WARNING: SPOILERS ahead for American Sports Story episode 9.

The penultimate episode of FX’s American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez smartly shifts the narrative focus from Hernandez to his ex-fiancee Shayanna Jenkins. American Sports Story episode 9 “What’s Left Behind” places Hernandez’s ex-fiancee Shayanna Jenkins in the hot seat as she chooses to defend Hernandez through his arrest and murder conviction. The contents of the box that Hernandez asked Shayanna to dispose of remain a mystery in both the series and in reality.

Since the first two episodes of American Sports Story, the life and NFL career of Aaron Hernandez were headed toward a tragic and frightening endpoint that resulted in the former New England Patriot and star tight end receiving a lifetime prison sentence for the murder of Odin Lloyd. From his emergence as an offensive weapon on Urban Meyer’s legendary yet controversial Florida Gators team and receiving the coveted John Mackey Award, Hernandez began his life sentence on April 15, 2015, just months after the Patriots won their fourth franchise Super Bowl.

Shayanna Being The Focus Of American Sports Story Episode 9 Was Perfect

With Hernandez’s fate determined, Shayanna took the narrative spotlight

American Sports Story episode 9 wisely gives Shayanna the spotlight in its penultimate episode, as Hernandez is arrested and imprisoned following the murder of Odin Lloyd. At this point in the series, Hernandez has made many decisions, several of them overtly violent and criminal, which has placed his fate in the hands of the American judicial system. Jenkins then became the one whose autonomy and choices would have the biggest impact on the story as Hernandez completely ran out of his luck and privilege as an NFL celebrity.

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American Sports Story Episode 9 True Story: What The Show Changes

The penultimate episode of American Sports Story depicts Shayanna’s response to Hernandez’s arrest and alters several aspects of the murder trial.

Jenkins was the key person in Hernandez’s murder trial who could have potentially led prosecutors to the discovery of the murder weapon, especially since she chose to testify in exchange for immunity. Based on this deal, it was somewhat expected that Shayanna would be more forthcoming about the mysterious box and its contents but instead mostly claimed to be ignorant of its contents and obedient to Hernandez’s request to dispose of it. This created a natural tension in the story which made the decision to give her the full attention of the episode necessary and well-executed.

American Sports Story Episode 9 Avoided An Aaron Hernandez Problem With Its Shayanna Focus

Shayanna’s circumstances became more tense and compelling in episode 9

Maintaining the focus on Hernandez as he went through the intake process as a prisoner and awaited trial from June 2013 until the start of the trial in April 2015 would have been the less compelling creative choice. In this case, the episode would have had to take place entirely in prison or court, which is arguably less interesting and not as likely to be rooted in the real story given the lack of access inside Hernandez’s prison walls. Shayanna’s experience is easier to explore and gives the show another focus beyond Hernandez, which ultimately rendered a better narrative angle in American Sports Story episode 9.

American Sports Story is a TV show from Stu Zicherman and executive produced by Ryan Murphy. The series stars Josh Andrés Rivera as Aaron Hernandez and Patrick Schwarzenegger as Tim Tebow. The sports anthology series serves as the fourth installment in Murphy’s “American Story” franchise.

Cast

Josh Andrés Rivera , Patrick Schwarzenegger

Character(s)

Shaneah Jenkins , Shayanna Jenkins , Aaron Hernandez , Tanya Singleton , Terri Hernandez , ‘Chris’ , Dennis Hernandez , Urban Meyer , Tim Tebow , Carlos ‘Charlie Boy’ Ortiz , Alexander Sherrod , Ernest ‘Bo’ Wallace , Steve Addazio , Dennis Sansoucie , Jeff Cummings , Sports Reporter , Mr. Marzigalli , Coach Morgan , Uncle Bobby , DJ Hernandez (Age 4) , Emcee , Basketball Player , Trainer , Principal Seligman , Pastor

Release Date

September 17, 2024

Seasons

1

Writers

Ryan Farley , Liz Tuccillo , Tracey Scott Wilson

Directors

Paris Barclay , Carl Franklin

Producers

Brad Simpson , Scott Robertson , Nellie Reed , Lee Edward Colston , Todd Nenninger , Tanase Popa , Hernan Lopez , Eric Kovtun , Hadi Nicholas Deeb , Gail Barringer , Ira Napoliello , Matthew Hodgson , Carl Franklin , Sara Stelwagen , Nina Jacobson , Marshall Lewy , David Woods , Alexis Martin Woodall , Tyson Bidner , Stuart Zicherman , Ryan Murphy , Monica Levinson , Lou Eyrich

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