'People v. O.J. Simpson' finale shows life beyond the verdict

After deliberating all of the facts presented for less than four hours, the "Trial of the Century" was over.

On Tuesday's finale of The People v. O.J. Simpson, prosecutors Marcia Clark (Sarah Paulson) and Chris Darden (Sterling K. Brown) reminded jurors of the irrefutable DNA evidence and O.J. Simpson's (Cuba Gooding Jr.) documented history of abusing Nicole Brown Simpson.

But even that wasn't enough to convince 10 jurors -- who deemed Simpson innocent in a preliminary poll during deliberation -- of his guilt. Simpson was acquitted on charges of murdering his former wife and her friend, Ron Goldman.

For the rest of the episode, we were shown what life was like for key players after the verdict.

Marcia Clark

Clark and Darden commiserated in District Attorney Gil Garcetti's (Bruce Greenwood) office. It was a tough loss for Clark, and she placed a lot of the blame on herself.

"I'm so ashamed," she said as she consoled herself with a cigarette. Like USA TODAY's Robert Bianco said in Critic's Corner we agree that Paulson's performance has been "remarkable."

Later, during a conversation with Darden in her office, Clark revealed that she had been raped by a waiter when she was 17. And, it was that incident that ignited her desire to seek vengeance for victims.

She officially resigned from the D.A.'s office in 1997, and released Without a Doubt, a book about the trial in 1998. Throughout the years, she has appeared on television as a legal commentator.

Chris Darden

Before hearing the jury's decision, Darden thought the quick turnaround might be a good sign, and it was positively painful to see the hope in his eyes.

While making a statement at a press conference after the verdict, Darden was so overcome with emotion, he stopped mid-sentence and just embraced the Goldman family.

After resigning from the D.A. Office, Darden went on to become a law professor and TV commentator. He also penned a book, In Contempt, and started his own firm, Darden & Associates in L.A.

Robert Kardashian

Once Kardashian (David Schwimmer), a close friend of Simpson's and member of his defense team, learned of the verdict, he became sick in the bathroom. Though he told his former wife, Kris Jenner, that Simpson would be out of their lives after the trial, Kardashian rode home with Simpson when he was released from prison. After hearing Simpson vow to find Nicole and Goldman's killers, Kardashian told Simpson's son, Jason, that he was done.

In real life, Kardashian admitted in an interview with ABC that he had doubts about Simpson's innocence. He died from esophageal cancer at the age of 59 in 2003. We now Keep Up with his children Kourtney, Kim, Khloé, and (sometimes) Rob on their reality show.

O.J. Simpson 

Kardashian wasn't the only one to leave Simpson's corner. Along the route to his Brentwood estate, people who once supported him were replaced by angry protesters. While he attempted to throw the "party of the century" after his release, many of his friends were notably absent. One of his favorite hotels refused to take his reservation. It was apparent that life would not resume as it was before the murders. Gooding Jr. hit the nail on the head when he said that for the last moments of the finale, Simpson was merely a "broken shell of a man."

Simpson is currently serving time at Lovelock Correctional Center in Nevada. He was found guilty on counts of kidnapping and armed robbery from an incident with sports memorabilia collectors in 2007. Though he was sentenced to 33 years, he could be set free in 2017.

Johnnie Cochran

When Cochran (Courtney B. Vance) told Darden that he would bring him "back into the community" after things settled down, Darden let him know that he didn't improve relations between cops and all African Americans -- just Simpson.

But when Cochran saw then-President Bill Clinton talking about race on television, he thought he had done some good. "That's the victory," Cochran said as a tear streamed down his face. "Our story is now out of the shadows."

Cochran continued practicing law, and went on to represent Sean "Diddy" Combs in a case. Cochran died of a brain tumor in 2005.

If like Gooding Jr. hypothesizes, you want to know more about Simpson and the trial, two new shows might satisfy your curiosity. Martin Sheen will narrate and produce Hard Evidence: O.J. is Innocent for Investigation Discovery. Also, an ESPN docuseries, O.J.: Made in America, which premiered at this year's Sundance, provides insight about the former athlete.