I was skeptical before watching this episode that series might get slow, last two episodes were good but nothing major happened with the story there. I think this was as good as the 1st episode if not better. I hope good episodes like this one come along often. Only thing bad about it, is that we have to wait 1 week for the next episode. From start till the end the episode had something to keep me invested in watching it full in one go, and i don't think the ending of the episode would disappoint anyone, in fact, this is why we love HBO. this reminds me of true detective season 1. i want this series to be as good as true detective. A highly recommended show if you haven't started yet.
3 Reviews
Bringing Out the Beast in Naz
lavatch2 July 2017
Warning: Spoilers
As episode five, "The Season of the Witch" deserves a better title, such as "Bringing Out the Beast in Naz."
The program attempts to demonstrate how Naz has been corrupted by prison life, as apparent especially in his brutal beating of the prisoner who poured a chemical on his arm. Many viewers may find it difficult to believe in the transformation of this mild-mannered young man?
Or is he really that mild-mannered?
In the course of a prison visit from Stone and Chandra, it is clear that Naz was not forthcoming about the ingestion of drugs on the night of the murder. He may have even taken a pill to counteract the effects of Miss Cornish's amphetamine tablet.
More still: Naz is seen in action working as "mule" for Freddie in bodily transporting cocaine in sealed capsules. During visiting hours, Petey is handed the tablets from his mother and passes them off to Naz, who swallows them during his conversation with Stone and Chandra. But did Naz consume three or four of the capsules?
A new name also emerges in this episode: Duane Reade. Stone discovers that Trevor was lying about his meeting with Miss Cornish and Naz, withholding the information about his friend, Duane Reade. When Stone tracks down Reade and claims to be Trevor's lawyer, Reade scampers off. Stone stupidly gives chase, only to discover someone hanged in a tawdry New York basement.
The program attempts to demonstrate how Naz has been corrupted by prison life, as apparent especially in his brutal beating of the prisoner who poured a chemical on his arm. Many viewers may find it difficult to believe in the transformation of this mild-mannered young man?
Or is he really that mild-mannered?
In the course of a prison visit from Stone and Chandra, it is clear that Naz was not forthcoming about the ingestion of drugs on the night of the murder. He may have even taken a pill to counteract the effects of Miss Cornish's amphetamine tablet.
More still: Naz is seen in action working as "mule" for Freddie in bodily transporting cocaine in sealed capsules. During visiting hours, Petey is handed the tablets from his mother and passes them off to Naz, who swallows them during his conversation with Stone and Chandra. But did Naz consume three or four of the capsules?
A new name also emerges in this episode: Duane Reade. Stone discovers that Trevor was lying about his meeting with Miss Cornish and Naz, withholding the information about his friend, Duane Reade. When Stone tracks down Reade and claims to be Trevor's lawyer, Reade scampers off. Stone stupidly gives chase, only to discover someone hanged in a tawdry New York basement.
Naz is in it neck deep, as he becomes fully indoctrinated into Freddy's life. And the case continues to mount against him. Stone and Chandra discover a second witness.
jedly31 August 2016
Warning: Spoilers
THE NIGHT OF, Episode 5, SEASON OF THE WITCH (2016) has Naz completely under Freddy's protection. Naz now has his own "suite" next to Freddy, which over looks the sleeping area of some of the other inmates. Freddy even has Calvin beat up for him, and allows Naz to continue to hit him after Calvin calls him a name.. Naz also has a violent temper, and is stopped short of almost killing Calvin. And, to top it off he begins to "bully" some of the other inmates, and he shaves his head. He's gone from naive college student to hardened criminal in a blink of an eye. I get it--I really do. Prison can change a person, but Naz has literally done everything wrong. He isn't listening to the advice of his attorneys. He's become fully indoctrinated into prison culture.
