Here’s everything you need to know about The Staircase Episode 5 before it premieres.
True crime has gone a long way since the days of America’s Most Wanted when it was gruesome. The Staircase, starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette, features a sophisticated ensemble and lavish production values that demonstrate the genre’s growth. A number of strong performances contribute to the dramatic weight of this fanciful story. The Staircase contains a lot of darkness and even gore, but it’s more complex and sophisticated than most crime dramas, thanks to de Lestrade’s documentary, a groundbreaking legal thriller that inspired the series to explore more.
The eight-episode miniseries will reach a conclusion in a few weeks, as it is halfway finished. The plot is kept hidden on purpose so that viewers can start watching with excitement. Previous episodes of the show, on the other hand, have given fans suggestions as to where the next episode might go.
As a result, we’ve put together a list of everything you need to know about the official release date, potential plot, and cast, which will definitely have you ready for some big revelation. Below is everything you need to know about The Staircase Episode 5.
HBO’s The Staircase Episode 5 Release date
The Staircase Episode 5, The Beating Heart, is set to premiere on Thursday, May 19, 2022, Thursday at 3 a.m. ET. It is the 5th episode out of the 8-episode season, which will conclude on June 9, 2022.
Each episode is just more than an hour-long, with the longest of up to the range of 63 – 68 minutes. Furthermore, the season has only four episodes left as of May 18, 2022, before heading towards the season finale in the coming weeks. Here’s the complete episode guide for you to understand the series’ schedule and plan ahead to watch the next episode.
- S1E1: 911 – May 5, 2022
- S1E2: Chiroptera – May 5, 2022
- S1E3: The Great Dissembler – May 5, 2022
- S1E4: Common Sense – May 12, 2022
- S1E5: The Beating Heart – May 19, 2022
- S1E6: Red in Tooth and Claw – May 26, 2022
- S1E7: Seek and Ye Shall – June 2, 2022
- S1E8: America’s Sweetheart or: Time Over Time – June 9, 2022
The series is based on the documentary The Staircase, which was released in 2004. It was initially shown as an eight-episode miniseries directed by French documentarian Jean-Xavier de Lestrade. The shooting of the 2004 documentary Staircase is an element of the narrative in HBO Max’s new drama, with actor Vincent Vermignon playing documentary director de Lestrade.
Moreover, the HBO Max series isn’t entirely based on the documentary. It also draws on the case’s books and reports which makes it comparatively different from one another to provide new details. However, viewers of both the dramatized show and the documentary will notice parallels if the viewers have previously seen the documentary.
What to expect in The Staircase Episode 5?
The episode is directed by Leigh Janiak and written by Antonio Campos, Aja Gabel, and Craig Shilowich. In The Staircase Episode 5, viewers have anticipated that as now Michael is in prison, considerably sooner than the viewers had expected, the play may go in a few different directions. Some of the crucial questions that need to be answered are what exactly happens next in the plot as the viewers have seen that Michael will be imprisoned until the documentary is produced and released.
As the episode progresses it is speculated that more members of Michael’s family will abandon him. Perhaps out of embarrassment or just because they suspect he killed Kathleen. Cailin will continue to be shunned by her family since she believes Michael is a serial killer. The Staircase will keep switching timelines, with one distinct focus on Michael’s life after his release from prison. This will be interesting to watch if the episode progresses forward with these plotlines without delaying the narrative.
The Staircase Episode 5 Cast
The prominent cast members include the following actors:
- Colin Firth as Michael Peterson
- Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson
- Dane DeHaan as Clayton Peterson
- Olivia DeJonge as Caitlin Atwater
- Michael Stuhlbarg as David Rudolf
- Patrick Schwarzenegger as Todd Peterson
- Sophie Turner as Margaret Ratliff
- Odessa Young as Martha Ratliff
- Rosemarie DeWitt as Candace Hunt Zamperini
- Tim Guinee as Bill Peterson
- Parker Posey as Freda Black
Where to watch The Staircase Episode 5?
The true-crime series The Staircase is only accessible on HBO Max as it is an exclusive series developed for the digital streaming platform. The membership of the platform costs $10 per month (or $100 per year) for the ad-supported plan and $15 per month (or $150 per year) for the ad-free option.
The Staircase Episode 4: A Quick Recap
The episode, Common Sense, was released on May 12, 2022. The episode was directed by Antonio Campos and written by Emily Kaczmarek & Craig Shilowich. The official synopsis states that “After an unexpected homecoming, a critical discovery rocks the Peterson household; Michael’s fate hangs in the balance as the trial ends.”
The tension is rising. Episode 4 of #TheStaircaseHBOMax is now streaming. pic.twitter.com/NBYZv6pBCt
— HBO Max (@hbomax) May 14, 2022
The episode starts with Sophie interrogating Jean-Xavier about Michael. The prosecution continues to emphasize Michael’s bisexuality, which the defense finds worrisome. Kathleen’s autopsy, Dr. Deborah Radisch, testified that she was most likely murdered. After submitting multiple autopsy files of people who had been beaten by death, Rudolf claims that it is practically impossible to die in like manner without cracking the skull or harming the brain, which Kathleen did not. Agnes, Martha and Margaret’s babysitter, testify against Michael regarding Elizabeth Ratliff’s death while the Ratliff family was in Germany with the Petersons.
Sometimes one look says it all. #TheStaircaseHBOMax pic.twitter.com/VOyjpDd9Jq
— HBO Max (@hbomax) May 14, 2022
Later it is seen that to refute the notion of blood spatter expert Duane Deaver, who claimed that the blood marks on the crime scene implied murder, Rudolf introduces Henry Lee, the professional analyst he and Michael hired. He dials Michael’s number, and Michael informs Rudolf that the suspected key piece of evidence is in his garage. The attorney exhibits the poke to the jury, emphasizing the lack of blood and other suspicious markings in the material to indicate that his client did not murder his wife.
The Staircase Official Synopsis
The official synopsis of the series states, “Michael Peterson, a crime novelist, is accused of bludgeoning his wife Kathleen to death after she is found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home. As the investigation continues, the family is thrown into a tumultuous legal battle. Meanwhile, a French documentary team takes an interest in the story.”
The Staircase Official Trailer
As shown in the trailer, the Staircase examines the life of Michael Peterson, his enormous North Carolina family, and the strange murder of his wife, Kathleen Peterson. Antonio Campos created the eight-episode Max Original limited series. The trailer is very suspenseful and builds up the plot in a way with makes the viewers intrigued to watch the series.
Catch up on all of The Staircase’s previous episodes on HBO Max, and keep an eye out for the season finale episode set to premiere on June 9, 2022.