The Night Of (HBO)

The Night Of (HBO)

About The Night Of (HBO)

The Night Of is a 2016 American eight-part crime drama television miniseries based on the first season of Criminal Justice, a 2008 British series. The miniseries was written by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian and directed by Zaillian and James Marsh. Set in New York City, the series explores a complex murder case with cultural and political overtones. The story is told through the perspective of Nasir "Naz" Khan, a Pakistani-American college student, who after a night of partying with a female stranger, wakes up to find her stabbed to death and has no recollection of what happened.

Making / Production

The Night Of was produced by HBO in association with BBC Worldwide and was created by Steven Zaillian and Richard Price. The series was well-received for its complex narrative structure, raw storytelling, and its deep dive into the intricacies of legal proceedings and systemic issues within the American criminal justice system.

Actors

• Riz Ahmed as Nasir "Naz" Khan - A college student accused of murder. Ahmed portrayed the character's innocence and despair with remarkable nuance and depth.
• John Turturro as John Stone - A low-rent defense lawyer who takes up Naz's case. Turturro, playing a character originally meant for James Gandolfini, added several layers of depth, humanity, and idiosyncrasy to the character.
• Michael Kenneth Williams as Freddy Knight - An influential inmate who befriends Naz. Williams gave a compelling and intense performance as an incarcerated mentor.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series was intended as a stand-alone miniseries until its enormous success led HBO to consider the idea of a second season.
• James Gandolfini was originally set to play John Stone but passed away in 2013. Robert De Niro was briefly attached to the role before it finally went to John Turturro.
• The eczema subplot involving John Turturro's character was not in the original British series but was added as an element to deepen his character.

Awards

The Night Of received positive reviews from critics and was nominated for several awards. Most notably, Riz Ahmed won the 2017 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie, making him the first Asian and the first Muslim to win in this category. The series was also nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Miniseries or Television Film, among other nominations.

Quotes

• "A good lawyer can make a good man seem guilty; a great lawyer can make a guilty man seem innocent." - John Stone
• "It's not the drugs that make a drug addict—it's the need to escape reality." - Nasir 'Naz' Khan
• "You're a witness. We're not like them. We're the watchers. We remind them of the price of going unwatched." - Freddy Knight

Music, Soundtrack

• The series features an eerie and atmospheric score composed by Jeff Russo, adding to the suspenseful tone of the narrative.
• Music from artists like Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds and Alabama Shakes can be heard throughout the series, offering a diverse and eclectic soundtrack that complements the show's dark tones.