Monica Fired the Shot at Jax in ‘Reasonable Doubt’ and the Fallout Is Now Playing Out on Hulu
The question of who shot Jax in ‘Reasonable Doubt’ has been hanging over the series since its third season ended. The finale closed with a vengeful Monica pointing a gun at Jax and pulling the trigger. The trailer for the next chapter has since removed any doubt about who the target was.
The Season 4 trailer confirms that Monica shot Jax Stewart, who is hospitalized and fighting for her life. With the new season now streaming, here is a closer look at how the attack came about and what it sets in motion.
Monica Shooting Jax at the Stewart Firm
The attack took place just as Jax was moving into her own law firm, when Monica arrived at the office and fired a shot at Jax, her husband Lewis and her colleague Daniel. The scene was designed to leave viewers guessing about who had been hit. Showrunner Raamla Mohamed noted in a TheWrap interview that Jax had made several enemies over the course of the season, which kept the identity of the shooter open.
Monica is not a stranger to the story. She was the manager of grown child star Ozzie, and it was ultimately uncovered that she had abused him. Monica blamed Jax for what happened to Ozzie, whom Jax defended after he was accused of murdering his girlfriend.
The trailer settled the other open question. It confirms that Monica stormed into The Stewart Firm and pulled the trigger, and that Jax was the person shot. That makes the attack a direct consequence of the case that defined the season.
How the Season 3 Finale Set Up the Attack
Jax spent the season representing Ozzie in a murder case. Ozzie was accused of killing his girlfriend Wendy, and he was ultimately found not guilty. Viewers then learned that his father was the one who shot Wendy and that his sister had known the whole time.
The victory did not hold. At a celebration dinner with Jax and her family, Ozzie overdosed and died. Jax had uncovered that Monica abused Ozzie, which contributed to his struggles with addiction. Monica’s reputation collapsed, and she sought revenge just as Jax was turning a professional corner by starting her own legal firm.
The timing of Jax’s career move matters here. After experiencing racial microaggressions and mistreatment all season, Jax quit her job to open a firm of her own. The shooting arrived at the exact moment she had taken control of her professional life, which is part of why the finale landed so hard.
Jax’s Condition as Season 4 Begins
The new season does not leave viewers waiting. Season 4 picks up immediately after the shooting at the end of the previous season. A first look released by TV Insider shows Jax in a hospital bed, and the report says she remained in a coma after being shot.
That same preview introduces the people orbiting her recovery. Corey Cash, played by Morris Chestnut, has stepped in to oversee the business in her absence and promises Jax he will keep looking after it. Lewis then enters the room carrying a pillow and a coffee.
The official description frames the shooting as a shared wound. The synopsis says a brutal attack leaves Jax’s family and newly minted law firm shaken, and that nothing feels certain, especially their future. The season is built around what the attack costs everyone close to her.
What Comes Next for the Stewart Firm
The series is also bringing in new faces. Meagan Good and Durrell ‘Tank’ Babbs were added to the cast for the fourth season. Star Emayatzy Corinealdi told On The Red Carpet that viewers should expect to be shocked by what the season delivers.
The firm’s survival is a central concern. Disney’s description says the Stewart Firm is thrust into a high stakes battle with Jax’s most loyal client at the center of a spiraling media disaster. It asks whether the team can rebuild in time or whether moving forward too quickly will cost them everything.
Viewers who want to catch up have an easy path. The fourth season debuted with a three episode premiere on October 6, with new episodes following weekly through November 24. The first three seasons are available on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.
The shooting reframes everything Jax built in the last season, from her new firm to her relationship with Lewis and Corey. Now that Monica’s motive and Jax’s condition are both out in the open, do you think Jax can rebuild the Stewart Firm on her own terms, or will the attack permanently change the way she practices law?
