I Am the Night Review: Phenomenon of Interference (Season 1 Episode 2)
Secrets are in the air on I Am the Night Season 1 Episode 2, “Phenomenon of Interference,” as detours for both Jay Singletary (Chris Pine) and Fauna Hodel (India Eisley) bring them to truths they did not expect.
The episode’s focus on a more methodical build toward connecting both Jay’s narrative and Fauna’s narrative brings things to a slow build. The show isn’t quite ready to have them connect just yet, leaving Jay’s racing around the country club at the end looking for Fauna a little bit anticlimactic.
“Phenomenon of Interference” at least feels like everything is connected, in some form or fashion. The previous episode, I Am the Night Season 1 Episode 1 “Pilot,” did not have such a luxury until its very last moments.
The introduction of Corinna brings some steam to the episode, as does the country club moment of realization. It’s in the interactions of these lost souls where the show finds its strength, where Fauna just wants to belong, and Jay wants to be more than nothing again. But everything is against them.
Jay’s interaction with an old flame in his apartment is a great window into his past. The idea of Jay being nearly on top of the world, and it all falls apart under the Hodel reporting and drug abuse, is a fascinating angle for the character, a driving force for him to push himself back up.
A lot of this is in subtext, little dialogue choices and insinuation, and is all the better for it. It’s tied up among Jay’s obsession with the George Hodel situation, and parses out as it smartly continues the story.
Pine continues from the pilot bringing an energy of near-breakdown upon Jay, where his performance is one step away from a meltdown.
Fauna’s story is a lot of false starts until the episode gets to her step-grandmother. It’s in service of giving her more character, which is welcome but does take some time to get where it’s going.
The addition of Connie Nielsen to the cast as Corinna Hodel (“Huntington,” she is quick to correct) helps breathe some new, fancy life into the episode. Corinna is an obscure and difficult character to pin down, doing her best to move on from the past Fauna so desperately wants to learn about.
Nielsen plays Corinna with a regal air of importance, but with a hint of hermit tendency, never answering the doorbell and her dislike of Fauna being only a few feet out of the living room. Her rudeness growing in severity the longer she spends time with Fauna is as though she sees more and more of Fauna’s mother in her… or she simply likes being mean.
It can be hard to parse what is a lie and what is truth in Corinna’s litany of forced confessions, every piece of information like pulling teeth. It all leaves Fauna even more lost, India Eisley playing the frustration with expertise.
One fun aspect of the show so far is how Jay comes into information in a roundabout way. It’s usually on another job, or in passing, or by total chance, where he comes to the big key piece of information (like in the end of the episode, with the convent and the nuns being a huge clue to George Hodel and his daughter, Tamar).
Reveals happen almost in spite of character’s choices, as though they unfold to them rather than because of them. Fauna finding George Hodel (Jefferson Mays) and the man who follows her (Dylan Smith) at the country club is another instance, where it can be difficult to ascertain if this was by chance or a choice.
The moment George and Fauna lock eyes, such a simple little moment, is incredibly tense, a short beat of recognition holding a huge weight of impact.
Corinna wears a black veil when Fauna finds her running from the moment, as though she is at a funeral. She mentions to Fauna that George’s art is displayed at the club, but did she know he would be there with the other man? She looks ready for a death in this instance, a very striking image.
“Phenomenon of Interference” is a strong second episode, even if a little held back by being too slow. There’s enough around taking its time where the episode manages to remain gripping, like its predecessor.
Some stray thoughts:
- This is the second of the Patty Jenkins directed episodes, and her eyes for detail and wonderful photography of each scene elevates the work.
- Jay has a real knack for blowing many of his promises in strange ways. It’s a strangely endearing character trait.
What did you think of this episode of I Am the Night? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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I Am the Night airs Mondays at 9/8c on TNT.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.