case is going, he could be out by Signing Day.

In all seriousness, what are people's thoughts on the podcast?

cclittle

December 9th, 2014 at 2:13 PM ^

I was immediately hooked and was excited to find out the truth. The last few episodes though... it seems as though we may never get a satisfying conclusion. I feel like this season is petering out rather than building up to something. 

 

andrewG

December 9th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^

Exactly how I feel. It has been an incredibly interesting listen, but with every passing week, I become more certain that it's going to end with "well, what do you think?" instead a definitive "he's guilty/innocent!", at which point I will be devastated and angry.

andrewG

December 9th, 2014 at 2:37 PM ^

Exactly how I feel. It has been an incredibly interesting listen, but with every passing week, I become more certain that it's going to end with "well, what do you think?" instead a definitive "he's guilty/innocent!", at which point I will be devastated and angry.

ak47

December 9th, 2014 at 2:38 PM ^

It was never meant to build up to something.  Obviously it would be great if the show could just give all the answers but thats not what it is and not what it will do.  When Serial ends all you will have are the facts presented and your own thoughts, no conclusions.  If you are looking for an answer you will be dissapointed.

I still find it fascinating but found the last episode tough because listening to christina gutirez talk is really painful, I feel for those juries.

berto714

December 9th, 2014 at 3:00 PM ^

Agree with this, and I'm not totally sure I understand when people say they are going to be disappointed if it doesn't have a "good ending." It's non-fiction - it can only have the ending dictated by the facts. It's been pretty clear all along that the most Koenig can do is present all of the facts and let us come to our own conclusions.

cclittle

December 9th, 2014 at 3:19 PM ^

I definitely realize that the ending inherently can't be that solid, and that I have been setting myself up for disapointment. However, I was at least hoping that Ms Koenig would come to her own conclusion and lay the evidence out for that. It seems increasingly likely now that, as you say, the finale will be letting us come up with our own.

Maybe I just don't like thinking that hard when listening to a podcast.

dankbrogoblue

December 9th, 2014 at 3:02 PM ^

Agree on the defense attorney. Don't know how she was so successful just listening to her.

The one hope I have is the professor (I believe?) taking up his case for review. That would at least give some sense that the show wasn't all for naught, even if it doesn't give us the conclusions we want.

cmd600

December 9th, 2014 at 2:41 PM ^

A good (but long) read for anyone interested in this case

http://viewfromll2.com/2014/11/26/serial-why-jays-testimony-is-not-cred…

 

"This could explain, perhaps, why Adnan’s defense counsel was so unconcerned by Asia’s supposed alibi for Adnan, even though Asia placed Adnan in the library at 2:30 p.m. — because throughout all of the pre-trial investigation, and throughout at least Jay’s first two interviews, everyone was working under the theory that the murder occurred just before 3:40 p.m., and a 2:30 p.m. alibi would be meaningless.)"

lilpenny1316

December 9th, 2014 at 2:22 PM ^

I'm fine with hiring a murderer as HC because everybody murders, but why not the Unabomber?  TK was a Michigan Man and his manifesto is the most dynamic playbook ever created.  And the best part is that we would prefer if he does not have a coaching tree to leave behind.  I think this is a win-win for everyone.

Blue Noise

December 9th, 2014 at 2:32 PM ^

I was really inclined to just think Adnan had done it following the episode almost exclusively about Jay, but I cannot get over two things:



1) the trip to Patapsco State Park to smoke weed overlooking the cliffs



2)the phantom pay phone at Best Buy

Kilgore Trout

December 9th, 2014 at 2:45 PM ^

The only thing that I think is really conclusive is that Jay had something to do with it because he knew where her car was. I suppose it all could have gone like he said, but that just doesn't make any sense to me. I think the most likely thing is that Jay and Adnan did it together for some reason (still not clear) and Jay figured his best bet was to get this deal and stay out of jail.

