What To Watch: Harlan Coben’s Lazarus, Nobody Wants This, The Golden Bachelor, Talamasca: The Secret Order

Harlan Coben’s Lazarus

Wednesday, streaming on Prime

It feels as though grisly, macabre stories are everywhere at the moment. Perhaps it’s a reflection of the state of the world, or maybe it’s simply because we’re headed towards Halloween, and everyone likes a good scare at this time of year.

Regardless: dark dramas are definitely de jour. And this one, from mystery/thriller writer Harlan Coben, looks to be a great addition to the genre.

It stars Sam Claflin as Joel Lazarus, a psychiatrist whose father, Dr Jonathan Lazarus (Bill Nighy), dies in mysterious circumstances. His death seems to be a suicide, but things just aren’t adding up, and Joel is starting to experience unexplained visions. Through the course of the series, he sets about trying to piece together what happened to his father, and how his death may be related to the murder of his sister and several other unsolved cold cases.

If you’ve seen the teaser for this series, you’ll already have an idea of the tone this twisty-turny murder mystery. It’s shaping up to be a suitably disquieting affair, the line between sanity and madness, truth and illusion blurry at best.

This is based on an original idea, with Coben teaming up with BAFTA-winning writer Danny Brocklehurst on the project — all six episodes will drop at once, and it’s not a stretch to think viewers will be up late into the night obsessively bingeing their way through this fast-paced series.

One for mystery fans.

The Golden Bachelor

Monday, 7.30pm, Nine

There’s something satisfying about watching a bunch of older women vie for the affections of a lovely seeming older bloke, in this case the charmingly dapper 61-year-old “Bear”. The women after his heart are in their 50s and 60s, well and truly done with the BS, and ready to cut to the chase — viewers will likely appreciate this fresh take on an old format.

Nobody Wants This S2

Thursday, streaming on Netflix

More like, EVERYONE wants this. It’s hard to overstate just how universally adored this rom-com series starring Kristen Bell and Adam Brody really is — fans have been eagerly awaiting the second series. The story picks up with rabbi Adam and podcaster Joanne loved-up and fully committed. But enmeshing their lives won’t be smooth sailing, and you can bet sparks will fly. Adore this show.

Talamasca: The Secret Order

Monday, streaming on Stan

This is the latest from Anne Rice’s Immortal Universe and sees Aussie actor Nicholas Denton front and centre alongside Elizabeth McGovern. Denton plays Guy Anatole, a law school graduate who is approached by the secretive Talamasca, an agency that monitors and protects from the supernatural world. Eric Bogosian and Justin Kirk reprise their roles from Interview With The Vampire, providing crossover. One for fans.

End Game With Tony Armstrong

Tuesday, 8.30pm, ABC

Ex-ABC presenter Tony Armstrong is on a mission to tackle the issue of racism in sport, embarking on a global search for solutions. Real talk: it’s hard not to feel a degree of despair when talking about this topic (are we going backwards?), but this doco does a good job at making me think all may not be lost. Bravo Tony — keep fighting the good fight. This is well worth a watch.