I Am the Night, “Phenomenon of Interference”, Review!

We are now drawn into the world of Fauna Hodel as she enters the dangerous world of Los Angeles, 1965.  This episode is also directed by Patty Jenkins with Sam Sheridan’s script.  A taxi cab pulls up to a house, Fauna heads over to the house of her cousin, Tina (Shonique Shandai), and Big Momma (Ebony Jo-Ann).  Tina takes Fauna to the city on the bus.  Jay brings  his photos to Peter with his bruised face.  He mentions the lead on Dr. George Hodel.  His story on him ruined his career and ended with a mistrial.  Tamar, Fauna’s mother, was sent to a convent. Peter refuses to keep him on the case.  Tina and Fauna sees police officers threaten a black woman who tried to board the bus and a passenger who tried to help her.  We can see the racial tensions that will explode in the Watts Riots.  Fauna and Tina approaches the house of George Hodel.  It has an almost pyramid structure on the front.  She rings the doorbell.  No response.  Fauna calls into the house, but there’s nothing, Tina wants them to leave and takes her away.  This of course a hint at the reclusiveness nature of her grandfather, but also a warning?  

I AM THE NIGHT -- “Phenomenon of Interference” -- INDIA EASLEY -- Clay Enos/TNT. 

At a party, Fauna is with Tina, she meets Terrence (Justin Cornwell), and a party goer, Nero (Astro), hassles Fauna.  Terrence calls Fauna over to sit by him.  She says she’s looking for her father.  Night, after the party, Fauna walks with Tina and the others.  The mysterious man in the car is following her.  Jay returns to his hotel and takes a drunk woman, Lilly, in the hall to his apartment.  Jay lets her sleep on the couch.  He takes out his files trying to find Tamar Hodel.  Lilly wakes up and sees that Jay is obsessed with the case.  Jay hopes to find Tamar’s daughter.  She calls him a loser and wants cab fare.  Lilly blames her drug use on Jay.  Morning, Big Momma greets Fauna and says her mother loves her.  Big Momma answers the phone and it is Nero who tries to talk to Fauna, but Big Momma knows he’s trouble. Jay goes to the offices of Peter who explains the body in the morgue, Janice was working the streets, and his photo was scooped.  He wants Jay to follow up on the story.  Fauna tries to call Hodel again.  She says she is looking for her mother.  Corinna says her mother is deceased.  Fauna is persistent about going to her house and Corinna tells her to knock three times and then again.  

Jay heads to a bar, he asks his contact about Brody Styles.  He is told that Brody gives fake confessions for the police.  Fauna walks to the house and knocks.  The door opens and it is Corinna Hodel (Connie Nielsen) in a robe looking worried.  I’m getting a Norma Desmond-vibe.  Corinna mentions that she is an art collector.  This is an interesting part for Connie Nielsen.  She was of course in Gladiator (2000), a cult leader in the drama The Following (2014), and of course in Patty Jenkin’s Wonder Woman (2017) as Hippolyta.  As she makes some lemonade, Fauna goes to see pictures in a hall, possibly one of her father!  Corinna says Tamar was 6 when she met her and destroyed the family’s reputation.  At a restaurant, Jay meets with asking his former Marine friend, Eddie, about Brody, he gives Jay a place to check out, Chez Cher La Femme.  Fauna gets a ride from Corinna and Jay sees her in the car over the wall.  He follows them.  On the car ride, Corinna explains that Dr. Hodel was one of the “greatest minds of the 20th century.”  They reach a country club and Jay pulls away as a man leaves his car.  Jay gets a call for the lead to the other case.  We get some hints about George Hodel.  

I AM THE NIGHT -- “Phenomenon of Interference” -- INDIA EASLEY, CONNIE NIELSEN -- Clay Enos/TNT. 

At the country club restaurant, Corinna informs her that her grandfather specializes in STDs and about the proper dining utensils.  She takes Fauna to the art galleries beneath the restaurant.  She hears her name whispered by a mysterious man in the level above.  Fauna sees the stalker man in the gallery.  Jay follows a woman to see Wendy Sandowski (Mickey O’Hagan).  He asks her about Janice Brewster.  He shows her a picture of Brody Styles.  There is a knock at the door from some angry men.  Wendy says Janice met someone who was “nice and smart.”  Jay ignores the woman’s offer of drugs.  He wakes up with the woman complaining about losing her baby to a convent.  Fauna sees the plaque with George Hodel’s name, there are surreal paintings on the walls.  Fauna hides from the man, George Hodel, and then she sees him asking, “Do you have a favorite?”  The same man she saw at the bus stop.  He was following her and sent the man in the hat to watch her?  Fauna sees Corinna in a black shawl.  Jay runs in, but Corinna and Fauna have left.  I think the criss-cross of characters is interesting.  Frustrated to see that he has lost them, Jay punches out a security guard.  Corinna tells Fauna that she is not mixed race and her father is a French ballet dancer.  Fauna says she’s a liar since the father was on the birth certificate.  Fauna boards a bus and the man in the hat sits in front of her.  The threads of the mystery are tightening.  There are b&w photos at the end of Big Momma and others so we know that these are real people.    

Four Cameras out of Five! 

#IAmtheNight, #ShoniqueShandai, #EbonyJoAnn, #JustinCornwell