The progression of "Nocturne" unlike Liev Schreiber's previous show "Ray Donovan" is about the reluctance of failure that draws one back in. Schreiber plays Jonah, a retired cop who was at the center of a missing child investigation. That seems to have undone him and most of the town when he was unable to bring a perpetrator to justice. Once the long missing boy shows back up (but not his sister who was also taken), Jonah's surrogate daughter Sarah (Zazie Beetz, late of "I Will Kill You”) pushes him against his will (or likely not) back into the fray. Everyone including the Sheriff (played by Bill Camp, who has played a couple serial killers in his time) wants him to stay away but the concept of what they are scared of is a little elusive.
The prelude of the series speaks to the serial killer Walter (Stephen Graham) who is holed up in a psychiatric ward in isolation with no possibility to get out. Walter has the ability to get into people’s heads. Graham is fantastic as the character but you never quite get an endgame even into the second episode. Granted the second episode moves a little bit more in flashbacks to show where the characters come from but the more engrossing scenes are when Schreiber is investigating and sees a clue. As an actor, he can undeniably hit these points and bring the viewer. Sarah works as an FBI uncover agent and decides to put herself in play to draw out the information but the whole reason (although sound) seems a little bit beyond story sense. The other personality in play is Poorna Jagannathan as FBI Agent-In-Charge Alexandra Quinn. She is willing to bend the rules but only if it gets her to the truth. But as a scene in an interrogation room speaks to, there is more than one truth. Walter obviously knows more than he letting on but there are ways he works that others don’t. Rory Culkin plays a new nurse at the psychiatric hospital and unlike his brother Kieran who just won an Oscar we haven’t seen as much from Rory. Because of that, it is interesting to see him play this character (especially a damaged one considering his early career move in "You Can Count On Me". "Nocturne" has a slow burn quality but enough crispy acting to keep the viewer engaged, depending where the narrative goes. 86%/B/B+
By Tim Wassberg
