I Am the Night Review: Queen’s Gambit, Accepted (Season 1 Episode 6)
George Hodel finally reveals himself on I Am the Night Season 1 Episode 6, “Queen’s Gambit, Accepted.”
Fits and starts plagued George into being more a boogeyman than a central character in I Am the Night, but now, we get to see him and all his nightmarish behavior as clear as day.
His treatment of Fauna once she is in his grasp makes you wonder if this is how he treated Tamar. Intimidation and pseudo-intellectualism are his weapons, trying to use privilege and masculinity to dominate and spread fear.
The way Jefferson Mays watches Fauna, her every move, her every decision, makes his performance deeply fascinating. George studies her like she is an enigma to him; or perhaps he studies her like he observes prey.
George Hodel’s home gets a larger spotlight, an incredibly unique architectural design. The layered ceiling, the massive windows, the large, open design; the house gives pieces of the finale a visually interesting locale to show off as the madness occurs.
One particular shot of George polishing his shoes while the large window outside shows a huge plume of black smoke rising from the riots nearby, is gorgeous.
Jay’s big plan, of killing George and confessing to the murder from I Am the Night Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot,” is a bit far-fetched for his last-ditch effort to save Fauna and to make ends meet. So many factors have to go right in order for such a plan to work.
His plan does lead to more unhinged Chris Pine, which is always welcome. He plays Jay Singletary as so desperate to right the wrongs of his past, to do the right thing.
When he is unable to do so, his fit of uncontrollable rage is something I did not know Pine has in in. The role gives Pine a side some of his films have not given him the chance for yet.
Fauna saving herself is such a great way to end the series. She has spent so much of the season in the back seat, others effectively making the decisions for her. Her ability to fight back and protect herself is such an important thing for the show to do.
She has grown into her own. Fauna is no longer naive and pushed around, and sees the world far different from at the very start. It takes a horrible situation for Fauna to rely on herself and herself alone, but it is done in such an empowering way.
The sequence in George Hodel’s basement may have been a little too on the nose. His operation room and painting area connected by a thin curtain comes off as more a clumsy metaphor than horrific scene. The tension, however, is palpable in the scene, and so it is a small slight.
The raw anger India Eisley holds in that scene, reducing George Hodel to a small, defeated man, is powerful, and her fierce performance in the scene is so wonderful. The show may have missed opportunities with Fauna as a character, but there are moments of brilliance in Eisley’s performance, like this one.
To end the show with Jay watching the sunset, while Fauna sees the sunrise, is a really interesting visual note. While his adventure comes to a close, in hiding, Fauna’s is just beginning. The sunrise and sunset is a good visual message to show how different their lives are from now on.
I Am the Night ends with some convoluted story choices, but when the finale focuses in on Fauna and George, it shines through the rest.
The season ends with some beautiful performances, particularly from Eisley, and settles the limited series into one of the more surprising shows of 2019 so far.
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.