Ep 1. The Beach

The Night Of season 1 episode 1, titled "The Beach," introduces us to Naz, a college student from Queens, who borrows his father's taxi to attend a party in Manhattan. On the way home, he picks up a mysterious and beautiful young woman who asks him to take her to "the beach."

As the night progresses, Naz and the woman, whose name turns out to be Andrea, drink and do drugs together. They end up going to her apartment, where Naz discovers that Andrea has a vicious cat who attacks him. The two of them spend the night talking and having sex, and Naz decides to stay until morning.

But when he wakes up, he finds Andrea brutally murdered in her bed. Panicking, Naz gathers his things and leaves, only to be pulled over by the police for a traffic violation. When they see the blood on his shirt and in the backseat of the car, they take him into custody for questioning in connection with Andrea's murder.

The rest of the episode follows Naz as he navigates the police station, trying to explain his innocence while facing harsh interrogation from the detective in charge of the case, Detective Box. Naz's parents are notified of his arrest, and they hire a slick lawyer named John Stone to defend him.

As the evidence against Naz mounts, including security footage of him and Andrea leaving a gas station, and residue of drugs found in his bloodstream, it becomes unclear whether he is truly innocent or not. The episode ends with Naz being taken to Rikers Island, where he will await trial for Andrea's murder.

"The Beach" sets the tone for the entire series, which is a gritty and realistic portrayal of the criminal justice system and the impact it has on those caught up in it. It also explores themes of race, class, and the presumption of guilt, as Naz's Muslim background and limited financial resources make him a target for law enforcement. The nuanced performances by the cast, particularly Riz Ahmed as Naz and John Turturro as John Stone, keep the audience engaged and invested in the outcome of the case. Overall, "The Beach" is a strong start to what is sure to be a compelling and thought-provoking series.