I realize I'm in the minority with this, but this show is really starting to hit some major problems for me, and it isn't with Naz's behavior. It's with the storytelling itself. Rikers Island is a maximum security prison, yet they have this open living space with cots lined next to one another. Not many of the prisoners are locked up, regardless of whatever crime they've committed. This actually allowed Naz to be attacked twice. It feels like the male version of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, even though the fictional Litchfield Prison is minimum security.
As payment for Freddy's protection, Naz is instructed to help another inmate, Petey (Aaron Moten) smuggle in drugs. Petey's mother will give Petey the drugs, and Petey will hand them off to Naz. Petey's mother has hidden the drugs up her vagina. Now, I think this is the scene I have the most issues with.
Petey's mother, in full view of thirty or forty prisoners, guards, lawyers, family members, etc is literally pulling the drugs out from inside her. Petey somewhat discretely hands them to Naz who in full view of Stone and Chandra swallows the small bags, right after they inform him the the toxic screen found amphetamines in his system.
The big question, however, is how did Freddy become Emperor of Rikers Island? Everyone, including the guards are subservient to him. He "gifts" new solo "suite" to Naz. Naz isn't put there as punishment, it was a gift. Freddy, at least during Naz's tenure at Rikers Island has brutally assaulted two prisoners, which goes unnoticed by the guards. I thought this was maximum security. Where is everyone? What am I missing here?
The stand out, at least for me, still remains John Stone. I'm finding his plight with eczema, his social relationship with a hooker, his relationship with his high school age son, and his of adoption of Andrea's cat (he's allergic) more gripping. He continues to investigate the case; questioning some of Andrea's friends at her funeral, getting hired by Chandra for $30,000, taking her under his wing in almost a fatherly manner, and even tracking down a second witness, Duane Reade (Charles Hudson III), who Stone loses in a foot chase. Yes, the character's name really is Duane Reade. It isn't an alias.
I love the actual film making of this show. The cinematography, editing, score, and acting are all amazing, but the story, unless I'm really not getting it, is kind of weak. I'll take flack for that, but it's just my opinion after all.
I realize I'm in the minority with this, but this show is really starting to hit some major problems for me, and it isn't with Naz's behavior. It's with the storytelling itself. Rikers Island is a maximum security prison, yet they have this open living space with cots lined next to one another. Not many of the prisoners are locked up, regardless of whatever crime they've committed. This actually allowed Naz to be attacked twice. It feels like the male version of ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK, even though the fictional Litchfield Prison is minimum security.
As payment for Freddy's protection, Naz is instructed to help another inmate, Petey (Aaron Moten) smuggle in drugs. Petey's mother will give Petey the drugs, and Petey will hand them off to Naz. Petey's mother has hidden the drugs up her vagina. Now, I think this is the scene I have the most issues with.
Petey's mother, in full view of thirty or forty prisoners, guards, lawyers, family members, etc is literally pulling the drugs out from inside her. Petey somewhat discretely hands them to Naz who in full view of Stone and Chandra swallows the small bags, right after they inform him the the toxic screen found amphetamines in his system.
The big question, however, is how did Freddy become Emperor of Rikers Island? Everyone, including the guards are subservient to him. He "gifts" new solo "suite" to Naz. Naz isn't put there as punishment, it was a gift. Freddy, at least during Naz's tenure at Rikers Island has brutally assaulted two prisoners, which goes unnoticed by the guards. I thought this was maximum security. Where is everyone? What am I missing here?
The stand out, at least for me, still remains John Stone. I'm finding his plight with eczema, his social relationship with a hooker, his relationship with his high school age son, and his of adoption of Andrea's cat (he's allergic) more gripping. He continues to investigate the case; questioning some of Andrea's friends at her funeral, getting hired by Chandra for $30,000, taking her under his wing in almost a fatherly manner, and even tracking down a second witness, Duane Reade (Charles Hudson III), who Stone loses in a foot chase. Yes, the character's name really is Duane Reade. It isn't an alias.
I love the actual film making of this show. The cinematography, editing, score, and acting are all amazing, but the story, unless I'm really not getting it, is kind of weak. I'll take flack for that, but it's just my opinion after all.
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