HBO Series "The Night Of" (1 Viewer)

[Notorious T.R.E.]

Caught up on the last two episodes last night and agree there were a lot of groan-worthy plot points in play (Turturro going hardy boys, knuckle tats, free-basing (basically the whole nas-is-bad-now montage), timeline vs trial, multi-million dollar estate, etc)

Now leaning towards a resolution of Nas getting life in prison and we find out who the real killer is (hopefully one of the three guys they actually hinted at) in some kind of sneaky "big reveal" at the end.  We also discover the cat somehow is the real cure for John Stone's eczema.  

Another thing...I like how the prosecution is basically shown coercing the medical examiner and another expert they expect to call to say what they want to say.  

This can't be how it really works, right?  I mean, I know that often both sides call experts to back up their side of the story, but as the prosecution, you want some kind of definite independent evaluation backed up with facts, right?  (not a lawyer, so maybe this is really what happens)

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

Caught up on the last two episodes last night and agree there were a lot of groan-worthy plot points in play (Turturro going hardy boys, knuckle tats, free-basing (basically the whole nas-is-bad-now montage), timeline vs trial, multi-million dollar estate, etc)

Now leaning towards a resolution of Nas getting life in prison and we find out who the real killer is (hopefully one of the three guys they actually hinted at) in some kind of sneaky "big reveal" at the end.  We also discover the cat somehow is the real cure for John Stone's eczema.  

It would be nice if the lawyers popped back in here.

I would be happy with a happy ending at this point. I'm not in the mood for something this dystopian.

What I'd like to hear from the FBG lawyers is if the recently discovered miscues and alternative suspects (thug on the street, stepfather, funeral guy) would be enough to sew doubt in the minds of the jurors, especially after the opening argument by Chandra. Box is going to sound very confident and then Chandra & Stone can ask, well what about this? And this? How about this? He would be filled with 's and appear like he is overzealous.

Otoh as has been mentioned Nas seems to be cruising to become a hooked fish by Freddy. He could stay in jail for the crimes he's doing there and he will be totally under the control of Freddy. Sick and twisted, like I said I'm in no mood but as the FBG lawyers have also pointed out the greatest likelihood is that he would have been isolated from all that in real life, or so it would be hoped.

 

[RUSF18]

Another thing...I like how the prosecution is basically shown coercing the medical examiner and another expert they expect to call to say what they want to say.  

This can't be how it really works, right?  I mean, I know that often both sides call experts to back up their side of the story, but as the prosecution, you want some kind of definite independent evaluation backed up with facts, right?  (not a lawyer, so maybe this is really what happens)

I'd assume that's exactly how it really works especially in light of overwhelming amounts of physical evidence tying one guy to the crime. 

 

[whoknew]

This show gets SO MUCH twitter/critic love. I don't really get it. Its fine - I'll keep watching. But its not on the Wire/BreakingBad/Mad Men level. Not even close. Its just a long version of a Law and Order episode. 

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

This show gets SO MUCH twitter/critic love. I don't really get it. Its fine - I'll keep watching. But its not on the Wire/BreakingBad/Mad Men level. Not even close. Its just a long version of a Law and Order episode.

I assume its much better than Law and Order, but I don't watch that show.  Figure it has to be better just by virtue of being on HBO/more graphic/gritty whatever.  If not, maybe I should watch L&O because while not wonderful/elite, I really like this series.

 

[whoknew]

I assume its much better than Law and Order, but I don't watch that show.  Figure it has to be better just by virtue of being on HBO/more graphic/gritty whatever.  If not, maybe I should watch L&O because while not wonderful/elite, I really like this series.

That was a little hyperbole. Its definitely better than L&O - though Lenny Brisco is far better than any cop on The Night Of. 

Its good - the acting is good. No doubt. But its not great. I will definitely watch until the end. But I don't really care if they have another season or not.

 

[shadyridr]

Box seems like a straight up guy. Im assuming Stone comes to him with evidence, Box investigates further, and the state drops the case. Sort of like My Cousin Vinny.

"On a hunch..."

