The true story behind TNT’s I Am the Night: Who was Fauna Hodel?

The pilot episode for I Am the Night made its debut tonight on TNT. The noir thriller left viewers intrigued and with many questions, mainly — how much of the show is true?

The series, starring Chris Pine is a noir thriller that follows Fauna Hodel (India Eisley) and Jay (Pine) on a mission to learn more about George Hodel (Jefferson Mays). Missed tonight’s pilot episode? Please note big spoilers are ahead!

I Am the Night kicks off introducing Fauna right away. The year is 1965. We quickly meet Fauna (who doesn’t know her real name is “Fauna” just yet), and after the quick intro, the captivating opening credits appear. Audiences are also introduced to Jay, a disgraced reporter desperate to jump on a major case. Well, he may be on to something bigger than he expected.

It’s not until halfway through the episode Fauna learns her true identity. Angry with her adoptive mother, Jimmy Lee (Golden Brooks), Fauna runs away hoping to meet her grandfather, George Hodel, and get some answers.

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Jay and Fauna’s paths don’t cross in this episode, but the connection is made in the final moments. When Jimmy learns Fauna wants to meet her grandfather, George Hodel, she calls Jay. She knows of Jay after reading one of Jay’s old articles on Hodel, one of the suspects in the Black Dahlia murder case.

Jimmy tells Jay he is right to be suspicious of Hodel, reigniting Jay’s desire to crack the case. His research on Hodel will eventually lead him to Fauna, who is having no better luck tracking down her grandfather.

How much of the series is based on a true story? More than you think! Although, it’s mostly speculation. Read on…

I Am the Night is based on the late Fauna Hodel’s book One Day She’ll Darken, where she recounts her journey to learn more about the family who gave her up and her grandfather, George Hodel.

Even Hodel’s real life son, an LAPD detective, believes his father is guilty of not only Elizabeth Short’s (Black Dahlia) brutal murder, but other killings, as well.

This isn’t the first time a series focuses on The Black Dahlia, other shows and movies (including an episode of American Horror Story) mention the case, which is one of the most popular unsolved mysteries to date.

Patty Jenkins personally met Hodel with interest of putting her novel on the screen. In an interview with TNT, Jenkins says of Hodel, “She [Fauna Hodel] stumbled into the absolute heart of one of the most famous true crime stories in history.”

While I Am the Night will be following Short’s murder closely, it has a stronger focus on Fauna’s story, as well as Jay’s journey.

I Am the Night airs Monday nights at 8 p.m. Central on TNT.