Based on the novels The Sandman and Lazarus by Lars Kepler, the new psychological crime drama ‘Nocturne’ is coming to Apple TV on Oct. 30.
The series follows the story of ex-soldier and homicide detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber). After a lengthy career, he moves away from Philadelphia to seek a quieter life. He is then forced out of retirement when the notorious serial killer Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham) mysteriously becomes active again while still imprisoned. His colleague and surrogate daughter Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz) must go undercover in a dangerous race against time to catch Walter from the inside.
Reflecting on what sets Nocturne apart from other crime thrillers, Beetz said, “I think the stakes are very real. I think the characters are dealing with the weight of emotion and a very complicated history with one another. I think because we’ve had years of impact on each other, it adds a lot of interesting texture.”
From the very beginning of the season, a core theme of the story is the close mentorship and relationship between Jonah and Saga and how that relationship impacts their decisions when tackling the case. “I think he makes the mistake that fathers often make, which is to assume they know what’s right for their children,” said Schreiber. “There is all this resistance and anger complicated by the fear that I think the character is feeling and the secrets he’s sitting on that he can’t release even to her.”
Graham gives an extremely chilling portrayal of Walter, establishing an immediate sense that the story is going places we can’t even imagine. “I’ve heard from victims that mental abuse is what stays with you forever,” said Beetz. “With the way this character is able to weasel his way into situations while in prison, even when he’s not in the room he’s still in everyone’s mind.”
The first two episodes of Nocturne premiere Friday, October 30, on Apple TV, with new episodes continuing weekly through December 25.
