Why you should start watching “The Night Of”
If you’re a fan of crime dramas and are in the market for a new TV series to obsess over, then HBO’s “The Night Of” could well be the show for you. Based on the UK series Criminal Justice, it focuses on a vicious murder in New York City and then follows the case right the way through the New York justice system. The series starts with the initial police investigation, goes on to show the harsh realities of prison life and finally closes with the trial itself. HBO has a pretty solid track record when it comes to quality output and with the recent successes elsewhere of both Making a Murderer and Serial, The Night Of is an enticing new crime story for people to pore over and analyse. Here are just a few of the aspects making The Night Of such must-see television:
An Engrossing Story : The character accused of committing the murder in question is Pakistani-American, Naz. At the outset we see him as a mild-mannered, polite and bookish college student who is still living with his parents. What starts as a big night out in which Naz has a rare invitation to a party, soon changes tack completely after he bumps into an attractive young lady and ends up back at her apartment. The drama really begins however when Naz awakens the next morning with serious memory blanks and finds the girl in her bed brutally murdered. Understandably, Naz is soon the prime suspect. For the most part, The Night Of is a twisting whodunit of a series, however it does noticeably differ from the traditional crime procedural format. We aren’t simply presented with a wide range of suspects to whittle down; it’s far more intricate and delicate than that.
The Intricate Detail : What immediately stands out about the show is the sheer level of detail it goes into. This is true both in terms of presenting how the evening of the murder itself transpired, as well as the elaborate process involved in progressing such a case. The first episode is a masterclass in leaving tiny bread crumbs for viewers to follow. Little moments seem poised to take on greater significance as you wait to see how they will factor in later on. As a result, little moments like the sight of CCTV footage being filmed, a handprint being left somewhere, an interaction with a stranger or confusion amongst police all become moments of genuine intrigue. These little snippets come and go and some may never be addressed at all, but they are presented to the viewer and it is left up to them to keep this data for future reference. Any budding detectives out there will have a field day picking out the intricacies that can make or break the case.
The Cast : The show was originally to be a vehicle for James Gandolfini who would have played the lawyer tasked with defending Naz. Unfortunately his untimely passing meant changes had to be made and the part of John Stone eventually went to John Turturro. While he differs greatly from Gandolfini in terms of demeanour and persona, it’s still a pretty inspired replacement with Turturro bringing a unique presence to the show. Stone is a quirky and unassuming lawyer, devoid of the flash and charm that one might typically expect. He’s underrated from the off however and seemingly nobody gives him a hope of proving his client’s innocence. Meanwhile, in the central role of Naz is England’s own Riz Ahmed, star of Four Lions, Ill Manors and Nightcrawler, and soon to be appearing in the next Star Wars outing, Rogue One. His performance is utterly captivating; a wide-eyed desperate boy trying to cope as his world comes crashing down around him.
The Aesthetic : The show doesn’t dress up its New York locale; it’s presented more of a claustrophobic nightmare than a sprawling city of dreams. It’s gloriously shot by Steve Zallian (who also co-wrote the series) and James Marsh, as they thrust us into the New York criminal system, compete with desolate police precincts, grubby holding rooms, darkened streets and menacing prison cells. The camerawork is particularly clever, focusing on specific things almost encouraging you to question their significance. It’s a show that encourages the audience to ask questions of what they are being presented with on screen.
The Night Of is a thrilling and completely engrossing series that manages to feel fresh amongst the countless other murder mysteries and cop procedurals it might get compared to. Once you start, you won’t be able to resist getting to the bottom of the case.
(photo credit : HBO)