 

[Todem]

This episode was really hard.  The acting is really good and the drama of the whole thing is being done very well.  I'm still enjoying it and it is very good television.

But now that we've gotten this far, the complaints about them wasting time on Stone's feet and some other things make this a really big problem.  The most fascinating small part of these series was Stone doing the investigation into the victim and then the crime scene expert at the house.  The "how do you create a defense" aspect of this show was really well done, but now that they only have 2 episodes left and the trial has started, it is really really bad form and bad writing to have Stone finally think about who owns the house; the other attorney going to talk to the limo driver, and so on.

That should have happened well before the trial.  And it isn't like those two specific things are the work of only high priced expert lawyers who have litigated for decades.  It's law 101.  The first thing I do in any case of kind is check to see where my adversary lives and who owns the house.  I do it almost always during the initial intake of the client.  It's just a muscle reaction at this point.  And in a criminal setting it should be even more important.

That really hurt the show for me.  And with that I continue to not like any aspect of the jail part of this story.  It's not bad in the sense that it's stupid - I'm ok with his quick change into a gang member as it fits the narrative of good people ending up in prison.  I'm ok with the artistic license there.  But its just wasted to me when they should be focusing on the defense aspect of this.  Every jail scene could be 30 seconds long.  We all have an idea within a tv show as to what is going to go on in a prison like Rikers.  It's just not satisfying to watch in what this show was setting itself up to be. 

If I was giving this an A before last night, it's dropped to a B-.  The next episode better regroup because they had something really really good here.  Would hate to see them blow it.

Same here. I loved the first 4 episodes. It's been a fast downhill slide here with 5 and 6.

The whole prison aspect has really been a turn off for me. Not really well done at all....I am starting to think all the possible "other" suspects are now all red herrings and Naz did indeed go postal and killed this girl. 

Who knows. I will obviously watch it to it's conclusion. The acting is excellent. But the story telling has really gone off the rails here these last two episodes. 

 

[Yankee23Fan]

It would be nice if the lawyers popped back in here.

I would be happy with a happy ending at this point. I'm not in the mood for something this dystopian.

What I'd like to hear from the FBG lawyers is if the recently discovered miscues and alternative suspects (thug on the street, stepfather, funeral guy) would be enough to sew doubt in the minds of the jurors, especially after the opening argument by Chandra. Box is going to sound very confident and then Chandra & Stone can ask, well what about this? And this? How about this? He would be filled with 's and appear like he is overzealous.

Otoh as has been mentioned Nas seems to be cruising to become a hooked fish by Freddy. He could stay in jail for the crimes he's doing there and he will be totally under the control of Freddy. Sick and twiested, like I said I'm in no mood but as the FBG lawyers have also pointed out the greatest likelihood is that he would have been isolated from all that in real life, or so it would be hoped.

Could be. You only need one person to get reasonable doubt.  But I don't do criminal work.

 

[El Floppo]

I usually like slow, deliberate pacing, but this last episode I found myself jumping forward 10seconds at a time as torturro putters around his apartment or nas does pushups... and not losing anything in regards to the story.

I agree with sinn's approach and questioning what this show is really about. I still think it's trying to be in-depth procedural and window into "the system", that also has depth of characters... but I agree that it's a little too all over the place trying to be too much.

on top of the pacing, this episode was too eye-rolling for me: "sin" and "wolf" tats, crack/heroin smoking, dad delivering to lawyer's apartment, nas slack-jawed watching the bj just so he could get caught, da and expert witnesses colluding on what the da wants them to say, newbie lawyer at giant firm who was likely a superstar in law school is now a bumbling idiot, both sides only now investigating obvious motive stuff (house deed, witnesses, etc). 

2 episodes left? I agree with whoever said he'll be convicted next episode (at the rate this trial is going) and then have further evidence turn up that exonerates him... but will likely no, because the system is bad.

fwiw... wozzy type info, but that imam that was killed- local news discussed other bangladeshis who have been murdered. one was from 2014... suspects are still awaiting trial. but yeah- a month is about right for the night of.

