Harlan Coben’s Lazarus concluded with a jaw-dropping final episode, but will there be a second season?
“I’ve never ventured into a second season before — though I’ve had the opportunity in the past,” Coben, the creator alongside Danny Brocklehurst, shared exclusively with Us Weekly this month. “We’ve left a bit of an opening for some fun at the finale, but it’s more of an invitation rather than a traditional cliffhanger.”
At 63, Coben emphasized that he would only consider a sequel if he believes it could outshine the original. The novelist (whose works weren’t the basis for this Prime Video series) mentioned that fans can expect all narrative threads to be resolved after the series finale.
Sam Claflin as Joel Lazarus. Ben Blackall / Prime
“Every question raised during the initial episode finds its resolution by the end of the sixth,” he clarified. “It all comes together. As for a potential season 2? It’s uncertain.”
Nonetheless, Coben is open to possibilities.
Warning: Spoilers for Lazarus follow.
The series, which dropped all six episodes on Wednesday, October 22, showcased Sam Claflin portraying Joel, a forensic psychologist returning home after the perplexing suicide of his father. While sifting through his father’s office, Dr. L’s (Bill Nighy) former space, Joel begins encountering the spirits of deceased patients and sets out to resolve their cold cases.
The season finale of Lazarus finally unveiled the identity of the killer — or rather, three killers in total. One of them was Sam Olsen (Edward Hogg), a classmate fixated on Joel’s twin sister Sutton (Eloise Little), responsible for her murder two decades ago.
Although he held a connection to the Lazarus clan, he wasn’t responsible for any patients’ deaths. The real murderers were Dr. L himself; faced with the fallout of his wrongdoings, he committed suicide.
The final identified killer was, according to Claflin, a “total surprise.” Earlier, viewers learned that Joel had fathered a son, Aidan (Curtis Tennant), with his former flame Bella (Karla Crome).
The concluding scene of the series displays Joel attempting to visit his therapist-turned-love interest, only to find her home ransacked. In a shocking twist, he encounters Aidan wielding a bloody sickle, indicating he was the ultimate killer before the screen faded to black.
“The last episode genuinely shocked me,” Claflin shared with Us. “I didn’t see that one coming. There were times I suspected Joel was behind it all.”
What transpired as the screen faded to black?
“I’m quite certain that Joel survives. No way he meets his end,” Claflin remarked. “It certainly leaves the door open for Joel’s potential return — reminiscent of a Dexter-like scenario, where I could offer him support.”
He added, “There’s certainly the potential for a second series, but that’s not for us to decide. It hinges on audience demand and enthusiasm. I believe it has been left beautifully open-ended.”
All episodes of Harlan Coben’s Lazarus are available for streaming on Prime Video.
