The People vs. OJ Simpson: Episode 1 Recap
FX’s The People v. OJ Simpson 16-episode series premiered last night, pulling us into the chaos of the “trial of the century.” It’s one of those things that people remember where they were as it went down. As the white Bronco sped through the highway, as he tried on the gloves in the courtroom, and as the judgment was read by the jurors. It is high drama so this makes for great TV.
Murder was the case – The series begins with footage of the Rodney King beating and LA riots. That was just to set the stage, because two years later, we are in a rich LA neighborhood, and Cuba Gooding Jr. is our Orenthal James Simpson, handing his bag to his limo driver. He’s late leaving for the airport.
Later, a barking dog with bloody footprints is spotted by a neighbor who is also walking his dog. That neighbor is the person who discovers the body of Nicole Brown Simpson in a pool of blood, and calls the cops. When they show up, they walk through the house, which is candlelit. The Simpson kids are in their beds sleeping, but the bathtub is full of water. One of the cops sees a pic of OJ and the kids on the wall. Other cops arrive on the scene to Nicole’s body by the gate, feet away from a man’s body. There’s a black leather glove left behind and shoe prints. Also, a letter.
Telling OJ – LAPD Detective Mark Fuhrman shows up, saying he knows where OJ Simpson lives, and it’s nearby. They need to notify him that his ex-wife was murdered. When the cops show up at his gate, the lights in the house are on but no one answers, and there’s a white Ford Bronco in the lot. They enter the gates and one of the detectives spots small blood stains on the handle of the car and in the interior. Inner-resting…
They go to the pool house behind the house and a high ass Kato Kaelin tells them OJ is in Chicago on a trip. They call him in Chicago, at his hotel and tell him that his ex-wife Nicole has been killed.
That fool replies with “OMG IS SHE DEAD?” Sir, unless Webster’s Dictionary came up with a new meaning for “has been killed” clearly she is. He hangs up and starts crying. Is it from shock or regret? Meanwhile, the detective peeps that he didn’t even ask how she died.
Meeting Marcia – Marcia Clark gets a call about a double homicide and what started as police notifying one of the victims’ relatives has turned into a major lead for him as suspect. The detective drops OJ’s name and Marcia is basically like “who is that strangerbish?” which is surprising because he was a beloved athlete and public figure then. They mention that there was blood leading into OJ’s house, so they need a search warrant from her to look at the rest of his crib. The victims: OJ’s ex-wife Nicole and her lover, Ron Goldman.
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15 Comments
16 episodes? Why they playing? Couldn;t this be wrapped up in like 4 -6 eps? I didn’t watch last night. I was considering it depending on reviews but I can’t give this 16 weeks. I’ll just read your recaps.
I was in college when this whole thing happened — maybe it’s just too soon for me…but, I just can’t bring myself to actually watch. I’ll stick with the recaps for entertainment purposes.
I’m surprised I wanted to watch this because they gonna beat the hell out of this O.J. Case. However, the casting drew me in. I think it will be worth the watch, if they stop the Kardashian name dropping.
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This show not only has excellent acting and storytelling, I’ve learned things I never knew about the case. It is absolutely intense even though we know the outcome which tells you it’s a good show. As far as the Kardashians, you have to put the hate for them aside and understand that Rob and Kris were really good friends of OJ and Nicole. Rob Kardashian was not just OJs lawyer, he was a good friend! And Nicole was Kris’ friend and believed OJ was guilty.
I didn’t care about OJ then, I don’t care about him now but I’ll read the recaps because: Luvvie! I’m sure Courtney Vance aka Mr Angela Bassett is giving one HECK of a performance but not enough to make me watch.
Luvvie, thank you for recapping for us poor folks who don’t get FX. :o)
I got lost in memories reading it. Remembered that I always felt OJ was guilty right up until 5 minutes before the final verdict was read. At the time, I was working in a company with 100+ employees, only six of us ‘colored’. :o\ They gathered many people into the conference room to watch the verdict. The other sistahs and brothahs told me to STAY IN MY OFFICE, but oh no! I just had to trust the Saltine Crew and went into the conference room.
