The Staircase Episode 1 recap revisited: What really happened before and after Kathleen’s death?

The HBO Max show The Staircase offers a new perspective on the famous case of Michael Peterson.

This new series is more than just retelling the story from the old documentary.

The Staircase Episode 1 goes deeper into the Peterson family’s private life. It shows what happened before and right after Kathleen Peterson died.

This recap focuses on the shocking moment of discovery and how it quickly changed the family. Episode 1 prepares us for a dramatic story and introduces the people involved.

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The Staircase Episode 1 recap revisited

The Loud 911 Call

The start of The Staircase Episode 1 immediately brings us into a confusing situation. We hear the loud 911 call Michael Peterson made on December 9, 2001.

He tells the operator that his wife, Kathleen, fell down their stairs. He says she is not moving and not breathing. Soon, the police and Michael's son, Todd, arrive at the home in Durham, North Carolina.

The scene is full of blood and frightening to see. Kathleen Peterson's body is at the bottom of the stairs. Michael is covered in blood and very upset. The police quickly take charge of the house. Michael is worried because the police treat his home like a place where a crime has happened.

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The family splits up

The Peterson family is big and not simple. Michael and Kathleen together had five children. This large, mixed family must now handle this sudden, terrible event. Michael calls his brother, Bill, who immediately starts finding a criminal defense lawyer. The children rush to Durham. They must face the news reporters and the police investigations.

The first part of The Staircase Episode 1 shows the family starting to disagree. Everyone chooses sides after the district attorney shows evidence that suggests Michael may have done something wrong. Kathleen's biological sisters, Candice and Lori, believe Michael caused Kathleen's death.

They stand strongly against him. But Michael's children, both his own and adopted ones, fully support their father. This painful family divide becomes the main part of the story.

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Michael's secret life and Kathleen's problems

The Staircase Episode 1 uses scenes from the past to show what life was like for the couple before Kathleen died. Kathleen Peterson was a successful leader at Nortel, a large computer technology company. She felt great pressure because people were losing their jobs, and the company was changing hands. Her job and her future were uncertain.

Michael, who wrote newspaper columns, had recently sold the rights to one of his books to a movie company. The show suggests that Michael acted in ways that were a bit strange. Later, police find odd things on Michael's computer, including pictures meant for gay men.

They also find a used condom that he denies using. These discoveries make the police investigation more difficult. They show a part of Michael Peterson that was not known to the public. Seeing these private details is what makes this new version of The Staircase different.

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The end of The Staircase episode 1: The Arrest

The tension grows as the police keep investigating. The police look closely at the house, and the results from Kathleen's medical check are released. The District Attorney is very involved in the case. Michael's past criticisms of the police in the area work against him now.

Michael is arrested so the police can look into the case. The family has to speak to reporters. They hire a well-known defense lawyer named David Rudolf.

The end of Episode 1 shows Kathleen struggling before succumbing to her death. It also reveals that she had already been dead for a while before Michael called 911. Knowing this changes everything for the family and the court case. The first episode causes viewers to question whether Michael Peterson is guilty or innocent.