I Am the Night Season 1 Episode 2: Phenomenon of Interference Review

For our review of the last episode of I Am the Night, click here.

Synopsis: Newly arrived in Los Angeles, Fauna attempts to track down her family, including her mysterious grandfather, George Hodel. Jay continues his pursuit of the Bloody Romeo, but he can’t let go of the story that ruined his career years ago–a story that involved George Hodel. (Turner Broadcasting System)

Writer: Sam Sheridan

Director: Patty Jenkins

Rating: TV-MA

Running Time: 50mins

Airs: Mondays at 9pm on Bravo (Canada)/TNT (United States)

After a subpar pilot, one may expect that the next episode would at least somewhat build on what the last started. Think again!

This episode managed to be just as dull if not more than the last as both Singletary and Hodel’s stories failed to be even remotely interesting to watch. While the pieces for a compelling story are there, this episode yet again failed to do anything with them whatsoever, giving us an episode that goes next to nowhere for the most part. At this point, it is clear that all roads lead to Dr. George Hodel (Jefferson Mays), the man who nearly derailed Singletary’s career and was also Hodel’s grandfather.

In this episode, Hodel tried to visit her grandfather while Singletary wanted to pursue the tip he received about George Hodel that he received at the end of the last episode. However, his editor Peter Sullivan (Leland Orser) was apprehensive. Instead he was tasked to investigate the murder case he was working on in the first episode, trying to find the suspect who was given the name Bloody Romeo. Ultimately, he just wasn’t interested as he couldn’t give up the George Hodel case.

Meeting her grandfather would be easier said than done for Hodel. Meanwhile, the strange car that had been following her in Reno, followed her to Los Angeles. She would eventually meet her step-grandmother Corinna (Connie Nielsen) who was very strange to say the least. Hodel did manage to get some information about her mother Tamar. She learned that Tamar was a pathological liar who was trouble for her family.

While looking into George Hodel, Singletary caught a glance at Fauna and started to follow her while Corinna took her out on a trip. Hodel was given a lesson in etiquette while learning about her busy grandfather’s exploits. Corinna took Fauna to an art gallery where her grandfather’s pieces were on display. There, Fauna stumbled on to her grandfather and the man who had been following her. She ran when he caught her. He actually met her earlier at a bus stop on her way to Los Angeles. When leaving the art gallery, Corinna revealed to Hodel that she was not mixed-race, as she was led to believe all her life, but she didn’t believe it. The man who had been following her would join her on her bus ride home.

Overall, Phenomenon of Interference was a disappointing follow up to what was a mediocre series premiere of I Am The Night. Just like the first episode, the story is dull and seemingly goes nowhere and the writing is mediocre and derivative. For a limited series, it has to get going pretty soon. Two episodes in, it is not inspiring much confidence. Its performances are its saving grace so far, however, Connie Nielsen’s over-the-top performance as Corinna Hodel was the exception. Let’s hope that things start to change soon.

Score: 5.5/10

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Keith Noakes

The EIC of the coincidentally-named keithlovesmovies.com. A Canadian who prefers to get out of the cold and into the warmth of a movie theatre.