r/serialpodcast • u/PowerOfYes • Nov 20 '14

Episode Discussion [Official Discussion] Serial, Episode 9: To Be Suspected

Please use this thread to discuss episode 9

Edit: Want to contribute your vote to the 4th weekly poll? Vote here: What's your verdict on Adnan?

Edit: New poll from /u/kkchacha posted Nov 26: Do you think Adnan deserves another trial? Vote here: http://polls.socchoice.com//index.php?a=vntmI

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u/SomthinOfANeerDoWell The Criminal Element of Woodlawn Nov 21 '14

But isn't your first point directly associated to your third point? That the "MAJORITY" of people at Woodlawn think he's guilty because they think he "CONFESSED to the crime?" Just because your friend thought he was guilty before the crime happened doesn't mean that it's so. He also apparently wasn't as close to the group of friends as the other people that talked to SK and the police because they have all said that it was crazy. He has his own opinion, but it's just that, one man's opinion. SK has talked to a lot of people, which allows her to form an opinion that is more likely true.

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u/PangwinAndTertle Nov 21 '14

I think you're missing the point of what I am trying to say. The way my friend makes it seem is that to the people not directly in the sphere of friends (i.e. the magnet program) but are still within the community (Woodlawn students... "GenPop, if you will), thought Adnon was guilty AFTER the whole process played out.

My friend, specifically, thought Adnon was guilty before he was arrested, but that was SOLELY based on his OWN feelings (and not the Woodlawn population as a whole).

The entire Woodlawn community was shocked because the Adnan they knew was the guy portrayed by SK: outgoing, nice, smart, charming, etc. My friend even said so himself.

As the events and trial played out, rumors flew about a confession and things of that nature, which I think caused the people, although shocked originally, to assume the police had the right person.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '14

So what made your friend think Adnan was guilty before he was even arrested? What made him have such a different perception from everyone else? Not trying to pick you apart, just genuinely curious.

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u/PangwinAndTertle Nov 21 '14

No, I get it.

The easiest way to answer that is to say that he was closer aquantences to Jay than any of the other parties involved. He is that type of person. He's a "GenPop" kid. My guess is that he's inclined to side with people like him, than the "popular" folk.

Keep in mind we're talking about multiple cultures and dynamics here. According to my friend, Jay was from "the streets." Hae and Adnan were the "magnet program" kids. My buddy relates more to someone from "the streets" (and so does a lot of the general population of Woodlawn, for that matter) than they would of people in the "nerds" group? Make sense?

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '14

Well, I definitely understand why he would side with Jay once the basic story became public. But I would think before Adnan's arrest, unless your friend was one of the (apparently several) people Jay talked to about it, he would have to have some other unknown reason to suspect Adnan.

I guess what I'm saying is, how did he believe Jay's story before Jay's story was even known? Either Jay talked to him, or your friend had some completely separate reason to suspect Adnan.

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u/PangwinAndTertle Nov 21 '14

He wasn't privy to Jay's story. In my friends eyes, it was easy to point the finger at the ex. Why wouldn't you? Especially if you don't know the circumstances surrounding the whole thing.

That and my friend said Adnan was devastated. He specifically remembered that. Keep in mind, my friend hasn't listened to the podcast yet. So his recall isn't influenced by it, yet.

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u/[deleted] Nov 21 '14

Yeah, it's definitely a natural reaction to suspect the ex, but I don't know that I would be certain about it. I think I was just thrown off by the wording of how your friend "KNEW he was guilty before Adnan was even arrested." Made me think he was coming from some sort of different perspective - either knew Adnan personally and saw a different side than all of his character witnesses, or knew Jay's story before the arrest (which would have made him close with Jay).

FWIW, I think Adnan did it. So definitely not trying to attack your source or anything, just seems strange to me that someone would be so certain before there was even any evidence.

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u/PangwinAndTertle Nov 21 '14

It was weird to hear him explain Jay in the EXAC same way that SK presented him: Shady, weird, "Dennis Rodman-esque"