The Staircase Review: Seek and Ye Shall (Season 1 Episode 7)

On The Staircase Season 1 Episode 7, “Seek and Ye Shall,” we delve into the all too familiar world of conspiracy theories and Michael’s case is opened for a retrial. 

There is a lot going on in this episode, but not in a bad way. In fact, it’s thrilling.

There’s a lot of plot development in each timeline, something that has been sorely lacking in previous episodes.

The 2017 storyline never felt like it was going anywhere, and the flashbacks were often short and felt unnecessary. Here we get a hefty dose of every timeline that has been introduced. 

That being said, since there is so much going on, it might be easier to talk about it in parts. 

We open with Michael talking to Rudolf, who wants him to take an Alford plea. The deal will make him a free man, the only catch is he’d have to admit that he killed Kathleen — something he is adamant he does not want to do.

However, it’s soon revealed through his legal team that test results are missing, opening a possibility for a vote of misconduct. 

This could easily be something just mentioned and heard about in passing, but it’s tackled in-depth here, which is wonderful. This also brings back a fan-favorite character in Freda Black, who we haven’t seen since The Staircase Season 1 Episode 4, “Common Sense”. 

Evelyn Ivins learns that the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation withheld information and evidence in multiple other trials, resulting in many a wrongful sentence. 

Due to this bombshell, there is speculation that the same could be true for Michael’s case, leaving us with a cliffhanger as he and his family await a retrial. 

Now, I do have one small qualm with this storyline, and it’s simply that it should have been introduced in an earlier episode. There is only one more episode after this one, and with this being such a big revelation in the case, we need more time with it. 

There isn’t a lot of time spent in the actual trial, and I fear the same will be true for the retrial. 

As good as I think this show is, the time management in some episodes is off. With some stretching over an hour-long, there’s plenty that could be added and touched on, but it’s often wasted on filler and unimportant plot points that don’t add much in the long run. 

I have faith in the series closing on a solid and satisfying note, but I’d be lying if I said I’m not a little apprehensive going in. 

Our next storyline takes us back to 2010, which starts off lighthearted as Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” blares over a car’s speakers.

Sophie wondering if maybe Michael isn’t as innocent as she thought is something I’ve been expecting to happen since she first started showing interest in Michael. No matter if Michael is innocent or not, being wrapped up in such a high-profile, messy case, is bound to have a serious emotional impact. 

Juliette Binoche does a phenomenal job of portraying Sophie as she tearfully tells Michael that she isn’t and can never be Kathleen. 

With how steady and pleasant their relationship has been in recent episodes, this scene is jarring. But it juxtaposes greatly with a chilling flashback days before Kathleen’s death. 

The flashbacks during this episode are brilliant and build Kathleen’s character in a big way. 

Kathleen could very simply be a tertiary character, and she has been in other adaptations of the case, but I love what The Staircase does here. The show fleshes her out and helps you get to know her, something that is important in a true-crime series. 

So often victims are talked about in such a cold and detached way, and doing so often makes the documentary or adaption feel robotic and near exploitative — like it’s purely for entertainment value. 

You’re supposed to feel uncomfortable listening to these stories, they’re not happy or cheery, and that’s conveyed really well in Kathleen’s character. 

We spend a lot of time with her on this episode. We see her Christmas shopping, we see her and Michael attend a party, and we also see her job and savings begin to crumble around her. It’s heartbreaking to watch as her facade fades and she lets out her true, raw emotions. 

The hints have been there that Kathleen isn’t fairing well, most evident on The Staircase Season 1 Episode 6, “Red in Tooth and Claw,” but it’s here where she fully cracks, finally confronting Michael on multiple counts.

When they return home, Michael sits in the car to cool down after their argument, and makes a gun with his finger, pointing it towards the house, where Kathleen is. Scored by swelling classical music and knowing the scene takes place only days before her death, all lead to the scene feeling especially eerie and dark. 

Is this a hint at Michael’s involvement in Kathleen’s death? It certainly seems plausible, though we likely won’t find out until The Staircase Season 1 Episode 8, “America’s Sweethearts.”

There’s still so much to unpack in this case, and I’m anxious to see how the series finishes out. 

What did you think of this episode of The Staircase? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Staircase airs Thursdays on HBO Max.

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