Michael Peterson said he found his wife at the bottom of the staircase after a fatal fall. But authorities believed when Kathleen Peterson learned of her husband’s double life, he beat her skull with a blow poke in a fit of rage. With the support of his family, a top-notch defense attorney, and a French film crew documenting his every move, Peterson stood trial in a case filled with twists and revelations. Despite holes in the evidence, the jury convicted him of murder.

The MAX Original 8-part drama “The Staircase” starring Colin Firth and Toni Collette takes the story beyond where its namesake documentary left off. We see Peterson’s challenges in prison, his family’s personal struggles, clashes over bias in the film - and yes - evidence that an owl attack accounted for Kathleen’s wounds and disorientation.

OUR SPOILER-FREE REVIEWS OF HBO'S "THE STAIRCASE" BEGIN APPROXIMATELY IN MINUTE 38:00

In crime of the week: all shook up.