 

[shadyridr]

His knuckle tattoos actually said SIN on one hand and BAD on the other. Seriously.

 

[Todem]

Things have gotten way too compressed now. They're investigating the crime in the middle of the trial? How did no one ever bother to look up the property records? 

Still enjoying it but Nas' failure to see what he is risking in jail sort of defies belief.

Yeah it's plain stupid. Just plain bad. Like.....his Parents are not noticing this behavior now? Not saying anything?

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

His knuckle tattoos actually said SIN on one hand and BAD on the other. Seriously.

And the a "cunning wolf" from Jack London's Call of the Wild.  He already read that, you know.

From Reddit (foreshadowing spoiler?):

Spoiler

"The Call of the Wild is a short adventure novel by Jack London published in 1903 and set in Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The central character of the novel is a dog named Buck. The story opens at a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, California, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. By the end, he sheds the veneer of civilization, and relies on primordial instinct and learned experience to emerge as a leader in the wild."

 

[Todem]

And the a "cunning wolf" from Jack London's Call of the Wild.  He already read that, you know.

From Reddit (foreshadowing spoiler?):

Spoiler

"The Call of the Wild is a short adventure novel by Jack London published in 1903 and set in Yukon, Canada during the 1890s Klondike Gold Rush, when strong sled dogs were in high demand. The central character of the novel is a dog named Buck. The story opens at a ranch in Santa Clara Valley, California, when Buck is stolen from his home and sold into service as a sled dog in Alaska. He becomes progressively feral in the harsh environment, where he is forced to fight to survive and dominate other dogs. By the end, he sheds the veneer of civilization, and relies on primordial instinct and learned experience to emerge as a leader in the wild."

Indeed. It is Call of The Wild in Rikers for Naz.

Unfortunately that will not help his case in court looking like a total thug now.

 

[El Floppo]

His knuckle tattoos actually said SIN on one hand and BAD on the other. Seriously.

gtfo.

didn't see the "bad". that's bad.

 

[El Floppo]

nobody else bothered by nas standing and watching the bj until he gets caught?

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

nobody else bothered by nas standing and watching the bj until he gets caught?

Its on the list, but near the bottom as compared to some of the other stuff.

 

[El Floppo]

Its on the list, but near the bottom as compared to some of the other stuff.

it tipped the scales for me. after all the other stuff- that just felt sooo gratuitous.

 

[Todem]

nobody else bothered by nas standing and watching the bj until he gets caught?

Yeah man....uncomfortable.

 

[JZilla]

We'll be watching that guy suck Naz's **** next week.. Fits right in with the total wtf prison storyline

 

[El Floppo]

Yeah man....uncomfortable.

not what I meant... just so stupidly ham-handed and self-serving on the part of the writers having him wait there gawking until he got caught.

 

[Todem]

not what I meant... just so stupidly ham-handed and self-serving on the part of the writers having him wait there gawking until he got caught.

Well then.

 

[Notorious T.R.E.]

We'll be watching that guy suck Naz's **** next week.. Fits right in with the total wtf prison storyline

NOBODY TAKES A KNIFE TO NEWNAZ's NECK IN DA SHOWERZ

 

[Major]

This show gets SO MUCH twitter/critic love. I don't really get it. Its fine - I'll keep watching. But its not on the Wire/BreakingBad/Mad Men level. Not even close. Its just a long version of a Law and Order episode. 

The show is slowly entering Sons of Anarchy territory for me.  Starting off strong but becoming a joke.  I honestly find the show comedic at this point.

 

[Funkley]

I assume its much better than Law and Order, but I don't watch that show.  Figure it has to be better just by virtue of being on HBO/more graphic/gritty whatever.  If not, maybe I should watch L&O because while not wonderful/elite, I really like this series.

I think you'd like L&O Criminal Intent.....the ones with Vincent D'Onofrio.

 

[Weebs210]

Is it just me or is his push up form atrocious?

 

[packersfan]

It's gotten worse since the focus has shifted more toward the prison drama.

I'm basically sticking around to find out who did it.

