“He was a lunatic, unseen, so doubly feared” – McNamara

Premiered on June 28, 2020, on HBO, I’ll Be Gone In The Dark is an American true crime documentary series directed by Liz Garbus, Elizabeth Wolff, Josh Koury, and Myles Kane. It revolves around Michelle McNamara as she writes a book about and investigates the Golden State Killer, more often known as EAR/ONS (East Area Rapist/Original Night Stalker.)

Episode 03: Review

The third Episode of I’ll be Gone In The Dark, takes us deeper into McNamara’s life – How she was as a kid, how were her interpersonal relationships, and more. Michelle’s siblings come into the frame and talk about how she really was as a person.​ “Michelle was an only child because we were up and out,” said Kathreen, her sister. And we also move forward with the search of EAR/ONS.

The previous episode ended with McNamara deciding to look up for all the special items that EAR/ONS took from his victims on eBay. To her surprise, she did find it but on further investigations, it was confirmed that it wasn’t the same special item he stole.

The voice of the East Area Rapist saying  ‘Gonna kill you’ and ‘Bitch’ is scary and gut-wrenching! While the face of EAR/ONS is masked, it is unknown and scary still. He stopped in 1979, he stopped but it wasn’t his end! He moved 400 miles South to Goleta where he was named ONS – Original Night Stalker. To know that this man has no stop and is on the move like a blood-hungry hound is horrific.

What’s scary was that this rapist had now turned into a murderer, a cold-hearted, fearless man! Ready to kill, to him killing was no longer just in defence or for ending of victims/evidence. It was more of a satisfaction.

“You guys love me, right? Even if I have a mental breakdown and shred everything I’ve written?” – McNamara.

“This means you’re close. Every creative object wants the safety and warmth of staying inside your head. You’re trying to drag it out into the light. Alice and I are in the bleachers, cheering you on. Now pin that f**ker to the mat and claim your trophy. You deserve it.” – Patton.

McNamara is getting close to her books deadline towards the end of the episode, she is not confident in her work, she wants to throw it all away. Like every other writer, the book took a tole on Michelle’s mental wellness, it was disturbing, she was running after a man in a ski-mask.

In the next few episodes, we may find out more about Michelle’s life and what really led to the stress that took her life. I’ll be gone in the dark will easily send shivers down your spine.

Watch the Episodes here.

Read the other reviews of I’ll Be Gone in the Dark here.