The Night of Episode 1 Review

The Night of (2016)
Mini-series: 8 episodes (2016)

Written by: Richard Price, Steven Zaillian, Peter Moffat (based on the novel by)
Starring: John Turturro, Riz Ahmed, Michael K. Williams,

These cops have no idea what they're about to uncover.

Plot: 
This HBO mini-series features Nas (Riz Ahmed), a Pakistani-American, with no recollection of what happened the previous night accused of murder. Jack Stone (John Turturro) is his lawyer.

The series premieres July 10, but the first episode is available through HBO's online streaming services now.

Verdict:
The first episode is a slow burn with a fair amount of setup, but once Nas enters the police station, it gets very tense. We know where it's going, but getting there will you have on the edge of your seat. I'm invested based on the first episode alone. Knowing that this was a crime show, I was picking out what would or could be evidence in future episodes. The show does a great job of subtlety introducing evidence, and after the first episode I have no idea what actually happened.
I hope (and think) it will tackle issues of discrimination, racism, and the failings of the justice system at large and for minorities. For this to be great, it will need lofty ambitions, and based on what I saw I think that will happen. We'll see.
Watch it.


Review:
Check out my The Night of episode reviews!
This project has been a long time in the making James Gandolfini is listed as a producer, and he pushed for this project three years ago, looking to star in Turturro's role. Gandolfini's death stalled the project, with Robert De Niro at one time considering the part. Turturro is a great choice and will do this justice.

Nas is a tutor for the basketball team. When he gets invited to a party, this is his shot to hang out with the cool kids. When his friend can't make it, Nas steals his father's taxi cab because he has to make it to the party.

Riz Ahmed as Nas.

An attractive woman gets into his cab and he can't tell her to get out. She takes him to her place. She's a manic pixie girl, uninhibited and wild. She's the opposite of Nas and he's attracted. They end up in her bedroom. It's a lot of setup that's a bit slow, but knowing that this is eight episodes and will tell a complete story, I can forgive that.

Multiple scenes show surveillance cameras catching the cab. We know it will be evidence that will be a huge factor. Witnesses see him enter her house. She plays with a knife and his prints are on it.

He's an easy mark for this girl, but there is no way she could know that. I don't know how this will unfold, but I know a few ways it shouldn't. Her specifically selecting him as a setup or him blacking out and committing the crime would be poor story telling. The girl stated she couldn't be alone that night, but the wounds were self inflicted. Maybe it's an ex-boyfriend. That makes the most sense for me. It's bound to be someone close to her. I won't be surprised when the cops don't talk to or even search for additional suspects. Nas is a slam dunk for this.

When he wakes up and sees the crime scene, panics, and runs. Calling the cops on yourself is bad, but running is even worse. He's stopped by officers for making an illegal left turn and ends up in the back of the squad car, returning to the scene. He sees everything unfold with the cops arriving at the scene, going in, then calling for more backup. He can't escape.

They take him back to the station for his moving violation. The tension is palpable. He's scared, edging closer to the door, and I was rooting for him to escape. The cops have the top suspect in the station and have no idea. When the cops realize what they have, he attempts to flee but makes it two steps before being tackled

Once he's in custody, I'm talking to the screen, telling Nas to get a lawyer. If anyone is ever in custody for a capital crime, you get a lawyer. You don't say a word. Cops wants a conviction, and they aren't looking out for your best interests no matter what they tell you. It's painful to watch Nas cling to the detective's words, believing them.

John Turturro as Jack Stone.

Jack Stone (John Turturro) sees Nas sitting in a cell and takes pity on him. Nas doesn't look like someone that belongs in jail, and Stone thinks it's just a stabbing. It's only after Stone has taken him as a client that he realizes the severity of the crime with which Nas has been charged. Stone tells Nas that his only response should be "I don't know, ask my lawyer."

This looks like it's going to get into the process of police work. There's a reference to breaking the chain of custody for the evidence, which could be a huge deal in Nas's potential trial. This and the other bits of evidence we saw will undoubtedly make another appearance.
Nas being of Pakistani heritage is bound to play a role. One of the eye witnesses that saw Nas enter the house made a reference to bombs and terrorism when they first saw Nas. That witness has already lied.
My anticipation of what is to come is incredibly high. The second half of episode one is very strong.