One to Watch: Stephen King’s ‘The Outsider’ A Murder Mystery Meets the Supernatural

For this weekend’s ‘One to Watch,’ we’re revisiting a more recent Stephen King adaptation The Outsider. When it premiered on HBO in early 2020, it introduced viewers to a story that starts as a murder investigation, a standard whodunit, then gradually shifts into something far stranger. Based on Stephen King’s 2018 novel and brought to screen by Richard Price, the series blends classic procedural drama with supernatural dread, all wrapped in a somber, slow-burn style.

The series opens in a small Georgia town where the mutilated body of 11-year-old Frankie Peterson is discovered in the woods. The horror is immediate, and the case appears open-and-shut. Terry Maitland (Jason Bateman), a respected teacher and little league coach, is arrested in broad daylight during a game, handcuffed in front of a stunned crowd. His DNA, fingerprints, and multiple eyewitnesses place him at the scene of the crime.

But just as quickly, the certainty begins to unravel. Surveillance footage and credible witnesses confirm that Maitland was at a literary conference in another city at the time of the murder. His alibi is airtight. The contradiction is impossible—unless the impossible is on the table.

From here, The Outsider begins to pull at the threads of its mystery. Detective Ralph Anderson, played by Ben Mendelsohn, is forced to confront a scenario that science can’t explain. The deeper the investigation goes, the more the series hints at something unnatural lurking behind the brutal killing. A strange hooded figure appears in the background of crime scene footage. There are hints of shape-shifting, doppelgängers, and ancient forces feeding on human tragedy.

The show is meticulously paced, with an atmosphere of quiet menace. It doesn’t rush. Instead, it leans into long silences, distant framing, and shadowy interiors, creating a sense of unease that builds slowly rather than exploding. While this measured tempo frustrated some viewers, it also allowed room for detailed character work and subtle psychological tension.

The focus pivots toward understanding how such a crime could occur when every piece of evidence both implicates and exonerates the same man. In his absence, the mystery deepens and the emotional stakes waver, until new energy arrives in the form of Holly Gibney.

Played by Cynthia Erivo, Gibney is a private investigator with an extraordinary mind and unorthodox methods. The addition of Gibney, signals a turn toward the metaphysical. Her character, familiar to King fans from the Mr. Mercedes series, becomes the key to unlocking the show’s deeper mythology

Visually, The Outsider stays true to its grim tone. The cinematography favors muted palettes, often filming through doorways or windows, as if the viewer is eavesdropping on a world unraveling. It’s a stylistic choice that underscores the show’s themes: distorted perception, hidden truths, and the limits of what people are willing to believe.

While not every thread is tightly woven, and some viewers may feel the pace stretches thinner than it needs to, the performances anchor the show. Erivo is a standout, but Mendelsohn and the supporting cast, including Jason Bateman, who also directed the first two episodes, deliver grounded, compelling work.

The Outsider spans 10 episodes, each around an hour long. And although HBO chose not to move forward with a second season despite having scripts in hand, the series leaves a lasting impression.

It may not offer the catharsis of resolution for every character, but it crafts a slow, chilling meditation on grief, identity, and belief. For those patient enough to follow its deliberately paced unraveling, The Outsider is a haunting journey into the darkest corners of both crime and myth.

The Outsider is available to stream on HBO Max in the US, UK audiences can purchase it on SKY.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Instagram Twitter(X) YouTube TikTok