Stephen King has given a stamp of approval to a Netflix series that is both ‘exciting and mysterious,’ boasting an impressive 97% rating.
Known for his mastery in crafting horror stories, Stephen King is no stranger to thrilling narratives.
When Stephen King recommends a television series, it’s typically a sign that it’s worth your time.
The author of “It” has previously highlighted a ‘smart’ miniseries and a ‘breath of fresh air’ in the spy thriller genre.
He now suggests adding an action drama with a compelling premiere episode to your watch-list.
This six-episode series takes us to Australia, where we meet a man as unfamiliar with his identity as we are.
Portrayed by Jamie Dornan, the character regains consciousness in a hospital following a severe car accident that leaves him with amnesia.
Without identification and with few clues, he embarks on a journey to uncover his identity and the reason behind his presence in the Australian wilderness.
With the assistance of Probationary Constable Helen Chambers (played by Danielle Macdonald) and other residents, he begins to piece together his mysterious past.
What he uncovers is far more sinister and perilous than he could have ever anticipated. He must now confront the repercussions of his own deeds, remembered or not.
The series, known as The Tourist, received a near-perfect score of 97 percent from critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
According to Dread Central, King praised the show in February of the previous year.
On Twitter, King expressed: “THE TOURIST (Netflix): Don’t know what happens after the first episode, but the opening chapter is flat-out terrific.
“Exciting, suspenseful, mysterious… and full of the kindness of strangers to someone down on his luck.”
It seems he has since removed the post, though the reason remains unknown.
Despite some critics pointing out the show’s implausible storyline, this did not seem to negatively affect The Tourist’s ratings.
In his review for the Irish Times, Ed Power commented, “The Tourist is unbelievable in its own way. It is, in fact, merrily unhinged – and yet never less than addictive in its silliness.”
Pop Culture’s Tania Hussain echoed the sentiment: “The show is an impressive piece of TV that plays to both the thriller genre and dark comedy side of writing with authentic and honest dialogue that often borders humorous.”
One fan praised The Tourist’s ‘stellar cast’, noting: “This show is absolutely underrated… and draws you in right from the start.”
On Reddit, the conversation continued as one fan shared their enthusiasm after binge-watching the series.
“The Tourist is excellent,” they said, while another viewer chimed in: “I have seen two episodes so far and I can’t believe how hooked I am on this show.”
The Tourist first aired on BBC One in 2022 before making its way to Netflix US in 2024, alongside the debut of its second season, which is also available for streaming on the platform. If the series seems familiar, you might have caught it on HBO Max earlier.
Both seasons of The Tourist are currently available for streaming on Netflix in the US and on BBC iPlayer in the UK.