This article contains spoilers for The Night OfThe Night Of is a 2016 crime drama that is available on HBO. This miniseries is one that is capable of changing the viewer’s perspective on society as it explores some brutal themes like racism and the downfall of those entering the prison system as victims of false allegations. The inclusion of a brilliant cast, with Riz Ahmed and John Turturro taking the lead roles, definitely takes this series to new heights. The Night Of is also dark, as suggested by the series title, and can also be quite intense.

However, this series by Richard Price and Steven Zaillian was discontinued following its release of season one. Interestingly, The Night Of is a rare instance of a series whose viewership has significantly increased following the premiere. Even six years after its release, fans seem to be eagerly awaiting a season two. In fact, Zack Sharf states:

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In addition to all the eagerness from the audience, there are multiple reasons why this show needs a season two.

HBO programming president Casey Bloys told IndieWire at the 2018 TCAs that he was open to the idea of a second run, series star Turturro teased to Deadline that new episodes of “The Night Of” are still a possibility.

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An Ending With So Many Questions

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The first season of The Night Of ended with the protagonist, Nasir “Naz” Khan (Riz Ahmed), returning to a very distressed home. The character is shown to be struggling with drug addiction, which is something he was introduced to while in prison. What is more interesting is that, Naz’s innocence wasn’t exactly proved, as the prosecution dropped the charges and Andrea’s murderer was never brought to trial. The finale of season one also exposed the murderer, with Detective Box (Bill Camp) and the district attorney, Helen Weiss (Jeannie Berlin) hoping to pursue the real murderer.

Many of the characters deserved better, like Naz and John Stone (John Turturro), who were left with very troubled endings, and this is the main reason why the series needs to continue. Naz’s character deserves to be proven innocent. Moreover, seeing this character battle and hopefully, overcome the trauma, as well as his drug addiction, might be a brilliant plot line that gives hope to the viewers. Additionally, a better life for John Stone, who actually cared about saving Naz, is definitely something that viewers might look forward to. Bringing all these characters together to resolve their unhealed wounds, as well as conflicts within themselves and amongst one another, would make up an intense and dramatic season two.

Explores Important Issues

One key reason why The Night Of became quite popular amongst viewers is due to the way in which it explores important social issues. Islamophobia being one key theme, we see how Naz faces some discriminatory comments by passers at the very beginning of the series. Regardless of Naz’s innocence, Box and Weiss try hard to confirm that he is the murderer.

The way the story unpacks the realities of social structure and the brutal nature of the prison system is quite important. The issues of sexual assault, suicide, and drug addiction are heavily emphasized in the story. In fact, Naz, who enters the series as a college student who is very obedient and follows his parents’ wishes, has one of the biggest downfalls. During his time in prison, Naz “mimics the traits of the black men around him”. It can be argued that the portrayal of black men as dangerous feeds into the discriminatory stereotype. Nonetheless, the story also reveals how the power structure included manipulative personnel at the top, who were mostly white. It goes on to unpack the harsh realities that people of color have to face in a very racist society.

A Phenomenal Cast

Riz Ahmed has come a long way since his portrayal of Naz. Of course, this particular actor has always been a brilliant performer, who seems to strike every note perfectly. This was clearly evident in his roles as Ruben Stone in Sound of Metal and Zed in Mogul Mowgli. Having Ahmed reprise his role as Naz would mean that the character would have much more to give to the audience. Given Ahmed’s recent successes, as well as his knowledge of the issues of Islamophobia and the lack of diversity in Hollywood, there is a great chance that he will have a lot more to say through Naz’s character. Additionally, other actors like John Turturro and Amara Karan, who played Chandra Kapoor, have a lot to give to the story.

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The Accolades and Ratings Are Signs

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If none of the above arguments are strong enough to urge for a continuation of the series, the accolades, as well as the ratings, are clear signs that The Night Of is a series that many are eagerly waiting for. The series was nominated for 2 Golden Globe Awards, and 13 Emmy nominations, among other awards. It also went on to win five Emmy Awards.

As for the audience’s reaction, Rotten Tomatoes has scored it 93% under audience ratings and 94% on the Tomatometer. All of these point to the fact that The Night Of is still quite popular, and has left viewers wanting more, especially since justice was not served in season one, and the murderer is walking free.