If you've been mourning the end of Mindhunter and the conclusion of Bosch, Apple TV+ has a new series that might just fill that void. Nocturne is a gritty, ten-episode thriller that combines the haunted detective trope with the chilling pursuit of a serial killer. Starring Liev Schreiber as Jonah, a detective who never recovered from the trauma of capturing the notorious Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham), the show delves deep into the psychological toll of obsession.
Jonah's life fell apart after the Walter case: he lost his wife, his child, and even his partner. So when a young man named Michael Frost—Walter's supposed victim—is found wandering on a bridge after three years in captivity, Jonah is pulled back into the nightmare. But Walter is locked away in a psychiatric facility, so how did Michael escape? Is there a copycat, or did Walter have an accomplice? These questions drive the tense narrative, which marries the interpersonal drama of Bosch with the criminal profiling of Mindhunter.
While Schreiber delivers a compelling performance as the tormented lead, it's Stephen Graham who truly steals the show. Graham, fresh off his role in the intense miniseries Adolescence, portrays Walter with a quiet eeriness that is far removed from the flamboyant Hannibal Lecter. Instead, he's a manipulative, calculating monster who gets under your skin. His scenes, particularly those with Rory Culkin's empathetic nurse Karl, are the highlight of the series. Karl, who takes a job administering Walter's medication out of financial desperation, becomes a pawn in Walter's dangerous game of cat and mouse.
The supporting cast, including Bill Camp and Zazie Beetz, adds depth to a story full of twists and turns. Nocturne doesn't reinvent the detective genre, but it executes it with style and substance. For fans of slow-burn mysteries and complex characters, this is a must-watch. If you're looking for more thrillers to binge, check out Prime Video's best thrillers or explore the 2010s' flawless thrillers. And for those who love literary adaptations, see 5 thriller novels begging for miniseries treatment.
With its 10-episode run, Nocturne has plenty of time to develop its characters and unravel its mystery. It's a return to the classic gritty detective who can't let a case go, and it's exactly the kind of gripping drama Apple TV+ has become known for. Don't miss it.
