The Night Of

:

Season 1
  • Network: HBO
  • Series Premiere Date: Jul 10, 2016
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
8.8

Universal acclaim- based on 522 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 478 out of 522
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 522
  3. Negative: 22 out of 522
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User Reviews

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  1. LamontRaymond
    Jul 10, 2016
    10
    After the 90-minute opening episode, I'd say we're off to a damned good start! I'm a big fan of the TOP quality cop shows from the past 20 - 30 years (Homicide: LOTS, The Wire, The Shield - in no particular order), and it feels like this series will take it's proper place among them. The acting is top notch (the kid, Turturro, the lead homicide detective, the witness who saw the coupleAfter the 90-minute opening episode, I'd say we're off to a damned good start! I'm a big fan of the TOP quality cop shows from the past 20 - 30 years (Homicide: LOTS, The Wire, The Shield - in no particular order), and it feels like this series will take it's proper place among them. The acting is top notch (the kid, Turturro, the lead homicide detective, the witness who saw the couple enter the building - also from The Wire), and it's dripping with authenticity. I'll make sure to revise my score if it ever wavers, but I can't see it happening. I can see the makers of True Detective Season 2 just cryinging themselve to sleep tonight. Yes, THIS is good real crime noir. Not that garbage.… Expand
  2. richardrad
    Aug 30, 2016
    10
    Intense and splendid with great acting, this series has a deep appreciation, even love for New York. Yes, it is dark and the subject matter is difficult. It is hard not feel angry about the poor and often haphazard state of the criminal justice system. But parts are entertaining: the music is splendid and the quirky moments give viewers a needed respite from moments of despair. Great television.
  3. Zlatan
    Jul 11, 2016
    10
    Nothing to say than amazing. The acting, atmosphere all top notch. It is a shame that this ends in 7 episodes. It has a real potential to continue with more different cases!?....
  4. pkd
    Sep 22, 2016
    10
    I'm reviewing the series as a whole - a story told in the 8 parts. And it's fabulous. The top of the pops.
    it has a cathartic effect - that which squeezes your heart when you realize a great story just been told here about... you.
    The characters, apart from being played in an extraordinary fashion by ALL actors (they should all get the Emmy together), are so interesting and non-cliche,    I'm reviewing the series as a whole - a story told in the 8 parts. And it's fabulous. The top of the pops.
    it has a cathartic effect - that which squeezes your heart when you realize a great story just been told here about... you.
    The characters, apart from being played in an extraordinary fashion by ALL actors (they should all get the Emmy together), are so interesting and non-cliche, no one is totally bad, no one is totally good, they all make mistakes, they all regret and carry on, they all have a cross to carry. It's a story to tell and it will not be easily forgotten. So - well done!    … Expand
  5. shellview
    Jul 15, 2016
    10
    This is what great TV is all about. Brilliant. The first episode (pilot) allows the viewer to get to know the characters without muddying the water. Too many police dramas throw so much at us that we end up scratching our heads. In passing we see the limo driver and the second eyewitness who disappears while we get to know in depth Box and Naz. Too bad it is only seven episodes butThis is what great TV is all about. Brilliant. The first episode (pilot) allows the viewer to get to know the characters without muddying the water. Too many police dramas throw so much at us that we end up scratching our heads. In passing we see the limo driver and the second eyewitness who disappears while we get to know in depth Box and Naz. Too bad it is only seven episodes but when it is over I will watch the original from the UK which is also suppose to be terrific.… Expand
  6. Gwyndolin
    Aug 29, 2016
    10
    A great show all-around, with a fantastic finale.
    Acting was spot on, the script was intelligent, pacing of the story was steady and each episode was littered with interesting details.
  7. katezoe
    Aug 1, 2016
    10
    The best show of the summer season! Stupendous acting by the entire cast. A thriller, murder mystery and court room drama all rolled into one great show.
  8. TheZeroPercent
    Sep 15, 2016
    10
    WOW!!! Be careful! This one will steal 8 hours right from under you!!!

