Anyone watching The Staircase on HBO Max?

[dvcgirl67]

My husband and I watch a fair amount of True Crime documentary/docuseries...and have always loved The Staircase. The way it unfolds is pretty fascinating...lots of issues at play, and some good twists and turns. I know we've both seen it twice. I may have actually seen it three times. Again..True Crime aficionado here . So, when I saw the scripted series on HBO announced I was interested, but wondered how much more they could really do with it.

Well...I was completely wrong. It's so good! Great acting, and you really see Kathleen Petersen as a person. She's lost in the whole documentary as it focuses on Michael and all of his issues. We finished the second one last night. And the scene with Kathleen on the stairs...it's just "wow". I really never could make up my mind on this one, mostly because of the cause of death. Anyway, looking forward to watching the third one tonight and then will have to wait for each Thursday for the next five to come out. It's interesting because we all know what happened, but they really examine more of the players and get into the relationships between them. The acting is fantastic.

 

[princesscinderella]

I’m waiting til they are all on streaming so I can binge watch them. I did enjoy the Netflix documentary during covid so I’m looking forward to watching it. Plus I love Colin Firth

 

[Gracedis1]

Yes I totally agree with you. I've never been able to get Kathleen out of my head. She was a very high functioning executive and seemed like a great mom. I'm glad they are showing her side. I don't like Michael Peterson at all. I really have no idea what happened on the staircase. I feel for all the kids.

 

[pigletliz]

Just started last night and ended up watching all 3 available episodes. The acting is excellent. Toni Collette is always so good.

 

[dvcgirl67]

I’m waiting til they are all on streaming so I can binge watch them. I did enjoy the Netflix documentary during covid so I’m looking forward to watching it. Plus I love Colin Firth

It'll be a great binge....we finished the third one last night. The series is based on a lot more reporting/books, etc than what we see from the French documentarians. Plus, seeing how truly odd it is to have cameras following them around in the house is really something.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I am interested in seeing this. I am waiting for the whole thing to become available so I can binge it.

 

[fly girl]

I love watching true crime documentaries!

I forgot they made a drama of The Staircase. The documentary was excellent. I will have to check it out. Thank you for the reminder.

 

[dvcgirl67]

Yes I totally agree with you. I've never been able to get Kathleen out of my head. She was a very high functioning executive and seemed like a great mom. I'm glad they are showing her side. I don't like Michael Peterson at all. I really have no idea what happened on the staircase. I feel for all the kids.

I know, she was almost entirely lost in the documentary, but she's very much present in this scripted series. It's an interesting look at this blended family's dynamic, and in particular, the financial weight that Kathleen was carrying. She also was working in for a telecomm company that was in decline, as many were at that time...and having to lay off lots of co-workers. They did kind of make her out to be an executive, but I think she was more of a mid-level manager....earning 145K a year. Not a small amount, but it's interesting that it's exactly what my husband earned that year. And while we had a pretty nice house back then, it wasn't as large at the Peterson's house. I will say that they surely "prettied up" the outside of that house, because mostly it seemed to be very well lived-in....meaning, a bit shabby and run down. They had three daughters in college, and the older boys seemed to be floundering a bit...and needing help financially.

From what I've read, Michael Peterson received a disability pension from the military...which likely wouldn't have been more than 25K-30K a year back then. And he was trying to be a successful writer, had received a small amount of money for a book that was optioned by someone in Hollywood...like 10 grand. But they were 142K in credit card debt...and seemed to be barely keeping their heads above water financially with all of those kids and the issues with the oldest son in particular. Finances were a problem for sure, and that kind of stress can lead to excess alcohol consumption and the need for a medication like valium...just to sleep.

I found Michael Peterson fascinating in the way any true narcissist is interesting to watch. Colin Firth really nails him. I personally don't believe that Kathleen knew about Michael's bisexuality. I don't believe that most partners would be ok with their spouse being that promiscuous and frankly, unsafe in the hook-ups he was having with other men. At least in this depiction, it doesn't appear that he was vetting these guys to find out if they were...you know, healthy. And his kids, who were all adults at this time had no idea about their father's sexuality...he hid it from them. If he could hide it from them, he could have hidden it from her. Also...just want to note that I personally have no problem with any of that stuff...just the hiding and lying part...that bothers me. David Rudolph says during the trial that the only thing they fought about was how much time Michael spent at the gym. Michael wasn't in bad shape...but he didn't appear to be in the kind of physical shape that one is in when they spend loads of time at the gym. Michael wasn't just at the gym....or wasn't just working out at the gym.... .