Unveiling injustices, human behaviour and a broken system in an organic, non politically-correct manner. This series is so good, I've watched it 4 times already. And just now decided to write a small review about it.
It is such a great portrayal of society, humans, the judicial system and more. When something is done sincerely, it won't try to please everybody, or do what is popular and check the list of what is deemed 'correct'.
No, it will be organic and raw, as reality truly is. And in that portrayal you, we the viewers see and feel that cold reality. Sugar free, not coated for the fragile.
To see the sleepy people that are elected for jury duty, some even sleeping on their seat..that scene tells you so much in merely a few seconds.
When the DA (Weisz) puts words deliberately in the mouth of the coroner who is supposed to stand witness in trial.
Or how quick the prison system swallows their inmates, wether guilty or not. It is sink or swim, and in a matter of seconds, your fate can already be sealed. This is shown perfectly through the little youngster. Or of course trough Nasir himself, and how we see the transition of a innocent young man that enters that prison and is exposed to so many new and harsh realities of a world of it's own, where it is eat or be eaten.
How little investigation is done, and how rare it is that it is done correctly.
All that ...presented to a jury that doesn't even want to be there.
But also family life, and (Muslim)minority communities and their small world where everyone is trying to live the dream, but are barely scraping by, and the pressure it lays on its youngsters. The pressure they live in by being working class in a country with post 9-11 syndrome.
How beautiful one person can be and make a difference just by being humane. Oh how I love the character 'John Stone' ( John Turturro) in this series. A man plagued by eczema and allergies, a small time lawyer with a good heart.
The person with the cat allergy , is the only one trying his best to save the cat. He goes back and forth, a beautiful metaphor of a rare man trying to do good in a world where doing so isn't rewarding.
Turturro killed this role, as his does many. I won't ever forget 'John Stone'. In fact, I have many times smiled in watching him, and wishing to be his friend.
One night, so many repercussions. So many different humans. So much apathy, so much harshness, sometimes beauty displayed in humaneness.
There is much to see in this series, and to feel. Experience it for yourself. It is organic, sincere as any art should be. 'The Night Of' is in my favourites since 2016, and it shall stay there.