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  • What struck me after watching the first episode of "The Night Of" is that this is a story that has been told on countless iterations of "Law and Order". The difference is the luxury of not having to tell it in 40 minutes and the bringing to bear of HBO's prodigious production values combined with a first-rate cast of mostly little-known actors.

    The portrayal of the police is unlike anything I've seen before: annoyance about working past the end of a shift, the passing of the buck so someone else gets a case that will doubtless go into the wee hours of the morning, the careless handling of evidence due to available manpower. Here the police are neither heroes nor villains, rather they're just working men and women doing a job.

    The atmosphere of the precinct house in the middle of the night is palpable as is the overwhelming sense of helplessness felt by the naive lead character as his night goes from bad to worse. John Torturro's portrayal of a low rent defense attorney who stumbles onto a case much bigger than he imagined holds great promise for future episodes.

    As I said at the beginning, it's hardly a story we've not seen before but we've never seen it told this well. I look forward to watching it develop.
  • drvii6 September 2017
    Warning: Spoilers
    They totally missed, or ignored, the biggest defense clue of any vicious, bloody murder. There was blood all over the room, the walls, the bed and nothing on him. they picked him up shortly afterward and never mentioned this. No wet towels or blood in the shower drain or.....nothing! Big gap in the reality of the whole thing. And one that ruined it for me.
  • Like most HBO shows, The Night Of was fantastic. The Night Of is full of suspense, drama, action, twists, turns, etc. But what makes this show so good is the performance of Riz Ahmed. He even won an Emmy for lead actor in a miniseries. The show itself has won a ton of awards and has an impressive 94% on Rotten Tomatoes. Ahmed is the star here but he's not the only one to give a great performance. As always John Turturro and Michael Kenneth Williams were as terrific as always. They both were nominated for best supporting actors in a miniseries for their work here. I was hooked from the start. It will keep you guessing throughout the series. The show is best watched binged so make sure you give yourself enough time before starting it.
  • This show has received mixed reviews. Some have loved it. Some have hated it. I don't often leave reviews however I do often read reviews when deciding whether to watch something. I decided to write this review based on the poor reviews because I felt very strongly about this that I just had to put my opinion across. This show is amazing. It's draws you in, puts you in the main characters position and never lets go. The acting is fantastic, the mood, the music the visuals are also great. I watch a lot of shows, most of them are entertaining enough but not very often do I come across a show like this that gets you completely enthralled and then has you screaming at the screen as the end credits role because you cant stand the thought of having to wait 7 days for the next episode. Like I said at the beginning. Some people are slamming this show for being "unoriginal" "boring" "stupid". My reply to these are as follows:

    Unoriginal? OK, so the premise is nothing new, its not earth shattering but trust me, you've never seen it told like this before! Boring? Absolutely not, this person must have the attention span of a 3 year old because I couldn't get enough of the suspense and drama. I just could not wait to find out what happens next and you genuinely care about the characters! And finally stupid? I'm sorry but this is very narrow minded. This is a naive young man who makes some pretty silly decisions under the influence of alcohol and drugs. We've all been there. Which is what makes this show so great. It resonates with us all. It's very real.

    In closing I would just like to say. Watch the first episode. I think you will absolutely love it.
  • What I like about this kind of series is that the story is good by itself but its by no means outstanding. The most important aspect is the storytelling, the presentation, the psychological tour of the characters, the portrayal of different cultures, and family, and relationships, and professions. That's the most impressive thing about this series.

    One of the most fascinating things about shows like this is the characters itself are so rich. I've seen very few TV shows that covers extremely sophisticated characters like Matthew on True Detective, and this girl on 'The Night of', and Naz himself. For me, just focusing on the story line for the sole purpose of entertainment is like just focusing on guitar sounds in a piece of music.

