Starz’ The Nowhere Man Season 1 Episode 1 Review: Lukas Packs Heavy in “The Things We Carry”

If you thought your morning commute was stressful, try being Lukas. While most of us are aggressively caffeinating and wondering if we can get away with wearing sweatpants on a Zoom call, the protagonist of Starz’ newest adrenaline-soaked offering, The Nowhere Man, is busy wrestling with literal and figurative ghosts in the heart of Johannesburg.

The series premiere, titled "The Things We Carry," dropped on January 16 and it’s safe to say that Starz has officially entered the "brooding mercenary with a heart of gold" arena with guns blazing. If you’ve been looking for something to fill the John Wick-sized hole in your soul but with more emotional baggage and significantly more South African grit, this is your new Friday night obsession.

From Waste Picker to War Machine

We meet Lukas (played by the magnetic Bonko Khoza) not in a high-tech bunker but in a landfill. He’s a waste picker, living a life of extreme anonymity to escape a past that clearly involved a lot of high-caliber weaponry and very few HR-approved conflict resolution tactics.

The episode title, "The Things We Carry," isn't just a clever nod to Tim O’Brien; it’s a literal description of Lukas’s existence. He carries physical scrap to turn into art for a local shelter and he carries enough PTSD to power a small city. Khoza plays Lukas with a quiet, vibrating intensity that makes you realize he isn’t just "retired", he’s a ticking time bomb trying to pretend he’s a pacifist.

Naturally, in the world of TV, "staying out of trouble" lasts about as long as a New Year's resolution. When Lukas witnesses a home invasion, his muscle memory kicks in and the "Nowhere Man" suddenly becomes the "Man Everywhere" as he dismantles a group of attackers with the kind of efficiency that makes you wonder why anyone ever tries to rob anyone in a TV pilot.

The Supporting Players: More Than Just Background Noise

While Khoza is the anchor, the premiere does a solid job of populating his world without making it feel like a crowded elevator. Naturi Naughton-Lewis stars as Ruby, the operator of a local shelter and Lukas’s primary link to humanity. Naughton-Lewis, who also executive produces, brings a necessary warmth to an otherwise bleak landscape. She’s the one telling Lukas he can be more than his scars, even if we all know he’s about three minutes away from a high-speed chase.

Then there’s Neo (Dineo Rasedile), whose connection to the escalating violence suggests that Lukas’s attempt at a quiet life was doomed from the opening credits. The chemistry between the cast is palpable and the South African setting provides a visceral, dusty backdrop that feels far more authentic than the usual "generic urban city" tropes we see in American action dramas.

Action with an Actual Pulse

Let’s talk about the stunts. The Nowhere Man doesn't rely on shaky-cam to hide bad choreography. The fight sequences in "The Things We Carry" are crisp, brutal and surprisingly grounded. Lukas doesn't feel like a superhero.

The takeaway? It’s a show about a man who wants to be left alone but is too good at killing people to ever actually get his wish. It’s a classic trope, sure, but the execution here is top-tier. The pacing of the premiere is relentless, barely giving the audience (or Lukas) time to breathe before the next threat emerges from the shadows of his former life.

Torch it or Tomb it?

If you’re into gritty cinematography, complex anti-heroes and watching bad guys get their comeuppance in increasingly creative ways, "The Things We Carry" is a stellar start to the season. It manages to balance the high-octane action with a genuine sense of sorrow for its lead character. Lukas isn't just carrying weapons; he’s carrying a soul that’s been through the shredder and we’re definitely sticking around to see if he can stitch it back together.

For more deep dives into your favorite shows and the latest casting news, keep your eyes locked on The TV Cave. Whether you’re here for the recaps or the news, we’ve got you covered.

The Nowhere Man airs Fridays on Starz.

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