I’ll never forget the Head of Marketing who went over to a window and actually said LOUDLY, “Are the niggers out there burning cards yet?!” and he laughed. That was before the verdict was read. And it was at that precise moment – as many of the white women around the room looked sympathetically at me but still didn’t open their f-ing mouth – that I prayed hard that “If OJ killed them, Lord, Please let him get away with it!”
The verdict was read about 3 minutes later. All the saltines in the room started yelling and screaming about “injustice” (something they don’t actually know a fucking thing about!). I just smiled, got up, walked out, and went to my office to file a formal grievance against them for harassment.
I’ll be reading your recaps each time (Thank You again!!!), and once this series is done, I hope they put it on DVD. I’ll buy it. No bootlegs. Gotta support Cuba, Courtney and all the rest.
[Had to share. All these years later and that moment still hurts.]
You had me at “Saltine Crew”, thank you. And I worked for the Blackest organization in the world at that time…DC government. People were in the break room crying tears of joy and Cripwalking after the verdict was read.
I was in my first year in college as a international student. Not my first time in the US, but my first time living and breathing and deeply interacting with Americans. In Central Pennsylvania. Possibly the whitest place on earth.
I was in class when someone announced they were about to read the verdict and people rushed around to hear it. What followed afterwards was such an eye-opening experience for me as I’d never encountered race relations in America before. The resounding feeling I got was people held back, “they are not saying what they really want to say because of me. I’m the only black person in this room and they’re afraid to express themselves.”
The experience didn’t mar my time in college even though the four other black students and I exemplified ‘token black person.’ I had good interactions with my peers, whether they had race issues or hid them I’ll never know. But the OJ case made me feel very vulnerable in those early weeks at college.
Yep, I remember the whole case and followed the hearings when it happened. I remember thinking, “Can’t ya’ll shoot the tires out? Where the stop sticks?” I just can’t give 16 episodes of my life to watching this series. The idea already has me tired. I intentionally skipped watching and decided to follow Luvvie’s recaps. #ojstorycan’thavemylife
I didn’t expect to get caught up in the movie, but I was. It took me back to when it actually happened. I was actually on the road headed to LA for our Senior trip while the slow speed chase was going on. We had to get off the road for a bit. Granted, it never really hit me what was happening.
I was at FAMU when the verdict was read. Man…that was pandemonium, especially since most of us thought he was guilty. We were just happy that “fame” worked for a black person and he got off. Let me correct myself and speak only for myself. That’s what I thought.
There was also a conspiracy in the back of my head. I recall when the investigation was going on, that there was blood found at the scene that didn’t match anyone, including OJ. That news report showed up once and never again. I never forgot about that.
I don’t even want to flick thru the channels and accidentally give that show a Neilson rating! Screw OJ and his story!
Luvvie!!! Why you make me click through tho?? I live to nest on here and never leave!!!
I’mma watch ALLLLL 16 weeks… cause my baby get here in 19 weeks and I ain’t got nun else to do! LOL!!
P.S….I kinda always felt like O. J. did it–cause the gloves only didn’t fit cause they kept freezing and thawing and freezing them again. They shrunk em and didn’t even realize it.
That first episode was amazing. It’s worth seeing for the behind the scenes tea. For example, Orenthal really had himself a life sized statue on his property. For why?? Melrose had no sales on floor length mirrors? And why oh why would he 1) go to Nicole’s funeral and 2) kiss her in the casket. #Bastard move if I ever saw one. I always thought he was guilty, he has done nothing since to make me think otherwise.
LOVE your recaps, as usual, and I’m all the way here for this series, especially since I (like so many others) remember the whole fiasco and exactly where I was when the verdict came down. My 11th grade English teacher was NOT about to miss it, hunty, so we didn’t either! Lol However, can we all just stop for a moment for this line in Luvvie’s recap:
“Marcia calls Shapiro LIVID because his client is playing bald-headed games.”
I LITERALLY died. And I’m still recovering because: bald headed games. LMAO!!