    This is the reason why I love the first season of True Detective, and this is the same reason why I love this series just after one episode.
  • HBO's new crime drama 'The Night Of' has sucked me in right from the very beginning. The pilot starts up very slow but builds suspense as it starts to tell the story, and that's where it shines; in it's storytelling. It was dramatically convincing and had a pleasantly dark atmosphere.

    The pilot was very long (1hr 20min) but it felt much shorter, it was tense from start to finish, in the sense of the story it was actually very predictable, but it was the acting and how the story was portrayed that made it so gripping and watchable. Not a second went by where my attention wasn't glued to the TV screen.

    What really made me love the pilot was how REAL the story felt, there wasn't a moment that made me think that it was a stupid story, it felt REAL. The acting was superb by everyone, the cinematography was perfect with it's overall dark tone and lighting, and the music just set the scene playing in the background to the tone of the show.

    The overall mood of the show has been set for the series, and if it stays at this standard for the rest of the series it will be an ultimate success. I look forward to where the rest of this series takes us! No complaints yet!

    9/10
  • Rob133130 September 2022
    The Night Of is a great mini-series that won a bunch of awards including five Emmy's. This series will hook you from the start and keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the entire series. The twists and turns will keep you guessing and mesmerized until the very end. It has a great cast, led by Riz Ahmed and John Turturro, who are all just terrific in this. It's also beautifully written. It's about a college student who meets a girl and the next thing he knows he's in custody for murder. If you're looking for a great crime drama to pass the time then give this a chance. You won't be disappointed.
  • jql_longhurst11 September 2018
    Stunning, unpredictable, fresh, cynical. Perfect casting and sub plots. Scarily close to the bone on key social and religious tensions all around us. Authentic, gripping, binge-worthy
  • If you were a fan of 'The Killing', especially the first three seasons, then 'The Night Of' will be right up your alley. Gripping, engaging, methodical story telling that is somehow simultaneously slow and fast paced. Even when not much is happening, you will find yourself bracing in anticipation. Sad it's a limited series. I hope HBO decides to produce more content like this. In the meantime, I'll be eagerly awaiting the next installment. The acting is superb but the pacing is the real gem. Long before the first installment gets to the meat of the plot, intense, ominous moments of foreshadowing are peppered at the perfect times to really keep you biting your nails without even knowing why. I sighed in bittersweet relief when the credits rolled. And this is only the first episode.
  • Let me start off by saying there are alot of positives to this show: acting(specifically John Turturro's plea for Nas near the end), suspense, drama, and Riz Ahmed's breakout role. However the ending was a bit underwhelming for me. It seemed like the show was building up to this grand finale and the ending was just anticlimactic. Thats about all I can say without giving anything away; but this show was neither bad nor great to me.
  • betucho199316 July 2016
    I never expected it to be this good, of course the creators are awesome guys with some amazing series in the curriculum like The Wire. And even our man Gandolfini was inside this awesome work at some point (RIP Tony Soprano).

    The story is so thrilling and immersive that you can feel yourself inside the show, the actors make it feel real fellas, you feel scary as if everything is happening to you, your heart will just burst up when you see a cop.

    We will be introduced to smart dialogues and awesome actuation.

    It is a must watch and there is no person who wont love this show, HBO is killing it again and we must follow this astonishing story. Even a 10 isn't enough to give for this series,nit is already a new hit and is already on my top 3.
  • I really dont get the high ratings of this show. Super long and in the middle of the show I was so close from just not finishing it. They also ended the show in a very unsatisfying way.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    First off, one of my biggest gripes about this show was Naz's transformation from a seemingly reserved mild-mannered kid to this hardened, tatted-up, drug-using bad ass. I get the logic that in order to survive in a rough prison it is important to adapt, however how rough did things ever really get for Naz? He got cut, got some hot water thrown on him and his bed lit on fire. Next thing you know he links up with the top-dog Freddy and now he's a hardcore SOB that no one wants to mess with. The tattoos really bothered me because if he was currently on trial and knew he was innocent, why get "Sin" & "Bad" and a Latin King Crown tatted on your neck when you're in the middle of trying to prove your own innocence? I feel like these decisions were more of a story device to show to the audience that Naz has changed rather than his change being driven by genuine experience. Also the prison environment itself didn't seem too realistic. Freddy and Naz were able to chill all day in their cells smoking heroin all willy-nilly while occasionally beating up guys or slitting a guys throat when the guards weren't looking. The fact that there was no investigation over the inmate getting his throat cut or the mention of any security footage of this crime just goes to show you how untouchable Freddy and Naz were in prison which creates poor drama because there is essentially no consequence for their actions on the inside. Why does Naz have to be incognito getting drugs into prison when he can be an accomplice to murder and not suffer any consequences?

