Scarpetta Review: Nicole Kidman Anchors Prime Video’s Wild New Crime Series

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Nicole Kidman has become a television powerhouse all her own. While she first appeared on TV way back in 1984, she’s starred in nine different series since the success of Big Little Lies in 2017. These shows span many genres – from action-packed thrillers to dramatic stories full of secrets – and are known for her memorable performances, including unique accents, different hairstyles, and stunning settings. But what truly connects all of Kidman’s projects is her captivating presence; she’s a steady center even when the stories around her are wild and unpredictable.

This spring, nine TV series will expand to eleven, including new adaptations of Margo’s Got Money Troubles and Scarpetta, both available on streaming platforms. While some of these shows are exceptional, like the first season of Big Little Lies, others haven’t quite hit the mark. Scarpetta, premiering on Prime Video March 11th, falls somewhere in between – it starts as a seemingly standard crime drama but occasionally veers into surprisingly strange territory.

Scarpetta Bites Off More Than It Can Chew But Still Remains Compelling

The new show Scarpetta, created by Liz Sarnoff and starring Nicole Kidman, is based on the popular Kay Scarpetta crime novels by Patricia Cornwell. With 29 books in the series, there’s plenty of story to adapt for television. The first season tells a decades-spanning story, introducing viewers to Dr. Scarpetta, a medical examiner, and the people in her life through two different time periods.

The story jumps between two timelines. Currently, Kidman plays Scarpetta as she investigates a new series of murders that echo a past case, coinciding with her return as Chief Medical Examiner of Virginia. The earlier timeline, set decades ago, features Dr. Scarpetta – portrayed by Rosy McEwen, known for her role in Blue Jean – and her colleagues.

McEwen truly shines in this role, which is particularly impressive given the strength of the other actors. She skillfully portrays Scarpetta as both a strong, no-nonsense professional – a necessity given the subtle but constant sexism she faces at work – and a more vulnerable woman at home, where she’s raising her niece and navigating a complex romance with a coworker.

Joining Nicole Kidman and Colin McEwen, Jamie Lee Curtis plays Dorothy, the doctor’s sister, in Scarpetta. Curtis delivers a vibrant performance, reminiscent of her roles in The Bear and The Last Showgirl, portraying a lively Italian woman who constantly craves attention, masking a deep-seated resentment from always feeling overlooked by her sister and their spouses.

Bobby and Jake Cannavale play Dorothy’s husband, Pete Marino, a friend of Kay Scarpetta. Simon Baker and Hunter Parrish star as Benton, who will become Scarpetta’s husband and works as an FBI profiler. All of these characters harbor personal issues and resentments, and the story unfolds as Scarpetta observes their lives together at Benton’s home in Virginia, alongside Dorothy’s daughter, Lucy, played by Ariana DeBose.

At the beginning of the series, the personal lives of the characters often feel more compelling than the crimes being investigated, especially since the main mystery takes a while to become clear. This makes it hard for the show to find its footing, and it sometimes feels unsure of what it wants to be. The storylines are all over the place – dealing with things like AI, space stations, spies, and even artificial organs – alongside more typical crime drama elements. Those familiar crime aspects actually provide a welcome sense of normalcy compared to some of the show’s more unusual ideas.

Let me tell you, this series is wonderfully unhinged. The first season, with eight episodes, really does have something for every viewer. And honestly, it feels perfectly timed. With streaming TV constantly questioning what it is, along comes Scarpetta – a show that tackles tough, real issues like sexism at work, violence against women, and the scary potential of AI. But it doesn’t just stop there. It wraps all of that in a genuinely gripping crime story that somehow manages to extend beyond Earth itself. It’s a wild ride, and I was hooked.

Scarpetta premieres on Prime Video on March 11.

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2026-03-10 19:38