DOCUMENTARY SERIES RETURN: Long before public radio’s This American Life caught the public imagination in 2014 with its Serial podcast examining a murder case in depth, and HBO captivated viewers with its 2015 documentary series The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, this French miniseries demonstrated both the appeal and the impact of taking a deep dive into a real-life mystery. The Staircase, in its original form, was televised as a multi-part documentary miniseries by France’s Canal+ Network in 2004, telling the story of Kathleen Peterson, found dead at the bottom of her home staircase in 2001. Her husband, novelist Michael Peterson, made the 911 call from their house in Durham, saying his wife had fallen down the stairs, but he ended up being charged with her murder. Filmmaker Jean-Xavier de Lestrade examines the case with patience and skill, conducting interviews with everyone involved, and allowing the facts, and the inferences, to surface naturally. And he’s there almost from the start, as Peterson’s legal team builds a defense, and as prosecutors assemble their case against him. Sundance Channel imported the original miniseries, which spawned a follow-up sequel in 2013. A new sequel, prompted by the latest events in the Peterson case, is presented today by Netflix, which packages its new program with the previous Staircase installments. The first Staircase won a Peabody Award – and the entire package is chilling, even more so as the story continues over the years.