The Staircase (HBO Max): Watch Season 1 & Series Status

Season: 1

#	Air Date	Episode Name
E1	May 05, 2022	911
E2	May 05, 2022	Chiroptera
E3	May 05, 2022	The Great Dissembler
E4	May 12, 2022	Common Sense
E5	May 19, 2022	The Beating Heart
E6	May 26, 2022	Red in Tooth and Claw
E7	Jun 02, 2022	Seek and Ye Shall
E8	Jun 09, 2022	America's Sweetheart or: Time Over Time

Mark Series:

Watched / Unwatched

Mark Season 1:

Watched / Unwatched

Production Note - Limited Series

Production Type:

Limited Series

The Staircase (2022) is a standalone Limited Series that concluded its 8-episode run in June 2022. This high-profile HBO Max production dramatizes the complex legal saga of Michael Peterson following the mysterious death of his wife, Kathleen. By utilizing a non-linear narrative structure, the series explores multiple theories regarding the event while simultaneously examining the creation of the original French documentary that brought the case to international attention.

The project was conceived as a finite exploration of a closed legal chapter, ensuring that the narrative arc reached a definitive end with the resolution of the judicial process. Given its focus on true crime history and its reliance on a star-studded cast for a specific historical window, there were never plans for a continuation. The series serves as a complete dramatic companion to the real-world events, providing a comprehensive look at the family dynamics and legal maneuvers involved.

The series was created by Antonio Campos and Maggie Cohn, produced by Annapurna Television for HBO Max. It stars Colin Firth and Toni Collette. The production is a dramatization of the 2004 documentary series of the same name by Jean-Xavier de Lestrade.

Confidence: 100% Last Refined: March 2026

Why Watch:

"This series is a primary case study for the 'meta-true-crime' subgenre, where the act of storytelling itself becomes a central antagonist."

Series Analysis:

HBO Max’s The Staircase serves as a complex meta-commentary on the true crime genre. By dramatizing not only the death of Kathleen Peterson but also the production of Jean-Xavier de Lestrade’s seminal documentary, the series challenged how audiences consume legal tragedies. Colin Firth’s performance captured the ambiguity of Michael Peterson, while Toni Collette provided a necessary voice for the victim, often lost in the legal proceedings. Its legacy lies in its refusal to offer easy answers, instead examining the fragmentation of a family and the manipulation of narrative. It forced a reckoning with the voyeurism inherent in modern media. As the true crime boom continues, this work remains a pivotal study of perspective and the elusive nature of absolute truth. Set a reminder to monitor for any future spin-offs or case developments.

Tone: Analytical, academic, and reflective of modern media history. Last Updated: March 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

The Staircase is a standalone limited series, so there will not be a second season. The show was designed to cover the complete legal saga of Michael Peterson, and there are no plans to continue the narrative or turn it into an anthology.

The series is based on the true story of Michael Peterson and the mysterious 2001 death of his wife, Kathleen. It draws inspiration from the 2004 documentary of the same name as well as various books and reports covering the trial.

The series was primarily filmed in Atlanta, Georgia, which served as the production hub for the project. Specific locations across the city were used to recreate the Peterson family home and the North Carolina courtroom settings.

There are a total of eight episodes in the complete limited series. Each episode has a runtime of approximately one hour and focuses on different timelines surrounding the investigation and legal proceedings.

The series stars Colin Firth as Michael Peterson and Toni Collette as Kathleen Peterson. They are joined by a high-profile supporting cast including Michael Stuhlbarg, Sophie Turner, and Juliette Binoche.

The limited series is an original production that premiered on HBO Max, which is now known as Max. All eight episodes are currently available to stream for subscribers of the platform.

FAQs Updated: March 2026