Apple TV continues to churn out new, original programming, as its slate series continues to expand every month. The streaming servicehas become known for visually compelling, well-produced, smart shows across all genres, with critical and commercial success. Its latest offering on the TV side of things is Nocturne, a psychological mystery about a serial killer based off of a collection of Swedish books. For anyone who has read any Swedish mysteries or watched any detective shows from the country, you know the material can get dark and tense.
So it’s with some lofty expectations that the show arrives, especially considering its stellar cast that includes LIev Schreiber, Zazie Beetz, and Stephen Graham. I watched the first two episodes of Nocturne on Apple TVahead of its premiere on October 30. Here’s what you need to know.
- Price
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$13 per month
- Free trial
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7 day free trial and 3 months free if you buy an Apple device
- Simultaneous streams
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6
- # of profiles
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6
- Originals
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Yes
- Live TV:
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Limited (There are live sports and some add-on channels offer live TV)
Nocturne is an effective psychological thriller
A familiar premise gives way to a compelling mystery
It’s pretty clear from the start of Nocturne that there are a lot of similarities to an iconic psychological thriller in The Silence of the Lambs. There is a serial killer on the loose, there is a creepy, knowing convict trapped in isolation in a psychiatric ward with perhaps some connections to that serial killer, and there is a young female FBI agent who gets close to that convict in order to find that serial killer. Once you move beyond all the connective tissue, however, Nocturne is fairly compelling and highly competent.
In rural Pennsylvania, Jurek Walter spends his time in isolation at a psychiatric center, though he certainly isn’t bored when the audience first meets him, mainly because it’s clear he is playing games with both fellow inmates and those who work at the center. His new night nurse Karl (Rory Culkin) is both intimidated and intrigued by Jurek, and it’s clear from the start that the calculating killer (or supposedly killer since Jurek tells everyone he is innocent) is playing with his newfound attendant.
Meanwhile, one of two missing children is found that has a connection to Jurek’s past crimes, which captures the attention of retired homicide detective Jonah (Schreiber). He joins forces with the local police and FBI to find the other. Jonah is confident but weary, a clever blend of traits that Schreiber wields effectively to create a character who stays at a distance. He seems true and noble, but there’s also just a little bit of him that you are unsure about. He also has a goddaughter, Saga, (Beetz) who is an FBI agent.
Nocturne moves quickly through introductions and plot points, and the audience isn’t let in on all the details, but it’s not quite as complicated as it sounds. Or at least Nocturne doesn’t spend too much time spelling everything out for the audience; this is a show, thank goodness, that expects viewers to pay attention and follow closely because there are a lot of mysteries to unravel. I will say, however, that a lot of the dialogue and character reveals in the early going are fairly predictable. They are all there to introduce characters that are pretty familiar to viewers, but that will hopefully be subverted later on. In order to surprise the audience, you need to start from a place of knowing, so I will allow the premise for now.
The central performances are strong, and Graham is quite unsettling: every move and gesture he makes will give you pause as it’s clear he’s willing to hurt others and hurt himself to advance his agenda, whatever it is. By the end of the second episode, the mysteries expand. Jonah and Jurek clearly have a past, and the latter is sure that his arresting officer lied. There is also something strange happening in the backwoods and empty warehouses of this sleepy Pennsylvania town; whether it’s a lone copycat killer or a cult remains to be seen. And, as expected, Saga goes into the psychiatric ward, posing as a patient, to get close to Jurek in order to find the missing girl.
Through two hours, there is plenty that makes it worth continuing, even if it does feel derivative at times. Its brooding atmosphere and quick pace make it worthwhile, at least for now, but I don’t know if it will be able to keep up the momentum for its entirety.
There are some curious decisions made, however, with regard to the Swedish source material. The names of the characters seem to be the same, as they all sound vaguely Scandinavian. The setting though, which I suspect is central to the original story, doesn’t exactly feel quite right. It’s giving autumn and there’s a slightly warmer color palette at times, which stands opposed to the cooler tones that typically accompany these northern mysteries. It helps Nocturne stand out, but I’m not entirely sure if it is the most effective choice. When Jonah searches through the woods, there isn’t the sense of isolation or menace that I feel the show is going for. The fall setting, though, does give us some terrific Jonah sweaters and jackets. Apple TV shows are nothing if not stylish and gorgeous.
I’m here to give it a chance, but by granting it my time and attention, I’m going to need Nocturne to come up with plenty more twists and turns. It’s serious and competent, so I’m willing to trust it for a few more episodes, but I’m always weary when a streamer pretty consistently demands the same number of episodes for every show. Sometimes you can feel the series dragging to fill the time required; I will need the pace to continue, mysteries to compound, and some kind of resolution at the end. I love Swedish detective shows and their US remakes, but this can’t be a situation like The Killing where there is another whole season before there are answers.
How to stream Nocturne at home
Playing on Apple TV throughout the fall
Nocturne is available to stream on Apple TV starting October 30. The first two episodes will be available together, while the remaining will drop on a weekly basis. Like most Apple TV shows, Nocturne will run for 10 episodes in total, with its run concluding towards the end of December. Each episode is roughly an hour in length.
You will need an Apple TV subscription to watch, whether it’s part of recurring enrollment or a free trial.
What else to watch on Apple TV
Plenty of quality dramas available now
Apple TV typically does a good job scheduling its new and returning series while also offering viewers a balance of genres. Nocturne drops at the end of October, but November brings with it the comedy Stick along with another new mystery/thriller series in 12-12-12, which drops on the 13th day of the 11th month.
If you’re keen on a compelling drama, I continue to recommend Slow Horse, a taut, propulsive, and often funny thriller about a group of misfit MI5 agents. The sixth season recently concluded, but it’s coming back for at least two more, so you have some time to catch up if you missed it.