    Also, Naz's relationship with his lawyer Chandra was kind of unbelievable in my opinion. What happened between her and Naz that compelled her to willingly commit a felony by storing drugs up her snatch to give to NAZ in-front of a Police officer? And then to kiss him on top of that… All in the midst of a situation where they are constantly showing how everyone's moves are being monitored by cameras…

    The courtroom drama was underwhelming with a resolution that seemed a little bit too easy and too open to be completely satisfying.

    Lastly, as a filmmaker I realize how important it is to balance a dark story with moments of humor so that the story doesn't become overly depressing, however Jack's eczema-ridden feet shouldn't have been the main focal point for humor in this story. It was severely overdone and redundant that in every scene with Jack, his feet had to be shown or mentioned. After a certain point it was just gross.

    Overall, the show was shot well and the acting was decent although I wish I could have gotten more variation from Naz's character who's performance had a monotone quality to it.
  • A mild mannered, young man 'Naz' takes his father's cab to head to a House Party, en route he encounters a mysterious, attractive girl. Captivated by her, Has heads back to her place, where the two make out, his life changes the following morning.

    The bug question is, did her or didn't he?

    This is the art of storytelling at its finest, as a story, it's not exactly unique, but the way it's told, the way it unravels, the realism, that feels unique.

    Riz Ahmed is a revelation as Naz, brilliant from the first scene to the last, I believed every aspect of the character, he had an innocence and a sincerity that was crucial for the role. The transformation in his character throughout was amazingly played out. You'd struggle to recognise Naz in the last from the first episode.

    I loved John Turturro and his character John Stone, a superb performance, he made John so interesting, his eczema/psoriasis gave him a unique side story.

    I won't pretend to know a great deal about the American legal and penal service, but I think what the writer was trying to show was that you put a shy kid into the prison service, and he'll come out of it worse then when he went in.

    I can think of no negatives whatsoever, possibly only the ambiguity at the end, did he do it or not? I think I it was made 99% clear that he was innocent, but I'm sure a second series will reply explore.

    The Night of is fantastic 10/10.
  • rbi99-12 July 2016
    Really, really like this one. Right off I liked several of the characters, and as the first episode unfolded I was drawn more and more into the story line. The acting is very good, the dialogue intelligent, and the characters are real. The first episode has me anxiously awaiting the next one. As events unfolded and things got more and more complicated, I could almost put myself in his place and wondered what in the world would I do if this happened to me.

    I have watched a lot of series over the years and this one is right up there with the best I have seen. Usually go for the hard hitting action series like Banshee, 24, Prison Break, Strike Back, Vikings, etc. This one is very much different from them, but I found myself drawn to it right from the opening scene.
  • I thought the opening episode of the new HBO limited series The Night Of, which Roger Ebert's website called Agatha Christie meets The Wire, was engrossing and compelling. Richard Price is a solid writer, having knocked out juicy realism before in scripts for solid films like Sea of Love, Color of Money & the Scorsese "Life's Lessons" segment of New York Stories, and Steven Zaillian, an even better writer, directs here with the same precision for detail he brought to the underrated A Civil Action (Travolta, Duvall).

