User reviews

Good performance by Firth. The "constantly back and forth narrative" was pointless and even irritating. A lot of scenes had no meaning whatsoever. It should have been 4 episodes, there's way too many pointless minutes.

We enjoyed the mini-series, however it could be hard to follow in places. Why? We've noticed a trend in productions, they just can't be linear, they just have to jump back and forth in time. A little is okay and sometimes you need to do that to flush out the details of the movie, but most movies have so much of it, it feels like the show is just jumping around constantly. And this was no exception. Before her death, just before her death, after her death, the original trial, the 2017 statement, back to the 2011 retrial, then 2017, then just before her death. We were getting sea-sick. I just wish they wouldn't do this in movies all the time, it is so hard on the viewer.

From creator Antonio Campos, HBO's "The Staircase" is an 8-part fictionalized dramatization of real life events based on the tendentious, transparently biased and manipulatively edited MaHa mockumentary from Jean-Xavier de Lestrade -- used by Michael Peterson to promote his fabricated fable featuring his wife, Kathleen, as a reckless woman who got too drunk, fell down the stairs and caused her own death.

Though initially a flat and, at times, fitful recounting of the basic facts covered in MaHa's docuseries, HBO's movie eventually manages to include some revealing and riveting moments behind the scenes of Michael's make-believe world.

While Lestrade left the dead victim on the cutting room floor, Campos' version brings Kathleen to life, examining some of the very real horrors she was facing at work and at home -- and in place of MaHa's one-big-happy fake family, HBO has scenes that hint at the dysfunctional dynamic that was truly at work in Michael's bat-infested mansion.

Of course, also included, much to Monsieur Lestrade's chagrin I'm certain, are scenes highlighting the questionable, curiously close relationships between Michael and MaHa's production team -- most notably, his long-term romantic involvement with Sophie Brunet, the main editor of Michael's movie.

HBO's new drama is good television, but for those who prefer non-fiction -- Michael's murderous machinations were laid bare, years ago, in the definitive book on the Peterson case: Written in Blood by Diane Fanning.

I didn't care for Michael Peterson at all during the actual documentary and didn't care for him in the HBO version but I think Colin Firth's portrayal of him is uncanny! I don't see how any woman could have been attracted to him. I do feel sorry for the people in his life, being so exposed the way they are, particularly given that they weren't given much of a choice to be in the original documentary. It's fairly evident to me that all MP really cared about was/is himself and perhaps he wasn't aware of how the media attention/social media would impact those he allegedly cares about. To me, there was way too much blood for a fall and I tend to think of him as a guilty man.

Let me say I didn't know anything about the real case but now I do. Chilling! Colin Firth';s close ups as Michael Peterson are downright chilling. His discomfort mixed with his arrogance are everpresent and a dislocating humanity that makes this terrific series utterly compelling. Toni Collette, Juliette Binoche, Michael Stuhlbarg and the rest of the cast makes it one of the best TV I've seen in a long time - And I've seen some terrific stuff - Colin Firth that I discovered in "Apartment Zero" continues to surprise and amaze.

Watched four episodes and am done. Too slow and just boring. I really love Toni Collette and Colin Firth, but it's all over the place. I'm just sick of the entire family. I watched the docu-drama on Netflix years ago. Bad situation. He probably did it.

Intrigued by this story as it is based on real characters and thus far after watching 4 episodes have resisted the temptation of googling the real Michael Peterson. Since it is the mystery that is keeping me watching as well as the eye candy that is the former Mr Darcy. In all seriousness - I rate all of the actors that are in this mini series, 4 stars are deducted for the telling of the story through a timeline that is not in chronological order. Which would be fine - if it was made clear which year we were watching, it is sometimes but not always and that's why it is confusing. Put it this way one can't take one's eye away from the screen for too long in case in that second we jump to another year. And I'm not clear if the end of episode 4 is what really happened or what the jury believed happened. It's also taken about 3 episodes to reveal who are the parents of the various children in this blended family. My 6 is perhaps a little generous - its based on the optimism a cracking story will unfold. Yet to find out who Sophie is.

After three episodes, this is shaping up to be a fabulous story, it is true, yet ambiguous enough to carry tension and suspense. The cast is magnificent with strong headliners and a depth unusually strong for TV.

The pacing is good, though the heavy use of short and long scene non-linearity is haphazardly delineated, with occasional timestamps, but no stylistic changes making frequent rewinding necessary. Cinematography is generally well done, but there are some sporadic gimmicky techniques which detract by being more showy than necessary.

