I'll Be Gone in the Dark is an American true crime documentary television series directed by Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Myles Kane and Josh Koury, revolving around Michelle McNamara as she writes a book about and investigates the Golden State Killer. The original six-part series premiered on June 28, 2020, on HBO, and concluded on August 2, 2020.[1] A special episode premiered on June 21, 2021.[2]
| I'll Be Gone in the Dark | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | |
| Based on | I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara |
| Narrated by | Amy Ryan |
| Music by | Philip Sheppard |
| Opening theme | "Avalanche" by Aimee Mann |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 7 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
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| Producers |
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| Cinematography | Thorsten Thielow |
| Editors |
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| Running time | 55–60 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | HBO |
| Release | June 28, 2020 – June 21, 2021 |
Premise
editMichelle McNamara lived a quiet life, but as her family slept, she spent the night investigating and writing a book about the Golden State Killer, delving into the world of online chat rooms and crime blogs. She hid her addiction to opioids, which ultimately contributed to her death prior to the completion of her book.[3]
Episodes
edit| No. | Title | Directed by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Murder Habit" | Liz Garbus | June 28, 2020 | 0.408[4] | |
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Writer Michelle McNamara, author of the True Crime Diary blog, is interested in some gruesome crimes committed between the 1970s and 1980s in California by an unknown culprit known as "East Area Rapist" and the "Original Night Stalker". After pitching a story to Los Angeles Magazine, she begins to dig into it. | |||||
| 2 | "Reign of Terror" | Elizabeth Wolff | July 5, 2020 | 0.402[5] | |
|
Local detectives who worked the EAR ("East Area Rapist") and survivors describe how they were scarred by crimes in the 1970s, with particular attention to the role that media coverage and social stigma played in the investigation. | |||||
| 3 | "Rat in a Maze" | Myles Kane Josh Koury | July 12, 2020 | 0.366[6] | |
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As the attacks cease in Northern California, the "Original Night Stalker" reign of terror begins in Santa Barbara. Lack of communication between different jurisdictions hinder links between crimes. Michelle's article on the case, "In the Footsteps of a Killer", causes a splash when it's published 2013 and she signs a contract for a book. | |||||
| 4 | "The Motherlode" | Josh Koury Myles Kane | July 19, 2020 | 0.451[7] | |
|
The deadline for the book weighs on Michelle. Meanwhile, she and researcher Paul Haynes investigate "Visalia Ransacker", the perpetrator of a string of burglaries in the early 1970s bearing striking similarities to EAR/ONS, dubbed "Golden State Killer" by McNamara. They have access to 37 boxes of files archived at the Orange County Sheriff's Department. | |||||
| 5 | "Monsters Recede but Never Vanish" | Elizabeth Wolff | July 26, 2020 | 0.451[8] | |
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Michelle's sudden death from an accidental overdose leaves friends and family distraught but also determined to continue her crusade. Michelle's husband, Patton Oswalt, researcher Paul Haynes, and true crime writer Billy Jensen finish the book that becomes a bestseller. Paul Holes, Chief of Forensics in Contra Costa County, reconstructs the killer's family tree with the help of genetic genealogist Barbara-Rae Venter following advice from Michelle. | |||||
| 6 | "Walk into the Light" | Liz Garbus | August 2, 2020 | 0.523[9] | |
|
72-year-old former police officer Joseph James DeAngelo is arrested and tried. Although Michelle didn't live to see the "Golden State Killer" finally arrested, her persistence and research helped bring justice to the victims. Survivors of the attacks and relatives of DeAngelo offer their insights into the cases. | |||||
| 7 | "Show Us Your Face" | Elizabeth Wolff | June 21, 2021 | 0.198[10] | |
Production
editIn April 2018, HBO Documentary Films acquired rights to I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara, with plans to adapt the book into a docuseries, with her husband Patton Oswalt serving as an executive producer.[11] Production on the series began on April 24, 2018.[12] In May 2018, it was announced Liz Garbus would direct the series.[13] McNamara's researcher Paul Haynes and crime journalist Billy Jensen, both of whom helped Oswalt finish the book, were signed on as co-executive producers.[14] The series features interviews with detectives, survivors, family members, and Amy Ryan narrating excerpts from McNamara's book.[15]
Reception
editCritical response
editReview aggregator Rotten Tomatoes reported an approval rating of 96% based on 48 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Director Liz Garbus smartly centers I'll Be Gone in the Dark around the late Michelle McNamara's passionate efforts, weaving together a heavy, but important tapestry of trauma, obsession, and survival.[16] Metacritic gave the series a weighted average score of 80 out of 100 based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[17]