    I am no master of cinematography, so I am not exactly sure how to explain a piece of cinema that is so damned good!! My mind is blow, this one is as good as it gets baby! Pure gold!
  9. FleshWorld
    Jul 14, 2016
    10
    Heady stuff. Huge props to the director - there's nary a movie in theaters these days that can compete with this level of drama. It's a "For Dummies" treatise for lay-people in criminal procedure. I'm loving this.
  10. Orudomonki
    Aug 15, 2016
    10
    This show right here people, is getting killing me with pain, but it's that sweet pain. The way this story is told is perfect, I'm hooked at it for every minute of the run time. The way of telling is at the level of The Wire and Breaking Bad, and I can't wait to see how this concludes.
  11. Paulo_Jorge
    Jul 10, 2016
    10
    Where do I begin with? That's the best pilot that I've ever seen since True Detective's pilot, such a masterpiece driven story of a mysterious homicide which places even the spectator who has seen what actually happened in a doubting position, but upon this amazing storytelling comes some great acting, some actors that I've never seen before were just acting the **** out of this pilot,Where do I begin with? That's the best pilot that I've ever seen since True Detective's pilot, such a masterpiece driven story of a mysterious homicide which places even the spectator who has seen what actually happened in a doubting position, but upon this amazing storytelling comes some great acting, some actors that I've never seen before were just acting the **** out of this pilot, like Riz Ahmed for an example. And for those that I've already known, John Turturro's character seems to have a great connection with Naz (Riz Ahmed), and as a bonus, I've never seen Sofia Black being so convincing.

    Overall, it doesn't take itself as serious as True Detective did and indeed The Night Of comes from a quite different vibe comparing to it, showing the crime from a different perspective and creating a great thriller with it, so again, great acting, great plot, great storytelling and great cinematography, that's a perfect pilot.    … Expand
  12. vanhuizum
    Aug 29, 2016
    10
    Amazing edge of your seat crime drama with incredible cast. A must watch! The story will keep you guessing to the end and the actors are top notch. Simply wonderful!
  13. PoeticDumpling
    Jul 17, 2016
    10
    Solid. The cast, cinematography, story, everything is solid. I am excited to see how this mystery unfolds. The characters are excellent. Looking forward to peeling back the layers episode by episode.
  14. mark_sf
    Aug 14, 2016
    10
    Another fabulous show from HBO, from what I've seen through episode 5. Hardly a weak link here. The cast is all around incredible, and the story telling is of a very rare quality. I expect this show to earn many awards.
  15. LatinCritic13
    Jul 15, 2016
    10
    If you like crime dramas that doesn't flop too much than CBS' underwhelming borefest crime shows like Blue Bloods or Scorpion, and etc, watch this show instead. Everything about this show is so gripping that it matches the depths of The Wire. When you watch it, it really feels like you're watching the third season of True Detective or a spin-off of The Wire but with different showrunnersIf you like crime dramas that doesn't flop too much than CBS' underwhelming borefest crime shows like Blue Bloods or Scorpion, and etc, watch this show instead. Everything about this show is so gripping that it matches the depths of The Wire. When you watch it, it really feels like you're watching the third season of True Detective or a spin-off of The Wire but with different showrunners and crew running this fantastic mini-series. And there's the best part about this show, the sociology, the performances, the cinematography, the sociology, and the nature of this show is truly immersive to binge on and trust me, you're not gonna be disappointed!!!… Expand
  16. yass
    Jul 29, 2016
    10
    Defenitely the most exciting show of the summer. Everyhting you need is in there: drama, suspense and characters who can act. Looking forward for what's next
  17. kxng
    Aug 30, 2016
    10
    'The Night Of' is a masterpiece. The pilot was breathtaking and it only got better from there on out. First off, this show is not about solving a murder, it's about the corruption of the criminal justice system and showing us how people can change put in certain situations. The character development of Naz is the best I've seen since Walter White on Breaking Bad. John Turturro who played'The Night Of' is a masterpiece. The pilot was breathtaking and it only got better from there on out. First off, this show is not about solving a murder, it's about the corruption of the criminal justice system and showing us how people can change put in certain situations. The character development of Naz is the best I've seen since Walter White on Breaking Bad. John Turturro who played John Stone deserves every award possible for his performance, his closing statement was one of the greatest scenes in the show. While the murder was an interesting and intricate part of the story, the underlying messages about racism, the corrupt justice system, what life in prison is really like and how it changes even the (slightly) most innocent of us, is what really shines in this show. It's quite simply a story everyone should watch and take in. Wonderful acting, phenomenal writing, amazing show.. one of my favorite seasons of television.… Expand
  18. Nicholash6321
    Sep 29, 2016
    10
    An enthralling and disturbingly realistic insight into the permeating effects on an emotional, cultural and psychological level of the criminal justice system.
  19. doctor_awesome
    Aug 6, 2016
    10
    I was somewhat skeptical of this show for the first 15 minutes of the lengthy first episode, maybe I was just in a bad mood, but it felt like an overblown "Law & Order" setup with generic TV characters I couldn't care about in some contrived hot-button social commentary story. That all changed rapidly because the story is just told in a compelling way, the characters get more interestingI was somewhat skeptical of this show for the first 15 minutes of the lengthy first episode, maybe I was just in a bad mood, but it felt like an overblown "Law & Order" setup with generic TV characters I couldn't care about in some contrived hot-button social commentary story. That all changed rapidly because the story is just told in a compelling way, the characters get more interesting (even if they start in somewhat cliche places) and what you're seeing is realistic in way, yet also insane and quite weird without being ridiculous.