    Great subtle acting abounds, and a modern day Twin Peaks meets True Detective emerges. I've always been a big John Turturro fan, and his grizzled and weary performance here as the suspect's attorney just might end up being Emmy worthy (time will tell). Riz Ahmed, as the main protagonist, brings the same innocent, befuddled but smarter-than-you-think characterization to the mystery storyline here that he aced as Gyllenhaal's doomed side-kick in Nightcrawler, and we just can't stop watching, because every time we ever felt stupid, cornered or scared is echoed in his soft spoken mannerisms of trapped anguish.

    I'm looking forward to watching the remaining 7 episodes every Sunday night at 9 on HBO.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    This show got me from the first episode. A great example of storytelling for mystery, crime and drama shows.

    It was slow in the beginning but after few minutes it gets exciting and tense with each second. You wonder what is next?

    A naive, Pakistani, Muslim young man in NYC suspected for murder for killing a girl he just met. He looks innocent but every clue shows otherwise and he's desperate and helpless. A veteran experienced detective sure of boys crime has a strong case against him. At the end of the episode help arrives from a low cost lawyer with little hope of salvation.

    Looks like another great chapter waits for us and I'm quite sure it's going to get better and better. I can't wait for the next episode.

    • Pros -


    Nice storytelling.

    Very good acting.

    Good character development.

    Music fits for the drama and mystery. It gives you the feeling but you hardly notice it playing.

    • Cons -


    None yet.
  • Incredibly fabulous visuals in the exquisite detailing of each frame, tonality,depth of perspectives and the dynamic and graphic balance of each visual image is beautifully worked - a real visual treat! Really stunning work -thank you so much I am sure much of the subtlety of your frames go unnoticed but for those who recognize the depth and artistry involved your work is outstanding!!!Each frame is faultless, a treasure. Heaven on earth. I cannot recommend this series more highly enough to anyone who is interested in well crafted visual story telling that not only has great content but original execution with a tremendously subtle erudite evocative visual style. A true lesson in content, myth and culture in each frame!
  • Introduction: When I stumbled upon the series "The Night Of," little did I know that it would become a transformative experience for me. As I embarked on this intense and emotionally charged journey, I found myself drawn into a world of crime, justice, and the complexities of the human psyche. In this personal review, I will share my thoughts and reflections on this captivating series that left an indelible mark on my soul.

    A Captivating Narrative: From the very first episode, "The Night Of" gripped me with its compelling storyline. The show follows the harrowing journey of Nasir Khan, a young man accused of a brutal crime he claims he did not commit. As I watched Nasir's life unravel, I became emotionally invested in his struggle for justice and redemption. The series skillfully weaves together suspense, mystery, and legal drama, keeping me on the edge of my seat throughout.

    Raw and Authentic Performances: The performances in "The Night Of" are nothing short of extraordinary. Riz Ahmed's portrayal of Nasir Khan is deeply moving, capturing the vulnerability and anguish of a man caught in a web of injustice. Ahmed's nuanced performance allowed me to connect with Nasir on a profound level, feeling his fear, desperation, and unwavering determination to prove his innocence. The chemistry between the actors is palpable, adding depth and authenticity to each scene.

    Exploring the Flaws of the Justice System: One of the show's most powerful aspects is its unflinching examination of the flaws within the justice system. "The Night Of" sheds light on the dehumanizing realities of incarceration, the prejudices faced by those accused of crimes, and the complexities of the legal process. It confronts viewers with uncomfortable truths, forcing us to question our own biases and the fairness of the system we place our trust in.

    Character Development and Emotional Depth: "The Night Of" excels in its portrayal of complex and multi-dimensional characters. From John Stone, the unconventional lawyer played brilliantly by John Turturro, to the enigmatic and captivating inmate Freddy Knight portrayed by Michael Kenneth Williams, each character is meticulously crafted. The series delves into their personal journeys, showcasing their growth, vulnerabilities, and the moral dilemmas they face. It is through these characters that we witness the profound impact of the events unfolding around them.