Colin Firth has brilliant range as novelist Michael Peterson, the husband in the frame for his wife, Kathleen's, probable murder. Not surprisingly there are fine performances too numerous to mention from a cast of this stature.

A persuasive story very well told, episode four cannot drop quickly enough!

This seems to be made in a way where the story just seems to drag on and on...

This could easily have been consolidated into a 4 or 5 episode series instead of the 8 episodes - the producers have stretched the story to the point where the viewer starts losing interest.

Also the way the timeline keeps switching between historical and present without giving the viewer much indication that we are going back in time can be confusing at times.

This could have been written so much better to reflect the true story this series is supposed to be based on. One could also argue that the creators also took a little too much artistic licence in telling the story.

Either way, it's not a complete waste of time, but the creation of this series was poorly executed in my opinion.

I feel like this show was good until someone in post-production decided to turn it into a time-travel show. Same issue with other shows being put out these days that end up as background watching. I think one of the cardinal rules for film/TV is to not have flashbacks unless you are exposing an essential piece of information. It would have been more entertaining if the information was presented in chronological order. Maybe since this is what seems to work with docuseries they think it will work with other story telling.

The acting is good. The writing is good. Technically it is good. I just feel that it falls apart in the edit. Mind you, the edited scenes by themselves are well-edited. But who wants to see a dramatic scene thrown in at a random point of the timeline where it doesn't belong?... and this whole show ends up feeling like that. So overall, it's just kind of confusing where you're at at any given point, so you tune out.

Just let it flow. Follow its lead, and go with the flow. One of the most captivating cinematic experiences I've had. (I was in the deep water, and the tide takes me so lightly that I feel as I do not exist.) Whirlwind of incidents, but 'The Staircase' never gets messy. It's just so strange because the story moves around a lot chronologically, (1. December of 2001, the day of Kathleen's death and before 2. 2002-2011, the court trial and imprisonment 3. 2017, after Alford plea) but it still remains to be perfectly organized. 'The Staircase' does not exactly pinpoint what happened that night; it rather includes all the possible theories claimed by two opposite sides. Because the series does not tell you that Michael Peterson is actually guilty or not, I researched about the case to have my own opinion. I like that it portrays the whole murder case as it is, so it can focus more on changes of Peterson and whole family throughout the time. Music is absolutely wonderful. It is graceful and sorrowful at the same time and is perfect for building mysterious ambiance.

The first three episodes are great. But the further the more boring and filler. We jump back and forth in time to see another family scenes, which contribute nothing to the constant plot. And they are seriously considering this cringe theory about an owl? Seriously???

Have been following this story since the original trial. My impression so far is the set decorations, especially the house, is spot on. The cast, the always phenomenal Toni Collette and exceptional Colin Firth are excellent. Supporting cast portrays their roles true to their characters. In my mind's eye I'm watching the show unfold as if I'm seeing the actual victims. The writer's had a lot to work with starting with the trial transcripts and the French documentary The Staircase, so the show feels very real.

The original "The Staircase" on Netflix was the French documentary they refer to in this series. It makes you appreciate the acting in this series. Excellent job on telling this side of the story.

Colin Firth is one of my favourites of all time, but he's too posh to be American. Can't really sidestep it, but otherwise the series is okay. Also, the mundane family affairs that dont have much to do with the plot are too prolonged.

This is why I love HBOMAX. They know how to make a good damn series. Two episodes in and I'm sold. Will watch episode three tomorrow (it's really late, bedtime) but so far the acting, production value, directing, storytelling are all top notch. There's so many great actors in this show and I'm excited to see how this plays out. The documentary was great but this could end up being better.

Update: Finished the whole series tonight. It's an Emmy sweep. Take it to the bank. This series was better than the documentary. Wow, jut wow.

It's okay, Colin Firth is very good. I'm not sure I'm that bothered about the storyline of the drama surrounding the making of the documentary about the drama of the case. What next? A drama about the drama of the making of the drama starring (insert random name) as Colin Firth?

Had this been a fictional drama I would have given up long before the last episode. I had never heard of this case and it was a fascination that kept me going. While the acting from the leads is good I couldn't care for anybody in the show. The worst part is certainly the time devoted to the kids. Not sure why (probably the writing) but they added absolutely nothing to the story. It was also hard to understand why the French editor would have been remotely interested in Firth's character. It was also frustrating that the show gave us seemingly plausible alternative methods of death/murder but never followed them up. I wish I had watched the documentary instead but not sure I can invest too much more time on this story so will probably just wiki it.