What I’m Watching: The Night Of (Season Finale)

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 8 “The Call of the Wild” (B)

Well, that’s it. Eight episodes was actually more like ten since the first and last were both ninety minutes instead of the traditional fifty or sixty. I hung in there because I felt like it was only eight episodes and was going to end up earning critical acclaim and awards nominations. It was definitely a slow-burn drama, and took its time to really get anywhere. The meat of the show which proved most interesting was probably the trial that took place in this episode and the one before it, where we finally got to hear the questions asked and the name of the show uttered in context. Helen choosing not to follow up and cross-examine either of the first two witnesses set things up for her to aggressively attack Naz about make him talk about the type of sex he had with his parents watching. She went hard but he held up well, and when he said “I don’t know” after she asked if he killed her, it seemed like all was sewn up and Stone’s proclamation of him having a zero percent chance of getting acquitted would come true. Stone trying to get Chandra throwing off for kissing Naz was a poor and unsuccessful effort, and he actually gave a solid closing argument. Detective Box walking out of the courtroom when Helen said that he was the only suspect the police considered was a powerful statement, and Box getting to be the one to come out of retirement and NYU security guarding to arrest the real culprit was a fitting resolution. It turns out it wasn’t Paul Spark’s unlikeable but honest Don Taylor, and instead Paulo Costanzo’s seemingly innocent Ray Halle, who quickly became clear as the killer. In the end, Naz got off but it wasn’t a celebration, since his reputation is still forever tainted and he won’t ever get away from it. And Stone’s foot fungus came back, and he’s still defending lowlifes just to make money. In a lot of ways, I’m not sure what the point was, but there were some decent dramatic moments and good acting along the way.

Season grade: B-
Season MVP: Bill Camp as Detective Box

What I’m Watching: The Night Of (Penultimate Episode)

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 7 “Ordinary Death” (B+)

I think this was the best episode this show has produced yet, and it’s about time given that the season finale, and likely the final installment of the show, airs next week. What proved most interesting was seeing the trial in action. At first, it didn’t appear that Chandra was up to the task of cross-examining the witnesses, and it looked like things wouldn’t go her way at all. Then she managed to do a terrific job of utilizing her witness to show that there definitely are questions, and even Helen couldn’t turn it around well enough to make it seem like he wasn’t credible. I think he played well with the jury, and following that up with Chandra’s questioning of Detective Box was exactly what the defense needed to give Naz a fighting chance. Safar walking out of the courtroom while the really graphic stuff was being presented was not a helpful development, and Salim learning that he’s going to have to sell his medallion for a fraction of what it’s worth was yet another miserable ripple effect of Salim’s arrest. Stone’s investigation into Don seemed to be going well until the cougar-catching personal trainer let him know that he was on to him in a very threatening manner. Naz has hung in there in jail so far, unlike a friend of his, and he may just be able to get a happy ending considering the circumstances if the jury finds in his favor, which I wouldn’t say is too realistic.

What I’m Watching: The Night Of

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 6 “Samson and Delilah” (B)

One thing is becoming increasingly clear as Stone and Chandra prepare for the trial by tracking down leads and pursuing their own investigations - there is more than reasonable doubt to suggest that Naz may not have perpetrated the crime of which he is accused. Unfortunately, the new theories being floated won’t necessarily hold up, especially since we saw Paul Sparks’ Don’s response to the news of his stepdaughter’s death, and he seemed genuinely shocked. Now, all aspersions are cast upon him since he’s a personal trainer who tends to meet women twice his age and then con them out of their money. Naz isn’t doing much to make himself seem innocent, starting with letting Freddy dress him for his day in court and having to switch shirts with Stone of all people to not look as guilty. Hooray for Stone, who finally found a health professional who was able to resolve his foot problems enough for him to proudly wearing a shiny pair of dress shoes without any trouble. I’m glad to see that plotline appear to be resolved for now. He’s pretty distracted by that at the moment as Chandra seems to be sticking to the age-old argument that she is not burdened to prove anything about her client’s innocence, which to me hardly makes for the strongest case. Naz might look harmless enough, but he’s definitely getting accustomed to life on the inside in a way that is unlikely to help him win over the hearts of the jury.

What I’m Watching: The Night Of

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 5 “The Season of the Witch” (B)

If nothing else, it’s reassuring to see that there are some positive developments in the pursuit of proving Naz’s innocence. The unfortunate thing about that is that, as Stone rightly pointed out, Naz is implicating himself in another crime as he gets closer to Freddy and involves himself in the miserable business of drug trafficking. Naz is doing his best to play a hardened man on the inside, shaving his head and intimidating other inmates into watching what he wants on television. Having Alison step aside from his defense is actually the best thing to happen to him since she was never interested in finding out whether or not Naz committed the crime and instead positioning him as a wronged man for the media to see. While he’s not going to see other foot doctors, Stone is doing a solid job of being an intrepid reporter, going to the laundromat with gloves on to corner the man who he knows can at least poke a hole in the story that the cops are trying to tell about what happened the night of. Five episodes in, I think that I’ve become decently invested in the story if only enough to want to know how it’s all going to play out, with just three episodes to go in this limited series. The performances are certainly good all around, what you expect from an HBO production of this caliber with a solid cast, and here’s hoping to a resounding, satisfying resolution to the whole thing too.