And because Chandra is super hot. 

 

[Moonlight]

I think in the beginning we were in Naz' head. We knew what he was thinking and why he did the things he did. All they had to do was look at the exit at the police department and we knew he wanted to make a run for it. When they said they had to frisk him...omg, they're going to find the knife! It all put us in the show. They lost that connection. Now he gets knuckle tattoos and we have no idea what he's thinking. Why is he doing things that will purposely hurt his chances on trial.

I liked it when it was a murder mystery but not when it became a prison drama.

Nice insights here.

Series has lost its momentum with this last episode in particular.

Next week Stone and company will present their defense. Right now based on the evidence presented a jury member I would have to convict him.

Don't think they put Naz on the stand.

It was clear Naz had to have Freddy's protection in jail but the tattoos, drug use and shaved head weren't required.

Interesting that Box is tipping Stone off when he uncovers dirt on Naz.

 

[ProstheticRGK]

Let's hope this doesn't become a True Detective S2 thread.

[vince Vaughn voice]This show gives me foot eczema. Of my soul.[/Vince Vaughn voice]

 

[SaintsInDome2006]

The primer for first timers in prison:

• Don't show emotion
  
• Don't ask or answer about any facts related to why you or someone else is in there.  That information can only hurt you.
  
• NEVER owe anybody for anything.  Nobody is just going to give you something.  If you accept a 'gift' you owe them, and that's a bad spot.
  
• Never gamble.  Most games are setup to take some unsuspecting chump, and are arranged to get you to owe someone.
  
• Never do drugs.  Drugs are everywhere in prison and extremely accessible.  Drugs will cause you to F up and get in someone's debt. (If you're a druggie going in, most prisons can provide a detox cell in PC.  Take advantage of that.)
  
• Handle your business.  If someone steps up take care of it.  Most jail fights last less than 30 seconds but it will seem like forever.  When the guards arrive, follow instructions.  You'll show the rest of the prisoners you won't back down by fighting, and you'll show the guards you're not a troublemaker by following instructions.
  
• Don't be a punk.  You're in prison and scared.  There's a temptation to be under someone's protection.  While no one will mess with you once you're protected, you're owned by whoever is providing the protection.  The service they provide comes at a non-negotiable cost, and is something you can never get out of as long as either of you are alive in there.
  
• Don't mess with someone else's punk.  If you harass someone under protection, you'll find out why you shouldn't.
  
• Don't be a peter gazer in the shower.  That's a pretty clear signal you want to give up those butt cheeks.
  
• It's poor etiquette to use the toilet while your cell mate is in there.  If you positively can't hold it, let your cellie know what's up otherwise you're probably going to get a beat down.
  
• If your cellie gets jumped, back him up.  If you have his back he'll likely have yours if you get in a beef.  Same thing if you sit with a group at lunch or hang with a group.  If something goes down you have to roll with that group if stuff kicks off.
  

There's a group of videos on youtube called Prison Talk hosted by Big Herc that I fully recommend.  Pretty informative view from a guy that's been inside.

 

[Maurile Tremblay]

Is it just me or is his push up form atrocious?

Yes, I was counting as he did them, but the count stayed at zero the whole time. He did zero actual push-ups.

 

[Statorama]

Interesting that Box is tipping Stone off when he uncovers dirt on Naz.

That was a nice little scene.  It was like Box was saying "you almost had me thinking he might be innocent, but check this out..."

 

[Charlie Harper]

Yah that last episode was bad. 

Still not bad enough for me to quit like I did with TD2 , but the tattoos and smoking crack was just bad. 

 

[Gachi]

Smoking crack and prison tats? Yeah that's a bit much, especially when it's only been a month.

The only things that irk me are the lawyers doing detective work and Nas's transformation. I think it's happening too quickly. 

Also, they're treating jail like it's prison. IRL aren't jails constantly moving bodies in and out? And like someone else said Nas would be in a pod-like cell. Since he's up for murder they probably would have him isolated. 

 

[Doctor Detroit]

That's not crack they are smoking, it's free base heroin.  Glad you critique generators are up on all the details. 

