The Night of Episode 2 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, 

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.

Verdict:
The first episode was uneasy and tense. We saw first hand as Nas made mistake after mistake, knowing where it would end. The second episode shows the process of the legal system, and what actually happens after you're arrested. I've never seen a show that makes it painstakingly realistic. It's fascinating in an depressing way. While this episode doesn't have the tone of the first and feels like it's moving the pieces in play across the board instead of actually making the play, the quality is still phenomenal.

Review:
Check out my The Night of episode reviews!
I loved the first episode, though that was more potential than what we saw. We didn't see much, just the set up. It looked like it will analyze the justice system, especially for a minority. Episode two does just that.

Turtorro a street wise lawyer, John Stone.  Whenthe cops talk down to him, calling him an ambulance chaser, Stone reminds them about IAD investigations and choke holds.
He doesn't want the truth because he wants to remain flexible. The truth constrains. He's excited by this high profile case. It will help his career. Is that why he's devoting so much time to the case or is it fiction for the narrative? Reports state that pro bono lawyers spend a shockingly low amount of time on cases.

Paul Sparks, who also guest starred on House of Cards (2013-), plays Don Taylor. He's the victim's father and is asked to identify her, Andrea. He sees the photo and states it's not her. The cops then ask him to look at the body. They find his answer dubious, but after asking him to see the body he states the girl in the photograph is her. It's a weird vibe from Taylor.
Box talks to Taylor. Taylor says Andrea was involved in drugs and arrested before. He didn't think she was a prostitute, but he wasn't sure. Box shows Taylor a photograph line up. Taylor asks if the men in the photo lineup are Arab. Box replies they aren't, but Taylor is incredulous.

 Nas's parents go to the wrong police station. They stand silently as the intake officer asks if any homicides have been reported. An officer replies that, "Some Muslim freak cared up a girl in the two-one."
You can tell the parents are uncomfortable, and it's not just because they are in the police station. They have no idea about what's happening. When they find the correct precinct, they can't see him because Nas is an adult.

Box lets the parents see Nas. As Stone told him, Box is a good cop. He screws you over within the boundaries of the law. A conversation with his parents isn't privileged. This show does a great job of leading you in a direction an then confirming. My suspicion was that Box would listen to the conversation with the parents, and he does. Nas didn't think the no talking rule applied to his parents, but he's slowly learning. Stone later rebukes Nas about talking, and Nas asks how the truth can hurt him.
Exasperated Stone replies that Nas had the weapon, he was covered in blood, and his DNA is at the scene. The truth doesn't help him.

 Box tries to get in Nas's head, pretending he's a friend. Nas buys into it, and he starts talking. He's too naive, but at the same time too dumb. You think Nas has fallen into the trap, before he realizes the game and stops talking. Box wants to help Nas only as far as it helps his case. Then again, that's the same reason Stone is helping Nas.
Nas is charged for homicide. He's transported for arraignment with a bunch of other guys. It's scary and violent. Nas thinks he shouldn't be there.

Box executes warrant to search Nas's house. A criminal investigation upends many lives, not just the accused. Box then meets the DA. Box says the case is a certainty. The DA doesn't care about the crime or the truth. Is it a case that can be won or should they accept a plea?
This does a great job showing the process of law, from start to finish. Nas is arraigned and remanded without bail at Rikers Island. It's a solid episode that walks you through the process, and while it's not as intense as the first episode. it's still very good and necessary. This foundation is necessary for future episodes.