What I’m Watching: The Night Of

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 4 “The Art of War” (B-)

I know I keep saying that I’m going to give up on this show, and I’m not sure why I haven’t yet. There are two major parts of this episode that did not do much for me, and they’re both becoming disproportionately large plot points. I get that Stone is a man who is unusually persistent and generally reviled by those who know him, but I don’t quite comprehend why we have to accompany him on every single visit to a different doctor to get a new diagnosis and prescription to help him with his feet. It’s also unclear whether he really has Naz’s best interests at heart if he was so willing to encourage him to take the plea deal. I understand that what this show is supposed to be about is how quickly things can get out of control, with Naz caught in the wrong place in the wrong time and suddenly facing the most optimistic prospect of twelve years in prison, but I’m not feeling what’s going on inside the prison with Freddy offering his protection and then Naz going to him when the man he thought was his new friend burned him quite literally. Naz’s new bigshot lawyer went from being a pro bono godsend to snapping at both her client and his father and then quitting when Naz challenged her, instead offering Chandra the chance to represent him and demanding payment as punishment for his rebellion. It was a momentary guest spot, but I immediately recognized former “The Sopranos” star Aida Turturro as the neighbor who wanted Stone, played by Aida’s real-life cousin John, out of her neighborhood.

Take Three: The Night Of

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 3 “A Dark Crate” (B)

I’m determined to become invested in this show but I’m not sure that it’s going to happen if we’re already three episodes in and I’m not feeling it. We’re moving on past the detectives and uniforms present during the night itself, and now letting the law and order process begin. There were a few important developments in this hour as Naz spent some time in prison and those on the outside made moves to help ensure that he either stays there or has a fighting chance at getting off. We’ve seen so much of Stone that I was surprised to see him cast aside so quickly, especially after Naz said to his father that he liked him and wasn’t so sure about the idea of a new lawyer. Even though he’s been disconnected from the main plotline, he might not be out of the story entirely thanks to Salim’s bosses getting his card from a cop who gave them a clever idea to be able to get their cab bavck. Alison Crowe seems too good to be true in a lot of ways, and even though she has the resources to represent him for free, her style might be a bit too manipulative for him to seem naïve and innocent. The notable new addition of the hour is Michael Kenneth Williams as Freddy, playing his umpteenth role on an HBO drama as a bad guy with some surprising good in him. He’s definitely interesting, but I’m not sure I’m set on sticking around to see what role he plays in the show.

Round Two: The Night Of

The Night Of: Season 1, Episode 2 “Subtle Beast” (B)

I’m still not completely captivated by this show or its pacing just yet, but I’m willing to give it at least another episode to see where it goes. What’s clear is that Naz is in way over his head, and he’s one of the luckier ones who actually has a lawyer advocating for him, trying his hardest to argue that what the district attorney puts forth as undeniable evidence is merely a summary of the charges and not proof of any wrongdoing. Detective Box denying that he blinked when he was asked whether he thought Naz was guilty was an unfortunate indicator that he really is certain that Naz did it despite the poor young man’s continued assertion that he did nothing wrong. We’re seeing everything play out in a very literal, matter-of-fact mode, with Jack gone from the police station because he’s on the subway scratching his feet or emptying his pockets of so very many things in line to get in to the courthouse. We met a new character in this episode, played by recent Emmy nominee Paul Sparks, Don Taylor, who had no particular fondness for his stepdaughter but still seemed shaken by the visual confirmation of her death. Naz’s parents are intelligent people who seem at a loss to understand the gravity of what their son is into, but I think it’s becoming increasingly more apparent that this is not something that is going away anytime soon and is going to dominate their lives for quite some time.

Pilot Review: The Night Of

The Night Of (HBO)
Premiered July 10 at 9pm

I don’t usually watch miniseries or TV movies only because there are so many regular series airing on a weekly basis, but, then again, it’s hard to tell what a limited series really is these days with shows like “Fargo” and “True Detective” falling under that category. As I’m finally catching up with my TV, I figured that it was worth checking out this very highly-acclaimed premiere. There’s definitely one hell of a story at play here, with an enormous ensemble and many different threads. The way that this double episode played out was intense since it followed our protagonist, Naz, as he began a simple night that turned into something much, much crazier. It’s good to see Riz Ahmed from “Nightcrawler” and “Four Lions” in a lead role like this, and I think he’s very well-equipped for the part. I also recognized Peyman Moaadi from “A Separation” and “Camp X-Ray” as his father, and there are a handful of other actors in the listed cast with great television resumes. John Turturro made quite an impression towards the end of this premiere, showing up as a seedy lawyer who has good intentions and will do good for his client even if he didn’t ask for his services. This show hasn’t hooked me yet, and I’m not ready to commit, but I think that it’s probably worth giving it another shot to see where it goes next now that all the exposition has been presented and things can proceed from here.

How will it work as a series? This is structured as an eight-episode limited series, much like most other recent anthology series like this, so there will be plenty of time for things to play out and transform over that time. I think it’s exactly the right length – the question is just whether it’s going to prove appealing and involving enough to sustain the commitment.
How long will it last? Reviews have been very strong, which is a good sign. This is based on a British show that had two separate seasons, so something tells me that HBO is going to want to improve their “True Detective” track record and invest in another serial drama. A second season renewal is likely.

Pilot grade: B