Lars Kepler’s internationally bestselling crime novel The Sandman captivated critics with its chilling portrayal of serial killer Jurek Walter, a villain often compared to Hannibal Lecter for his terrifying psychological hold. The novel masterfully used the city of Stockholm as a backdrop for despair in the wake of Walter's crimes. However, Apple TV's adaptation, Nocturne, co-showrun by John Hlavin and Rowan Joffé, fundamentally misunderstands the source material, resulting in a middling series that wastes its considerable talent.
What is Nocturne about?
Nocturne centers on retired detective Jonah Lynn (Liev Schreiber), who is drawn back into a case when a boy presumed dead reappears. Aided by FBI agent Saga Bauer (Zazie Beetz), Jonah investigates the boy's disappearance and the whereabouts of his sister. Concurrently, Jurek Walter (Stephen Graham) exerts a chilling influence from within a maximum-security prison unit, not through overt violence, but through his hypnotic speech. Graham’s portrayal immediately establishes Jurek's menacing presence, even in silence.
A Phenomenal Cast Let Down by the Script
While the initial episodes set up intriguing mysteries, the series struggles to elevate its protagonist. Schreiber’s performance as Jonah is competent, portraying a gruff ex-cop familiar to procedural dramas, but it lacks the spark needed for a compelling lead. His role feels one-note, failing to make Jonah particularly inspiring or exciting.
In stark contrast, Beetz and Graham are captivating. Beetz imbues Saga with a deceptive depth, reminiscent of Clarice Starling's early portrayal in The Silence of the Lambs. She is resourceful and determined, refusing to compromise her integrity. Graham, much like Mads Mikkelsen's Hannibal Lecter, reimagines Jurek as a sophisticated yet deeply unsettling villain. His every gesture and utterance conveys a profound menace, making Jurek a presence felt even off-screen.
However, even these outstanding performances cannot overcome the show's core flaw: a failure to "show, don't tell."
A Misunderstanding of the Source Material's Appeal
In The Silence of the Lambs and The Sandman, the tension derives not only from the central investigation but also from the pervasive psychological impact of the villains on everyone around them. Kepler's novel excelled at depicting how Jurek Walter's crimes affected individuals, families, and the city of Stockholm.
Nocturne begins by focusing on the ripple effects of Jurek's actions, particularly through the Frost family. Yet, midway through the season, the narrative shifts its focus heavily to Jonah's personal grief. This pivot sidelines potentially compelling characters like Saga and Quinn (Poorna Jagannathan), an FBI agent who serves as a strong foil to Jonah. While the series tells us that the people of Fairhaven are recovering from Jurek's influence, it fails to show this impact, missing the novel's central theme: the pervasive aftermath of crime on an entire community.
Seven episodes in, Nocturne's potential is evident, but its current trajectory suggests it will devolve into a conventional cop drama rather than embracing the psychological depth and mythos of Jurek's influence that made the novel so gripping. The series is set to premiere its first two episodes globally on Apple TV on Friday, Oct. 30, with subsequent episodes releasing weekly until December 25, 2026.