    Cinematic Brilliance: Visually, "The Night Of" is a masterpiece. The dark and gritty atmosphere of New York City is beautifully captured, immersing viewers in the seedy underbelly of the city. The use of lighting, cinematography, and sound design heightens the tension, creating an unsettling ambiance that adds an extra layer of depth to the narrative. The attention to detail in every frame is a testament to the artistic vision of the creators.

    Conclusion: "The Night Of" is a series that transcends its genre. It is a deeply personal and introspective exploration of the human condition, shining a light on the complex nature of justice, morality, and redemption. This thought-provoking series left me contemplating the blurred lines between right and wrong, the impact of our choices, and the enduring power of hope. It is a testament to the transformative power of storytelling and a reminder of the importance of empathy and understanding. "The Night Of" is a must-watch for anyone seeking a profound and immersive television experience.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    The first episode was really good and I got excited that I had found something else to watch , however as the series went on it became extremely dull .

    The feet situation was just a bit pointless and began to get on my nerves .The main character Naz started off promising but quickly turned from being a shy student to some rough looking affiliated gang member . It all got a bit stupid .

    As the end approached I eagerly awaited some unexpected twist however just got the 'end credits' .

    Very promising but lost its way and faded into dullnes.
  • Amazing serie. Series like this remind what true cinematography is. How a serie can make you feel so sad for the lead and just in a couple episodes make you doubt him, hate him and then understand him. The suspense with the music the unexpected turns and twists. Great serie, would maybe even say too great and distressing at moments. Every casting choice was spot on. With the characters the serie adds a perfect amount of humor, drama and thrills. Almost every character had you loving and doubting them, with the constant thought of who's in the right and who's in the wrong.

    Wish there was more series like this.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    Good start then everything fell apart ... "BIG Disappointment"

    1) Naz ... He started the series basically unable to even talk to a girl and being a shy reclusive kind of guy then in 1 night he takes drugs & get laid with a strange girl who he didnt even knew her name.

    Also he decides it's gonna be a great idea to shave his head, get addicted to drugs and tattoo sin on his knuckles before a trial!!?

    2) The DA ... She lays the picture of his cut hand BELOW the nude man's crotch, just so we can get a clear view of his penis? ... FOR WHAT PURPOSE!!!!?

    3) The quirky lawyer with weird attributes and a skin condition.

    4) the female lawyer ... The pathetic crush of Chandra & seriously How she helped him to bring DRUGs to the prison !!!?

    5) The crime ... With that much blood splatter, no one ever wondered why his clothes had not a speck of blood.

    6) The cat ... WHY ???
  • Warning: Spoilers
    I enjoyed this series for a different reason than was probably intended.

    From the first episode I was very interested in what was about to happen next, what clues will show up, how will the investigation proceed, etc.

    During the entire series I was waiting for a big twist or a big reveal of some sort but it never came. This made me wonder, what is this series actually about?

    The journey Naz does from a good school boy to a felon feels so obvious. The system put him in a cage with monsters so now he becomes the monster etc. There is nothing original about this.

    The police work is terrible, they ignore so many details in the investigation yet they act as if they did not in court. Anyone in the court room could have just raised their hand at any moment in this series and asked "where was the blood on Naz?" and the series would have been over. When they find out that Box gave the inhaler back to Naz it gets all hyped up, omg this is such a big thing, and they make us believe that they will use this as an entry point to dropping the bomb on the entire investigation, perhaps Box is involved himself? But then nothing happens, "that was unprofessional, please don't do it again" and the entire inhaler plot is now felled.

    We are given the interpretation that Naz panicked after finding the dead body and that made him make those bad decisions of saving the knife amongst other tings. But after this, Naz becomes eager to claim his innocence, yet he literally refuses to actually give his entire story. The only time the game with the knife is mentioned is by some random pathologist turns up and assumingly makes a guess that this is indeed what happened. Naz has so much more information to give about this night, yet just ignores to tell it? "Did you bring anything else?, No!, What about the knife?, Oh yeah I brought that too" is a conversation we hear in, what? The last episode?