    The episodes largely have a hard boiled realism feel to them, yet there's a lot of entertainment as well. Even though a lot of the decisions suggest there are some social commentary undertones, nothing is heavy handed yet. Mostly it's just a pretty cool mystery story that has you coming up with theories and thinking about possible angles, or just wondering what could possibly happen next.

    Even more rewarding, several of the obvious theories suggested in the first episode get explored in tantalizing ways in later episodes, this one is definitely a blast to watch. I haven't been this excited about a TV show in quite a while. Most obviously, if you liked "The Wire" then I think you're pretty much guaranteed to like "The Night Of". But I think anyone who likes cop shows on TV will probably enjoy this, this is kind of the story I always hoped to experience when I turned on that kind of show 20 years ago.    … Expand
  20. drambuie_
    Oct 28, 2016
    10
    i love this show!! it wasnt that much about the script , i mean there were not so great plot twists or suspense or even yet a powerful finale that we all needed . BUT the characters..! Oh the lawyer ! He was built piece to piece so carefully, so gently i could see his soul i could feel him anytime.He touched me. And that goes along with the great director i think who made us see everyi love this show!! it wasnt that much about the script , i mean there were not so great plot twists or suspense or even yet a powerful finale that we all needed . BUT the characters..! Oh the lawyer ! He was built piece to piece so carefully, so gently i could see his soul i could feel him anytime.He touched me. And that goes along with the great director i think who made us see every little detail of this character and of every character (the struggle and the fall of the main actor) . Hands down BEST characters development and BEST direction in a TV show. .… Expand
  21. Kar_Rwen
    Jul 25, 2016
    10
    All I can say is wow. I was blown away by the first episode. It was exciting, the plot so suspenseful and the characters are so complex and compelling. Such a great example of good television that will last the ages.
  22. NihadBOSna
    Dec 2, 2016
    10
    Damn this has been good show.I just loved it, loved the dark side of the series...seeing how prison can change people forever,how someone innocent can be punished. Definitely one of the best series of this year
  23. thedarkbird
    Jul 28, 2016
    10
    This series can be seen as an extension of The Wire. Where The Wire was a sociological analyses of the condition of police and black people in Baltimore, The Night Of is a - frightening - analyses of the US legal system from the point of an individual caught up in it.

    The plot in the pilot is rather predictable, but that's not the point here. The point is to show how the legal system    This series can be seen as an extension of The Wire. Where The Wire was a sociological analyses of the condition of police and black people in Baltimore, The Night Of is a - frightening - analyses of the US legal system from the point of an individual caught up in it.

    The plot in the pilot is rather predictable, but that's not the point here. The point is to show how the legal system works and this series does that like no other series has done before. Obviously it's not a pretty picture: it's dark, it's gritty, it's inhumane, it's vicious, it's a journey of hitting a brick wall, it's being inside a relentless machine.

