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Just when you think there are enough Harlan Coben series that already exist, another one drops onto streaming.
Most of us can’t get enough of the twisty, suspense-filled thrillers from the best-selling crime novelist.
While some Coben series are based on his books, Lazarus — the new series for Amazon Prime Video — is an all-new original series co-created by the author alongside BAFTA winner Danny Brocklehurst.
Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is now streaming and Watch With Us is already on the case. Here’s why you need to check it out.
‘Lazarus’ Hooks You With Its Dense, Dueling Narratives
Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is about a forensic psychologist named Laz (Sam Claflin), who returns to his hometown following the recent suicide of his psychiatrist father, Dr. Lazarus (Bill Nighy). The six-part series sees Laz becoming involved in a series of murders while also dealing with the circumstances surrounding his father’s death. There’s also the still-unsolved murder of his sister from 25 years ago.
The show’s multiple dueling narratives involve Sam’s present-day dilemmas and flashbacks to when he was younger (where the character is played by Ewan Horrocks). The series doesn’t always do a great job of differentiating between timelines, so there may be a little bit of confusion for viewers. But ultimately, the contrasting timelines add a richness and complexity to the narrative and its characters, as well as muddying reality versus delusion.
You Won’t See the Plot Twists Coming
Coben is famous for his twisty, surprising narratives, and Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is no different. The series instantly hooks you in and keeps you there with its numerous curveballs and cliffhangers. Just when you think the primary plot line has resolved itself, Coben throws something else in to make you back to question everything. Ultimately, the series is masterful at keeping audiences just enough in the dark.
By doing so, it makes the show’s surprises all the more impactful, even though there are so many of them. Each episode concludes with an unanswered question that makes it so that you have to keep watching, a show tailor-made to be binge-watched. And while the bulk of the season’s mysteries do get wrapped up in the end, the show concludes in such a way that the door is at least left open for a second season. Personally, we could keep hitting “Next Episode” on Harlan Coben’s Lazarus for a lot longer, but we respect the decision if it remains a limited series.
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‘Lazarus’ Is Silly in All the Best Ways
Make no mistake, fans of Coben are not in it for any sort of prestige or awards, but for a fun, silly and totally absorbing mystery-thriller that is less like high art and more like a theme park ride. The plot is outlandish, the timelines are ambitious, the twists and turns are crazy — and we can’t get enough of them. Watching Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is kind of like watching Vanderpump Rules: you know you’re only in it for the base serotonin boost, and yet you can’t turn away.
At not one point, but two separate times in the show, Dr. Lazarus is amusingly referred to as someone who “delved into minds for a living.” Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is likely not to convert any Harlan skeptics, let alone haters, but for those of us who are perfectly keyed in to his particular brand of maximalist mysteries, Harlan Coben’s Lazarus is going to hit just right.
English (US) ·