The Staircase (2022)

The dramatisation of the notorious true-crime case is a hugely compelling who/if/how/whydunnit that fizzes with tension. Firth and Collette deliver brilliant performances as the slippery, complex central couple.

The critic praises Colin Firth's lead performance and the series' clever examination of how narratives shape perceptions of guilt and innocence. It notes the effective use of multiple timelines to deepen character portrayals while balancing fact and fiction.

The review finds the series riveting in its exploration of the Peterson case and true-crime sensationalism but withholds full judgment pending the ending after viewing only partial episodes. It highlights strong performances by Colin Firth and Toni Collette amid questions about the docudrama approach.

This HBO dramatisation keeps viewers hooked with its central mystery of whether Michael Peterson killed his wife. It matches the hit documentary as a compelling, corkscrewing whodunit.

This is prestige stuff that is cold, shaking, surreal and grim; the reviewer is transfixed by the brilliant unravelling of Peterson’s character from all-American alpha patriarch to a flaky confusion of petulance, deceit and sexual incontinence.

This dramatisation is unnecessary but gripping, with Colin Firth convincingly inhabiting the morally slippery Peterson and strong turns from the young cast as the fractured family. It adds nothing new to the well-trodden story yet keeps viewers on edge.

It rises above typical true-crime scripted series through its focus on the documentary crew's role and the meta examination of how truth is shaped, with effective performances from Firth and others that add layers beyond reenactment. The first episodes show promise, though some elements feel uneven.

The series elevates the familiar true-crime story by weaving in the making of the original documentary as a meta layer about narrative construction, guilt and media. Strong performances, particularly Firth's portrayal of Michael Peterson's insecurity and complexity, help make it probing rather than rote.

The series is hailed as a compelling companion piece to the documentary that widens the focus to fractured lives and relationships without providing easy answers. It singles out the performances, particularly Colin Firth and Toni Collette, as the most compelling element.

The series is praised as a self-aware prestige drama that expands the Peterson case into a multifaceted exploration of truth, self-delusion, and secrets. It singles out Colin Firth's performance as Michael Peterson for its scintillating opaqueness.

The limited series is viewed as a worthwhile expansion of the original documentary that examines its own creation and questions of objectivity. It singles out the strong performances by Colin Firth and Toni Collette for carrying the story.

The HBO Max series distinguishes itself in the true crime genre by widening its scope to the Peterson family dynamics and especially by turning meta in its later episodes to examine the documentary crew and media frenzy around the case. The critic highlights how this approach poses broader questions about storytelling, audience attachment, and the influence of the medium itself.