Ep 4. The Art of War

In The Night Of season 1 episode 4, titled "The Art of War," Naz's trial is about to begin, and both the defense and prosecution are preparing their strategies. Naz's lawyer, John Stone, meets with his client for the first time in weeks, and tries to sway Naz towards taking a plea deal, which would mean admitting to a lesser charge and serving a shorter sentence. However, Naz is adamant that he is innocent and refuses to accept any deal.

Meanwhile, the prosecution team focuses on attack Naz's character, highlighting his prior drug use and other criminal activity, as well as painting him as a sexually aggressive person who could have committed the crime.

Throughout the episode, we see flashbacks to the night of the murder, revealing more details about what happened and bringing new suspects into the mix. And as the trial begins, tension runs high in the courtroom as witnesses testify, some of whom give conflicting accounts of the night's events.

One of the highlights of "The Art of War" is the opposing counsels' closing arguments, as they use everything they have learned during the trial to try and sway the jurors' opinions. John Stone delivers a passionate speech about the fallibility of the justice system, while the prosecutor tries to paint Naz as guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

As the episode comes to a close, the jury retires to deliberate on their verdict. The tension is palpable as everyone waits to see what their decision will be. Will Naz be found guilty or innocent? And if he is found guilty, what will his punishment be? These questions linger as the episode ends, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the next installment of this gripping crime drama.

Overall, "The Art of War" is a tense and well-crafted episode that delivers plenty of twists and turns as the trial heats up. The performances from the cast are all excellent, especially Riz Ahmed as Naz and John Turturro as John Stone, who both bring depth and nuance to their roles. If you're a fan of crime dramas, The Night Of is definitely worth checking out, and this episode is a great example of the show's strengths.