Apple TV+'s 'Nocturne' Delves Into Western Pennsylvania Thriller Tropes

Apple TV+'s new thriller series, 'Nocturne,' brings a dark, crime-solving narrative to Western Pennsylvania, echoing recent television trends that have spotlighted the region. The series centers on a retired police detective, Jonah Lynn, portrayed by Liev Schreiber, and his FBI agent goddaughter, Saga Bauer, played by Zazie Beetz, as they investigate a serial killer.

The series opens with a chilling scene depicting two inmates communicating through plumbing in a maximum-security prison. Six months later, the narrative shifts to Karl (Rory Culkin), a nurse at Riverside Psychiatric Hospital, who is assigned to a ward housing dangerous patients, including the notorious serial killer Jurek Walter, played by Stephen Graham. Walter, through manipulation, provides Karl with a note for his lawyer before being sedated.

Parallel to this, in the Western Pennsylvania town of Fairhaven, the discovery of a teen named Michael Frost, who had gone missing with his sister three years prior, reopens old wounds. Police Chief Ellison (Bill Camp) is alerted, and the information is passed to Detective Nathan (Gary Carr) and then to FBI agent Saga Bauer. Bauer, in turn, informs her godfather, Jonah Lynn, a retired detective whose career was deeply affected by this very case, to the point of his retirement after his partner—Saga's father—died by suicide.

Clues from Michael Frost's reappearance lead Jonah and Nathan to an abandoned server farm. The evidence suggests Walter's involvement in the disappearances, despite his confinement at Riverside during the time the children vanished. Jonah communicates these suspicions to Chief Ellison and FBI Special Agent In Charge Alexandra Quinn (Poorna Jagannathan), who is leading a task force to find Michael's missing sister. When Walter refuses to cooperate, Saga opts to go undercover within the psychiatric hospital to uncover the truth.

'Nocturne' draws comparisons to other Pennsylvania-set thrillers like 'Task' and 'Mare of Easttown.' The series creator, Rowan Joffé, developed the show with showrunner John HlLavin, drawing inspiration from Lars Kepler's novel 'Lazarus.' Despite 'Nocturne' being set in Western PA, while the other series are set in the Philadelphia area, Jonah Lynn's character, complete with a Delco accent reminiscent of Schreiber's portrayal, suggests a past in Philadelphia before moving to Fairhaven. The recurring theme of a detective being haunted by a single, elusive case is central to Jonah's character arc.

The series raises numerous questions about its characters' histories and motivations, particularly Jonah's complex father-daughter relationship with Saga and the circumstances that led him to leave the Philadelphia police department. The depth of Walter's psychological manipulation of his victims adds another layer of intrigue.

Liev Schreiber delivers a convincing performance as the gruff and troubled Jonah, while Stephen Graham captivates as the soft-spoken serial killer Jurek Walter. Zazie Beetz also stars as the determined FBI agent Saga Bauer. The series is set to explore these interconnected mysteries, with the first episode leaving viewers with a mix of curiosity and anticipation for answers.