    The acting is superb, the camera work is superb, the soundtrack is superb, the world it shows is hard to watch. This series is not entertainment, it's education. A wakeup call. And you should watch this if you even have the slightest interest in how our society works.

    If you liked the Wire you will love this, even though there's nothing much to love in the world you'll see.

    Obviously this is not for Michael Bay-fans. If you're looking for cheap popcorn entertainment you better skip to Batman vs Superman and live your life happily everafter.    … Expand
  24. MartinG
    Aug 5, 2016
    10
    So far, this is the strongest tv series of the summer. Brilliantly written, stylishly directed and with very strong acting, it's intense, captivating and engrossing. I love the attention to the details.
  25. aymenbenhalima
    Aug 4, 2016
    10
    my words can't describe this amazing show a brilliant cast .interesting story it is like a combination between True Detective and The Wire . i have to admitted HBO is the king of TV
  26. RebeccaLee
    Aug 8, 2016
    10
    I love HBO and this show is the reason I pay 15$ for HBOnow. Because they take incredible screenplays with incredible casts. It's another cops and bad guys show, BUT it has some slick cinematography and clever script. Its gritty and plays like a killer documentary. I love this show, my new favorite on HBO and it eases the pain fo GOT ending. Watch it, it's slow but its gorgeous.
  27. julieaanderson
    Aug 10, 2016
    10
    The characters and the acting are totally compelling. Every character is nuanced. I find myself wondering how closely will this follow The Call of the Wild? Is Naz going to have a fight with Freddie
    (like Spitz?)
  28. TVBug
    Aug 29, 2016
    10
    I can't remember a time when I've encountered such beautiful, brilliant, poignant story telling in a tv series. This is a masterpiece. I'd give it 20 if I could.
  29. Sepehr_Ai
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    When I finished watching the whole series I was mesmerized By the realistic picture that the series rendered.The Show is great because it questions justice.Just Be careful ,this series is not something that everyone will be a fond of.It is definitely one of the bests in justice realm.
  30. freshtalent
    Oct 1, 2016
    10
    Hard for me to understand a mixed or negative review on this show. I know not every genre is for everyone, but this really a great drama.

    You feel for and against just about every major character. Suspenseful, enlightening, sad, often feeling realistic. I've never gone to jail, and I'm sure some parts are exaggerated, but other parts are dealer than I would ever be able to understand.    Hard for me to understand a mixed or negative review on this show. I know not every genre is for everyone, but this really a great drama.

    You feel for and against just about every major character. Suspenseful, enlightening, sad, often feeling realistic. I've never gone to jail, and I'm sure some parts are exaggerated, but other parts are dealer than I would ever be able to understand.

    Wish there was more. Strong directorial debut for this uber writer.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

5
#5 Best TV Season of 2016
14
#14 Most Discussed TV Season of 2016
21
#21 Most Shared TV Season of 2016

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
90

Universal acclaim - based on 40 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 40
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 40
  3. Negative: 0 out of 40
  1. The Lincoln Journal Star
    Reviewed by: Jeff Korbelik
    Jul 11, 2016
    100
    The wide-eyed Ahmed is perfect as the naive young man who can’t seem to make a right decision. That is until he agrees to let Turturro’s Jack Stone help him. And Turturro hits the right notes as the cynical attorney who has his work cut out for him.
    Read full review
  2. The Daily Beast
    Reviewed by: Marlow Stern
    Jul 11, 2016
    90
    Though its title screams Christmas flick, HBO’s absorbing new miniseries is a pitch-black procedural that combines the system-is-broken outrage of Making a Murderer, the menacing atmosphere of Oz, and the shameless topicality and plot twists of Law & Order: SVU. And the first of its eight hour-long chapters plays like an elegant, extended version of the first three minutes of SVU.
    Read full review
  3. Newark Star-Ledger
    Reviewed by: Vicki Hyman
    Jul 11, 2016
    100
    How Naz's religion (he's the American-born son of Pakistani immigrants) becomes a factor in the case is a natural part of the narrative but never feels like a polemic--The Night Of is too subtle for that. Its brilliance is in the way, thanks to the moody, unrushed direction and pointed, spare dialogue, everything feels freighted with meaning.
    Read full review
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