Over time, Los Angeles has cemented its spot in history as the mecca of the noir genre. To outsiders, Los Angeles is a haven for all that’s glitzy and glamorous. However, amidst the City of Angels lies a hellish history that contradicts the city’s heavenly name. It’s no wonder why the noir is prominent in Los Angeles.

Back in 1947, one of the city’s most infamous murders occurred…Elizabeth Short’s body was found severed in half and discarded in a vacant lot. An unusually gruesome death at the time, the murder intrigued the masses. Known posthumously as the “Black Dahlia,” Elizabeth’s murder remains a cold case, and its mystery has lived on in various books, television shows, and films over the past few decades.

The extraordinary story of Fauna Hodel comes to life

I Am the Night connects the elusive Black Dahlia case with the story of Fauna Hodel, the granddaughter of Doctor George Hodel – a prime suspect in the murder of Elizabeth Short. In a story that was a match made for the screen, Fauna’s life can only be viewed as extraordinary. Based on her memoir One Day She’ll Darken, I Am the Night chronicles Fauna’s search for her identity in the 1960’s. A young white woman raised by a black mother, Fauna struggles to find her place in society. Believing she is of mixed race, Fauna fails to fit within both the black and white community. In an incredible turn of events, Fauna’s desire to discover her roots leads her all the way to the city of Los Angeles. Fauna’s return to her estranged family is met with a sense of foreboding, the Hodel family’s past hidden behind an ominous shroud of secrecy. While there’s a sense of comfort in knowing where you come from, Fauna’s revelations reveal that some things are better left unknown.

Hodel‘s journey to sharing her story onscreen has been a long and tumultuous one. She has made various attempts at having films and documentaries made which never reached the light of day. In 1991, Hodel‘s story was going to be portrayed in the film Pretty Hattie’s Baby, but two days before the completion of the shoot, the footage was confiscated. It is still lost to this day. There’s also footage of a documentary called Behind the Smile on YouTube. The full version of the documentary was never released either.

I Am the Night is the first success at telling Hodel’s story on screen. The series focuses on her teenage years, and her quest to discover her real family.

A search for identity makes a difficult turn

The first two episodes are directed by Patty Jenkins. The additional episodes are directed by Victoria Mahoney and Carl Jenkins. The show was co-written by Fauna Hodel, Sam Sheridan, and Monica Beletsky.

An actress on the rise, India Eisley is alluring as Fauna Hodel, AKA Pat. Raised under unique circumstances, “Pat” believes she is a fair-skinned mixed woman. Unashamed of who she is, “Pat” is content with living a simple lifestyle and marrying her black boyfriend. As “Pat” discovers her existence is a lie, her whole life is altered. “Pat” learns she is in fact Fauna Hodel – the daughter of an elite white family. Much to the dismay of her mother Jimmie (a scene-stealing) Golden Brooks.

Learning about her roots, Fauna embarks on a journey to Los Angeles to meet her grandfather George (Jefferson Mays) and to find the missing pieces of her identity. While Fauna is on her quest, audiences are introduced to Los Angeles Times reporter turned paparazzo Jay Singletary (Chris Pine). Sometimes a thirst for the truth can you lead you down a dangerous path, and as a passionate reporter, Jay’s quest derailed his career. A tragicomic character, Chris Pine’s Jay is cynical and snarky, but sympathetic at the same time. Looking to return to being a serious reporter, Jay once again finds himself falling down a dangerous rabbit hole. Another gruesome murder occurs in Los Angeles…not unlike the Black Dahlia case years before. It’s evident that Jay’s investigation will lead him to cross paths with Fauna.

The twisted role of race, privilege, and identity in Fauna Hodel’s life

While many shows and films feature a white perspective, Fauna’s unusual predicament alters her character’s experiences. Raised in a working class home, and believing herself to be black, how would Fauna react to being thrust into a very white and elite world filled with luxury? The shift is a huge part of the Fauna Hodel story. The concepts of race, socioeconomic status, and privilege come to play heavily. In a series format, there’s time to explore the dynamic between who Fauna was raised to be, and who she really is. However, the series doesn’t play into it so much, as there’s a focus on a narrative that sometimes puts Fauna in the passenger seat of her own story. Fauna’s adopted family also takes a huge backseat in the story, allowing for focus on Jay Singletary and the theatrics behind the mystery of the Hodel family.

In the epilogue of One Day She’ll Darken, Fauna Hodel herself states her life’s mission. She dedicated her life to breaking down racial barriers, and sharing her story. The best possible way to describe Hodel’s experience is a reverse Imitation of Life. Hodel‘s earlier years were spent trying to understand where she came from, and who she really was. While I Am the Night is entertaining, there’s still so much to learn about the real Fauna Hodel.

A fun series for true crime enthusiasts and lovers of LA’s sordid history

The series leaves a lot to be desired, but in a good way. Closing with a view of the beautifully haunting Sowden House and its demonic interiors, I Am the Night appears to be a thrill ride that not only tells Fauna Hodel’s incredible story, but also pays homage to the LA noirs of the past. Too grandiose to condense into a film, I Am the Night gives time to introduce its characters and pique the audience’s interest. True Crime enthusiasts and resident Angelinos are familiar with the Black Dahlia case, the eccentric George Hodel, and his hedonistic lifestyle. The theories surrounding Elizabeth Short’s murder make for great television, and it’s interesting to see what route the writers have taken.

How do you feel about the story behind I Am the Night and how it ties to Los Angeles history? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!

I Am the Night debuts on TNT on January 28th. Episodes will air Mondays at 9pm PST.