And Riker's Island has 10k "guests" it's to prison what prison is to prison.  This conversation has now plummeted to the bottom of the gene pool. 

 

[Doctor Detroit]

Keep in mind, this is a TV show.  HTH. 

 

[bigmarc27]

  This conversation has now plummeted to the bottom of the gene pool. 

Pfff. Compared to the GOT and True Detective threads, this thread is a gathering of Mensa members. 

 

[Apple Jack]

The pacing is a little awkward, but otherwise still seems fine. Curious how Chandra is now having to deal with Stone like he's child. Dude's excitement and newfound confidence over his feet has removed proper awe for the case. Bad timing for somebody vulnerable to self-absorbed indulgences and losing focus. And while he does have some wisdom that can be useful to her, his attitude still reeks of condescending upward. That's an interesting bit.

 

[El Floppo]

That's not crack they are smoking, it's free base heroin.  Glad you critique generators are up on all the details. 

And Riker's Island has 10k "guests" it's to prison what prison is to prison.  This conversation has now plummeted to the bottom of the gene pool. 

it's plummeted because FFAers can't tell heroin from crack? and because they don't know the workings of Rikers?

or because the last episode had too many ridiculous things happen it.

one of those, IMO.

 

[leftcoastguy7]

Also, they're treating jail like it's prison. IRL aren't jails constantly moving bodies in and out? And like someone else said Nas would be in a pod-like cell. Since he's up for murder they probably would have him isolated. 

Yeah this has been bothering me. Riker's is a jail, not a prison. I would guess the maximum length of stay would be like most jails, one year or less.

Did Omar actually admit to a murder so he could continue to stay at Riker's?? A jail??

 

[Apple Juice]

I think people are being too harsh and as usual getting fixated on a couple details that bother them. Certainly the show is different now than it was in the first episode.

With the possible exceptions of the the scenes between Nas and the girl aside, the first episode was heavy on procedure and tension and felt very real. Now it feels more like a TV show. It's a good TV show IMO and like I said I don't think it deserves the mocking its receiving, but it could have been a little better if it kept the tone of the first episode.

I think Box and Chandra are actually the most interesting characters and those actors are giving the best performances in the show. Kind of looking forward to Chandra questioning Box in the next episode.

 

[Yankee23Fan]

That was a great episode.

 

[jamny]

Meh

Glad there's only one left.

 

[Apple Juice]

Solid episode. No clue how they wrap it up.

 

[Billy Bats]

Solid episode. No clue how they wrap it up.

Said at the end of the episode to the Mrs, "I have no idea where they're going with this."

 

[Evilgrin 72]

The kiss between Chandra and Naz felt somewhat out of left field and entirely unnecessary to me. The fact that they made a point of showing that it would have been captured on video right afterwards makes me think it may have repercussions somehow, though. 

 

[TLEF316]

The kiss between Chandra and Naz felt somewhat out of left field and entirely unnecessary to me. The fact that they made a point of showing that it would have been captured on video right afterwards makes me think it may have repercussions somehow, though. 

Yeah, made absolutely no sense. They've done nothing to establish any sort of sexual tension or attraction between them so far.

Just very odd to pull that out with 1 episode to go and so much to wrap up.

Certainly hurt what was otherwise a pretty strong episode. Good performances all around.

 

[Billy Bats]

I guess she wasn't all that mad for finding out about the second school incident during questioning.

 

[baymen]

Yeah, made absolutely no sense. They've done nothing to establish any sort of sexual tension or attraction between them so far.

Just very odd to pull that out with 1 episode to go and so much to wrap up.

Certainly hurt what was otherwise a pretty strong episode. Good performances all around.

The kiss was atrocious although it looks like next week's episode is going 90 minute plus so hopefully it will have a decent conclusion.

 

[El Floppo]

The kiss, the barbell chokehold in a public place, fullblown heroin addiction, accomplice to murder... added onto the goofiness last week has dropped this down from hmmm, interesting to ok,I'm invested, so I'll stick it out to see how it wraps.