Ratings
edit| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Murder Habit" | June 28, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.408[4] | 0.1 | 0.354 | 0.2 | 0.762[18] |
| 2 | "Reign of Terror" | July 5, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.402[5] | — | 0.321 | — | 0.723[19] |
| 3 | "Rat in a Maze" | July 12, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.366[6] | 0.1 | 0.340 | 0.2 | 0.706[20] |
| 4 | "The Motherlode" | July 19, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.451[7] | 0.1 | 0.374 | 0.2 | 0.825[21] |
| 5 | "Monsters Recede but Never Vanish" | July 26, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.451[8] | 0.1 | 0.394 | 0.2 | 0.845[22] |
| 6 | "Walk into the Light" | August 2, 2020 | 0.1 | 0.523[9] | 0.1 | 0.347 | 0.2 | 0.870[23] |
| 7 | "Show Us Your Face" | June 21, 2021 | 0.0 | 0.198[10] | 0.0 | 0.147 | 0.1 | 0.345[10] |
References
edit- ^ Hersko, Tyler (May 4, 2020). "I'll Be Gone in the Dark' Trailer: True Crime Docuseries Brings Michelle McNamara's Book to HBO". IndieWire. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (May 27, 2021). "HBO Announces New Episode of True Crime Docuseries 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark'". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 27, 2021. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
- ^ Alter, Ethan (June 25, 2020). "Patton Oswalt reflects on 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' and Michelle McNamara's accidental overdose: 'There were signs that I didn't know to look for'". Yahoo!. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (June 30, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.28.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on June 30, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2020.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 7, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.5.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 8, 2020. Retrieved July 7, 2020.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 14, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.12.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 14, 2020. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 21, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.19.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 21, 2020. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (July 28, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.26.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (August 4, 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.2.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ a b c Berman, Marc (June 22, 2021). "Monday Ratings: The Bachelorette Leads ABC to Diluted Victory". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 4, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (April 9, 2018). "Docuseries Based On Michelle McNamara's 'I'll Be Gone In The Dark' True-Crime Book In Works At HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 12, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Raphael, Michele (April 25, 2018). "Arrest of 'Golden State Killer' Mirrors Prediction in Michelle McNamara's Book". LA Weekly. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 1, 2018). "Docuseries Based On Michelle McNamara's Golden State Killer Book 'I'll Be Gone In the Dark' Greenlighted By HBO". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ Rico, Klaritza (May 4, 2020). "TV News Roundup: 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' Premiere Date Announced". Variety. Archived from the original on July 7, 2020. Retrieved July 6, 2020.
- ^ "I'll Be Gone in the Dark". HBO. Archived from the original on May 17, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2020.
- ^ "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: Season 1 (2020)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved June 21, 2021.
- ^ "I'll Be Gone in the Dark: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved July 3, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (July 28, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'Greenleaf' Fifth Season Premiere Among the Top 20 Raw Gainers in Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (July 28, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'Dirty John: The Betty Broderick Story' More Than Triples its Live+Same Day Adults 18-49 Audience, Leads in Overall Percentage Lifts". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (July 28, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: Bravo Network Shows Take Three of the Top Five Spots Among Raw Gainers in Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (July 28, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'The Alienist: Angel of Darkness' Premiere Ranks in Top Ten of Total Viewer Raw Gainers". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (August 4, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'Tyler Perry's The Oval' Concludes its Inaugural Season on a High Note". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 4, 2020.
- ^ Pucci, Douglas (August 10, 2020). "Live+3 Weekly Ratings: 'Real Housewives of Beverly Hills' is Wednesday's Top Telecast in Adults 18-49". Programming Insider. Archived from the original on August 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2020.