The total lack of physical evidence is the thing that keeps me second guessing whether Adnan was involved. Hard to believe that a 17 year old would be that good to leave no physical evidence at all. 

larisimilitude

December 9th, 2014 at 6:25 PM ^

Jay's knowledge about the car has been a hangup for me, too. On the other hand, if Jay and Adnan did it together, is it likely that Adnan would keep quiet about that through all the police interrogations, especially once he knew that Jay was pegging him as the killer? Even if telling a version of the story that reduced (but didn't eliminate) his culpability and increased Jay's might have gotten him off the hook to some extent?

I also think that Jay has told so many different versions of that story so many times that he doesn't entirely remember what's true and what isn't anymore.

itself

December 9th, 2014 at 2:57 PM ^

Serial is amazing and Im still floored by how popular a radio show/podcast has gotten over the past few months. If youre listening please throw them a couple bucks. 

MaizeNBlu628

December 9th, 2014 at 3:25 PM ^

I feel like the guy who passed out early at a party and missed out on a bunch of crazy stuff happenning at the house. Now its morning and everyone is talking about last night, but I have no idea whats going on...

Two Hearted Ale

December 9th, 2014 at 3:27 PM ^

I think Adnan is guilty but I don't think it went down like the prosecustion laid it out.

In episode 8 Jay's friend, Chris, claimed Jay told him Adnan picked him up at a pool hall and showed him Hay's body in the trunk of her car. Adnan allegedly said he killed her in the library parking lot after an argument. Chris said Jay felt he couldn't go to the police given he was a drug dealer so he helped bury the body. Adnan allegedly threatened to kill Stephanie (Jay's girlfriend) if Jay talked.

This version makes much more sense to me. The timeline makes more sense than the prosecution's, gives Adnan a motive, and explains Jay's involvement. First degree murder never made sense to me but I can see second degree. They were dumb kids and a heat of the moment bad decision seems more plausible than premeditation.

Colt McBaby Jesus

December 9th, 2014 at 3:41 PM ^

I think it was Jay and Mr.X. It'd be nice if they could prove the two had some sort of connection. I don't understand motive for any of them though. It's obvious Jay was involved, probably more than he admits to, but Mr.X is a strange dude. I just can't get over him finding the body when even the corroner couldn't find it despite knowing where it was located. 

FrankMurphy

December 9th, 2014 at 4:05 PM ^

My feeling is that irrespective of whether or not he did it, there's no way the prosecution met its burden. The kid was convicted despite a near-total lack of physical evidence based solely on the testimony of a guy who changed his story several times and whose account is demonstrably false in several respects (e.g., lack of a pay phone at Best Buy). The case against Adnan was shockingly thin to land him in prison for the rest of his life.

moredamnsound

December 9th, 2014 at 4:19 PM ^

CC: Cash Levy (AKA Cashing In with T.J. Miller podcast discussion comment)

Is anyone else a member of the 12 1/2? 

 

Adnan could've done it he shouldn't have been convicted base on what was presented in court.

Atlanta_Blue

December 9th, 2014 at 4:37 PM ^

He is guilty, IMO. I think he killed her in the heat of passion and then turned to the shadiest guy he knew (Jay) to help him get rid of the body. No other reasonable explanation exists, IMO. Nobody else had motive, except possibly Hai's new boyfriend, but he appears to have been ruled out early (or the police screwed up, but I doubt that --  they absolutely must have looked at him as a suspect but ruled him out.  The cops in this case don't seem like bufoons and only bufoon cops wouldn't have checked that guy out). There are simply too many unexplainanble issues for Adnan for me to conclude he's innocent. Whether it was proved beyond a reasonable doubt, well, we weren't at the trial so hard to know.

meghan

December 9th, 2014 at 6:41 PM ^

Per Reddit, Jay was cheating on Stephanie with Jenn and Hae was going to tell Stephanie. The case is so flimsy, I can't believe he was convicted.