The Staircase

:

Season 1
User Score
7.2

Generally favorable reviews- based on 20 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 20
  3. Negative: 3 out of 20
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User Reviews

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  1. truerock
    Jul 19, 2018
    6
    I watched The Thin Blue Line in 1988. The originality of that film and the invention of that type of docu-drama struck me as very important work. I've watched several documentaries about The Thin Blue Line. I think it is something everyone should be familiar with.

    Subsequent to that experience I have attempted many times to watch various forms of reality-film/TV - and, I can't do it.    I watched The Thin Blue Line in 1988. The originality of that film and the invention of that type of docu-drama struck me as very important work. I've watched several documentaries about The Thin Blue Line. I think it is something everyone should be familiar with.

    Subsequent to that experience I have attempted many times to watch various forms of reality-film/TV - and, I can't do it. I become incredibly bored after watching a few minutes of any (and I mean every) reality film (or TV series). I know many people enjoy the genre and I make no judgements regarding them. I do watch a few minutes of very important reality film to stay abreast of current popular culture - but, it is very unenjoyable work for me.

    I saw that The Staircase had a Metascore of 98 and I felt I owed it to myself to give a reality-docu-drama another try... at least one scored so highly by so many knowledgeable individuals.

    I am up to episode 9 and I am bored out of my friggin mind. I am in actual mental pain as I watch this film series. I will watch all 13 episodes - but, this is the last reality film I will ever watch in entirety.
    *************************
    So, it's been a couple of days. A forced myself to watch the remaining 4 episodes of The Staircase. I did see some redeeming value by the time the 13 episodes completed. There were some important viewpoints regarding the American justice system that were made. So, I'm going to raise my rating from 3 to 6. If you are somewhat uninformed about the American criminal justice system works - then, perhaps you would like to see The Staircase.

    So - assuming that 99% of Americans have watched at least a couple of episodes of the TV series "Law & Order" - how do they compare?

    The Staircase is "reality TV" and therefore has normal, real people as the primary characters and they are therefore not as interesting as professional, charismatic Hollywood quality actors. Just how uninteresting are these normal-reality characters? To, me I would avoid any of them at a standup social event. I would go to the bathroom if that's what I had to do to keep from getting trapped into a conversation with them. They are very nice normal people who no one would want to listen to for 10 hours. And to me - that's the problem with reality TV and The Staircase.

    OK - how about the social issues addressed in The Staircase versus a typical Law&Order episode. Here, somehow - I think The Staircase is superior. Granted The Staircase took 13 episodes to make its point and that verbosity gives it an edge over 1 episode of Law&Order. Law&Order is a fairly smart show - somewhat geared more to individuals who might think a little as they watch... yet, there is something - somehow dumbed-down to standard-TV level of thinking about Law&Order. Somehow, The Staircase gives you more to think about.

    And now I'm going to go way out of the box and I'm going to say something outrageous - and probably lose any credibility...

    I suggest that the social issues raised in the Staircase are more important - especially in today's American justice system - than those raised in the movies To Kill a Mockingbird and Twelve Angry Men. Perhaps this is why the professional reviews metacritic score is 98    … Expand
  2. lumivix
    Feb 27, 2019
    5
    I'd heard so much hype about this series, when it showed up on Netflix with extra episodes, I dove right in. So first I will agree with some other criticisms, the pacing is slow, then again, many of us have gotten used to American TV editing which in the 201Xs is very fast and tight. That said, I think it would have been far more gripping if it was half as long. I also noticed that, givenI'd heard so much hype about this series, when it showed up on Netflix with extra episodes, I dove right in. So first I will agree with some other criticisms, the pacing is slow, then again, many of us have gotten used to American TV editing which in the 201Xs is very fast and tight. That said, I think it would have been far more gripping if it was half as long. I also noticed that, given how used to high definition video I'm used to, this show probably seemed extra slow and harder to watch.

    Secondly, I will say the closer I got to the verdict episode, the more I was skipping ahead and once I reached the end of the Verdict episode, I had no desire or intention to watch another FIVE 40+ minute long episodes about the aftermath, I just went straight to wikipedia. I really think maybe Netflix should have edited each episode down to maybe only 30 mins each.

    I do think parts of this series were interesting, and it was very intriguing to see how some (most?) of the family was on Michael's side and only a small number were against him. It was also interesting to see how he was apparently portrayed in the news reports, a stark reminder of how the media can help or hurt someone very easily depending on what spin they choose to go with.

    Is this worth watching? I'd say if you are a fan of true crime type stuff, maybe if you're home sick in bed, or bored on a rainy day it would be worth giving a chance. I would likely not have watched past the first episode (or would have just skipped to the verdict after that) if I hadn't heard such raves about the series. I was underwhelmed. I'm giving it a 5 because it was passably interesting, but I don't really recommend it. I'd say just go read about it on wikipedia.    … Expand

Awards & Rankings

2
#2 Best TV Season of 2004
8
#8 Most Discussed TV Season of 2004
7
#7 Most Shared TV Season of 2004

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Chicago Tribune
    Reviewed by: Maureen Ryan
    Apr 20, 2018
    100
    The documentary keeps adding layers of complexity to the tale until one is entirely hooked by its ambiguities and twists and turns -- and soon, as with a great novel, one can't wait to see what happens next.
  2. USA Today
    Reviewed by: Staff (Not Credited)
    Apr 20, 2018
    100
    The eight-part feature, which aired on the Sundance Channel in 2005, is absolutely gripping and illustrates just how powerful documentary filmmaking can be.
    Read full review
  3. Newsweek
    Reviewed by: Tony Dokoupil
    Apr 20, 2018
    90
    The Staircase is the scariest portrait of criminal justice since the nonfiction film that helped launch the modern innocence movement, Errol Morris’s The Thin Blue Line. It’s scarier, in fact, because The Staircase isn’t based on re-creations but on original footage, a front-row view of legal truth as it’s feathered into existence, manufactured from guesses and conjecture, and sold to a jury as more or less believable fiction.
    Read full review
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