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The Night Of Recap: Freddy and his Friends

By Reuben Levine

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The Night Of moves Naz and Freddy closer together

The Night Of has so far acted as a mirror to society. It’s about how different people are treated differently (like those with severe eczema) inside and out of the criminal justice system. It’s also about choice, and “Samson and Deliliah” finds Naz continuing to choose to follow Freddy’s dark path. For every decision there are potential consequences, some of which are explored here. While The Night Of continues to be compelling television, not all of the plot threads in this episode gel so easily.

We’re supposed to believe, for example, that Box is so easily thrown by a few comments on Naz’s Facebook. Box may have it out of Naz — the evidence does point that way — but it’s a weak thread that doesn’t ring true. Through Box’s digging we also learn that Naz has a violent streak, which is in contrast to what we’ve seen. Well, except for that time in the showers. But like most things on The Night Of, there are two sides here. Naz describes being enraged by the way he and his family were treated after 9/11, leading him to lash out.

In prison we see Naz continue to embrace his new life and Freddy’s favor. He gets his own cell phone and tattoo, and Freddy even says that he will make a “proper convict” out of him. Naz has spent a large part of The Night Of finding his own identity, and on the surface he seems to have found out. How well that will serve him is up for debate, as he is basically following his own instincts that led him to be a follower on the outside. Now he just follows Freddy on the inside.

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Chandra and John continue to hunt for the truth and are able to track down the driver of the hearse from the first episode. He describes Andrea as “vibrating” and dangerous, comments which don’t land quite as well as they’re supposed to. Andrea is special, that much is clear, but pushing that point doesn’t feel genuine — it feels contrived. He does describe Naz as a “ball of yarn,” so at least that’s fun. This all causes Chandra to go off the deep end a bit, which is fair, since this guy is intensely creepy.

The two also spend more time together, and they two make a good pair, even though John is a total jerk to her when Chandra tells him that she broke up with her boyfriend. Unsurprisingly, John isn’t exactly the best source of comfort. This segues into a scene in which John is in his apartment alone, trying to get in contact with his son. By now it’s beyond clear that John is alone because of himself.

In Naz’s conversations with other people we can see the prison influence. He talks different, he carries himself differently, and his attitude has become toxic. He continues to morph into his own greatest liability, and he doesn’t seem to care. In fact, he embraces it.

By now it’s beyond clear that John is alone because of himself.

One thing that Naz has been isolated from is the effect that this has had on his parents. Both of his parents have had to take on less desirable jobs, and there is an awkward, not entirely believable, scene in which Naz’s father delivers food to Chandra at her home. The Night Of hasn’t focused too much on Naz’s family, instead choosing to show us snapshots here and there. The show isn’t really about them, after all.

In court there is a funny moment when John makes Naz change shirts. Freddy arranged for Naz to have nice clothes, but Naz declines because he wants to wear what his mother brings him. It’s a sweet sentiment, but Naz should have realized that Freddy knows what he’s doing. Chandra ultimately makes a strong showing, fighting through her nerves. Weiss has shown that she is only interested in the narrative that she chooses, and her honed tactics have their desired effect.

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It wouldn’t be The Night Of without Eczema Watch, would it? And there is finally a major breakthrough this episode. John gets some traditional Chinese medicine, and there it goes. He’s over the moon. Saga over?

He doesn’t care about getting out, and why would he? He is king here.

We also learn more about Freddy. Freddy arranged for another murder charge so he could be at Rikers and therefore closer to his family. He doesn’t care about getting out, and why would he? He is king here. The Night Of focuses multiple times on Freddy’s drug habit. Freddy wants Naz for himself; to corrupt him to his way of life. When Naz takes his first hit, another choice has been made. Naz, stoned, makes a call to Chandra on his cell just to say goodnight. It’s a sad, revealing moment that is juxtaposed with him getting threatened in the shower. Good times.

In John’s own investigations he learns that Andrea inherited her house from her deceased mother, and her step dad has a checkered past. Not only that, but he is set to inherit everything that Andrea’s mother originally left to her. Her step dad has always been shady, though we haven’t spent all that much time with him. That is going to change.

Next: Steve Zaillian and Richard Price talk about The Night Of.

This wasn’t the strongest episode that The Night Of has offered up so far, though it does move the plot along in meaningful ways. There are only two episodes left now to tie everything up. Here’s hoping that it can deal with the new revelations in time.

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