Apple TV delivers a breathtaking thriller in Nocturne

The actor is accompanied by an equally convincing ensemble including Bill Camp, Poorna Jagannathan, Rory CulkinGary Carr and Chrissy Metz. Schreiber and Beetz form the turbulent emotional core of the series; Jonah and Saga have been so scarred by Jurek that revenge and rage fuel their actions. While trying to stop the maniacal killer in the past, Jonah’s police partner/Saga’s father died and Saga’s stepmother disappeared. Jonah blames Jurek for these crimes and is also certain that, although he is safely locked away at Riverside Psychiatric Hospital, Jurek is responsible for the reappearance of 12-year-old Michael in Fairhaven. Their problems deepen when Saga infiltrates Riverside as Esther, an unstable criminal, in the hopes that Jurek will tell her about Michael’s 17-year-old sister, who is still missing. In the process, Beetz deftly juggles two distinct personas: the determined officer that Saga actually is, and the exhausted “patient” she pretends to be – who may or may not become another victim of Jurek’s manipulations for real.

NocturnalThe intriguing puzzle pieces – including the mystery of why Jurek’s loved ones start disappearing and his unpredictable friendship with his naïve caretaker Karl (Culkin) – could have turned into a labyrinthine or exposition-heavy affair. But in the hands of directors like Tim Van Patten and Anu Menon, as well as writers like Joffe and John Hlavin, the plot moves at a breakneck pace and the character dynamics feel naturally lived-in. The longtime bond Jonah shares with Saga and Sheriff Ellison (Camp) is as natural as his new partnership with FBI Chief Quinn (Jagannathan), who arrives in town to help with the case.

Fortunately, Nocturnal doesn’t waste time with cop drama clichés like different cops arguing over competence or the right actions to take. He’s not interested in exploring the inner workings of the force. Jonah and his colleagues team up to take down Jurek, but find themselves facing targeted attacks that increase tension and allow Nocturnal to delve into the disturbing psyche of his serial killer. Jonah and Jurek, in particular, share a venomous relationship that sends lines into every other storyline. Nocturnal‘s priority is to create thrilling suspense with everyone caught in Jurek’s web. This list of people includes Karl, who becomes an unwitting pawn between Jurek and the detectives in a way that is sure to leave you worried for his mental and physical well-being.

Nocturnal becomes a spectacle greater than the sum of its moving parts— parts that include Metz’s arc as Michael’s distressed mother, Saga’s fragile romance, and Jonah’s own tragic family life — because of the way it elegantly weaves broader themes of grief, parenthood, and what it means to let go into its central mystery. A solution to the case seems predetermined, but much like the page-turning source material, the journey is an addictive journey to that destination.

Saloni Gajjar is The AV Clubthe TV critic of . To make sure you see more of his writing, add The AV Club as a preferred source on Google.