    The entire series is filled to the brim of these scenarios and in the beginning I was thinking "Its by purpose, they will make a big twist out of this in the end and reveal that Naz is actually a serial killer" or something like that. (since they hint about other people getting murdered with knives several times). But it never happens. This inconsistency keeps repeating over and over again and in the end there is just.. Nothing? He is free to go, says "Thanks" to the attorney and that's it.

    I watched this to the end, and while there were moments I enjoyed and an overall mystery-like atmosphere that made me wonder, what's gonna happen now? I can't seem to figure out, what is this series actually about? In one sense, this could have been 8 random episodes from 8 random crime series and the outcome would have been pretty much the same.

    I give this series a 4 because of John Stone. The story about him single single handedly boosted this show, but the rest is actually pretty bad.
  • Warning: Spoilers
    "The Night Of" is an outstanding TV miniseries divided in eight parts as follows: (1) "The Beach" (2) "Subtle Beast" (3) "A Dark Crate" (4) "The Art of War" (5) "The Season of the Witch" (6) "Samson and Delilah" (7) "Ordinary Death" (8) "The Call of the Wild"

    The storyline takes place in 2014, when the college student Nasir 'Naz' Khan (Riz Ahmed), who lives in Queen, is invited to a party in Manhattan. His ride blows him off and Naz decides to steal the taxi owned by his father and two partners and drives to Manhattan. He meets a young woman called Andrea Cornish (Sofia Black-D'Elia) by chance and he spends a night of sex with her in her place, playing Knife Game and using drinks and drugs. Naz awakes in the kitchen, and when he goes to the bedroom to say goodbye to Andrea, he finds her stabbed to death. Panicked and without recollection of what happened, Naz runs from the crime scene but is arrested after a traffic violation by two police officers and he goes to the 21st Precinct. After some hours, Detective Dennis Box (Bill Camp) finds evidence that Naz may be the murderer of Andrea and locks him in a cell. The ambulance chaser John Stone (John Turturro) sees Naz in the cell and offers his service, in the beginning of The Night Of.

    This film is impressively realistic, without the glamour of other crime series like "Law and Order" or "Chicago P. D." and ambiguous since the killer's identity is not found. The performances are top-notch and the although the long running time, the viewer is kept in tension waiting to see the next parts asap. The most important, shows the consequences of a terrible police investigation to the protagonists of the story. The former college student Naz ends addicted in crack and with friction with his family and friends in the Pakistanis community. His father loses his taxi driver license and his partnership with two former friends and needs to pawn his few valuable goods. His mother loses her job and has to work as janitor. His brother has to be transferred to another school. The defense lawyer Chandra Kapoor (Amara Karan) loses her job and probably her bar. The retired Detective Dennis Box feels guilty for his poor investigation in his last assignment and is consumed by his faul. The prosecutor Helen Weiss (Jeannie Berlin) feels bad for her poor work and ignoring other information. Maybe only the lawyer John Stone and the inmate Freddy Knight (Michael Kenneth Williams) end the film without any change in their behavior. My vote is nine.

    Title (Brazil): "The Night Of"
  • Yes, what you hear it's true: it's a story about a murder and it has been told a million times. But NEVER like this, let me assure you. This is pure art. This show tells you the details about the story, builts up fantastic characters, and invites you to follow the story in a very slow and fulfilling pace. You know what's going to happen from the first episode, but what they have created here makes you sit down in front of your TV for 8 episodes to see HOW they get there. It's raw, it's real, it's perfectly written and directed, with a cast that blew my mind. It's a true pleasure to see HBO creating shows like this, the only pity here it's that it's a limited series, and I won't get to see any more from them.
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