In Prime Video’s latest psychological thriller, “Harlan Coben’s Lazarus,” bestselling author Coben and BAFTA winner (and frequent collaborator) Danny Brocklehurst explore two of the most disturbing experiences of the human condition: death and grief. The series, with its biblically inspired title, follows Joel “Laz” Lazarus (a remarkable Sam Claflin), a forensic psychologist who, following the suicide of his father, Dr. L (Bill Nighy), begins to have disturbing and inexplicable experiences. As Laz tries to cope with the inexplicable death of Dr. L, he also reflects on the unsolved murder of his twin sister Sutton (Eloise Little), 25 years previously. As a result, Laz is led down a winding path of unsolved cases that threaten to destroy his sanity. Shocking and seductive, the show is a mind-bending mystery that only reveals its true nature at the very end.
“Lazarus” opens in the psychiatric hospital where Laz works. While preparing for his patient, Arlo Jones (Jack Deam), a mentally disturbed serial killer, he receives a phone call from his father. Preoccupied, Laz ignores his phone and continues his work, where a ranting and delusional Arlo declares that God is going to punish him. Shortly after the session ends, Laz’s sister Jenna (Alexandra Roach) calls to tell him that their father died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Racing to his hometown of Manchester, England, a shocked Laz and Jenna try to piece together their father’s state of mind in the final moments of his life. His suicide note, which includes the words “it’s not over” and a drawing of a three-legged stool, leaves more questions than answers. Things become increasingly confusing for Laz when, while visiting Dr. L’s office, one of her father’s patients, Cassandra (Sianad Gregory), arrives for her session. Scared and nervous, the woman never realizes that Laz is not Dr. L. After Cassandra abruptly leaves the office, Laz decides to dig through his father’s patient files using the resources of his oldest friend, Seth (David Fynn), a police officer, to try to obtain additional details about her. At the same time, the events that led to Sutton’s death continue to come to mind.
The six-episode limited series skillfully blends the past and the present. Unable to reconcile the horrific loss of his father, Laz begins to obsess about what once was, trying to dig through the missing pieces from the day Sutton died. He dedicates himself to trying to solve Sutton’s murder, piecing together clues and circumstances that no longer seem to hold any truth. Additionally, meeting Cassandra leads him to consider other mysterious clients of his father. Although the audience is privy to Laz’s motivations, outsiders, including Jenna, Seth and his ex-wife Bella (Karla Crome), can only see a man overcome by grief and loss who quickly falls apart. The show is a mystery that contains elements of horror, but it’s also a frank examination of how deep grief can reshape the human spirit.
Although “Lazarus” is well-acted and mostly well-executed, there is one bizarre plot point that doesn’t fit as eloquently with the rest of the series. Bella’s teenage son, Aidan (Curtis Tennant), has a fixation on Laz. However, it feels foreign, especially considering the many intriguing elements and angles already present in the series. This particular aspect of the show frays the captivating tone that had been so masterfully crafted from its opening scene. Yet with series on Netflix and Amazon, it’s clear that Coben is expanding his brand beyond trashy fun and toward more eloquently told mysteries.
Overall, “Lazarus” is an exciting mystery with many layers that will keep viewers guessing until the final scene fades to black. The show reminds its audience of the inevitability of death and how grief forces us all to reflect, even when we thought we had long since buried past versions of ourselves.
All six episodes of “Harlan Coben’s Lazarus” premiere October 22 on Prime Video.
