Missing You Series-Premiere Recap: Evil Exes, Dead Dads, and British Drama

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As a seasoned film enthusiast with a penchant for international series, I must confess that I have a soft spot for those quick-paced, suspenseful shows that capture our attention and then swiftly disappear from our consciousness a fortnight later. Shows like “Baby Reindeer,” “Squid Game,” and even “Money Heist” fit this bill perfectly, leaving us with memories of adrenaline-fueled binge-watching sessions that are as fleeting as the shows themselves.

Enter “Missing You,” a new addition to Netflix’s roster of forgettable yet engaging series. Hailing from the mind of Harlan Coben and set in the charmingly rainy streets of Manchester, this show tells the tale of Detective Inspector Kat Donovan, played by Rosalind Eleazar, who is as tenacious as she is emotionally scarred. The story follows Kat’s quest for closure when her almost too handsome ex-fiancé, Josh (Ashley Walters), resurfaces on a dating app after a decade of silence following the murder of her police officer father.

I found myself intrigued by the premise and the unique twist of matching people based on their music preferences with Melody Cupid, but I couldn’t help feeling that the show was a bit predictable at times. The pieces clicked into place far too quickly, and it seemed as though everyone involved in the production had read the script beforehand to avoid any plot twists.

That being said, there were moments of genuine suspense and intrigue, particularly when Kat enlisted her private detective bestie to help uncover the truth about Josh’s visit to Monte LeBurne, the contract killer who murdered her father. The revelation that Josh had visited the prison on the day he disappeared only added to the mounting mystery surrounding his character and left me eagerly awaiting more episodes.

The show also boasted some beautiful cinematography, with shots of Kat’s friends at the end of the episode being particularly striking. I found myself wondering if they knew more than they were letting on, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Richard Armitage’s Stagger, Kat’s boss, has some secrets hidden up his sleeve.

All in all, “Missing You” was an enjoyable watch that kept me guessing, even though the answers came a bit too easily at times. It’s the perfect show for those nights when you find yourself with nothing to do and a hankering for some lighthearted suspense. Just remember to keep your expectations in check, or you might end up disappointed. And as always, the British accent never hurts!

Now, if only I could figure out what Aqua was singing at the end of that episode… maybe it’s a clue?

As a dedicated binge-watcher who has spent countless hours glued to my screen, I can confidently say that Netflix truly excels at delivering fast-paced, thrilling series that keep me hooked. These shows are often short and engaging, hailing from various corners of the globe, making them perfect for a day or two’s worth of binge-watching. The moment I finish one, I can’t help but share my excitement with friends, urging them to watch it because it left me utterly amazed. However, just like a fleeting summer romance, the memory of these shows tends to fade after a couple of weeks. Take “Baby Reindeer,” “Squid Game,” and “Money Heist” for example – all shows that seemingly appeared out of nowhere, yet have left an indelible mark on Netflix ever since.

Just like Fool Me Once, it also gained significant attention upon its release on New Year’s Day. Despite mixed reviews from both critics and viewers who found it merely average, the Harlan Coben adaptation managed to perform exceptionally well on the streaming service. This success led Netflix to promptly approve two more adaptations of his work, including the recent New Year’s release, Missing You.

In a change from its original New York setting, the series “Missing You” follows Detective Inspector Kat Donovan, skillfully portrayed by Rosalind Eleazar from “Slow Horses.” Kat not only excels in investigating missing persons but has personal experience with such cases, as her dashing ex-fiancé, Josh (Ashley Walters), mysteriously disappeared a decade ago, following closely on the heels of her police officer father’s murder. This callous act seemed to have left Kat cold towards love, but it soon becomes apparent in “Missing You” that there may be more than just heartbreak behind his sudden departure.

The puzzle pieces fall into place when Kat finds a match with Josh on the music-based dating app, Melody Cupid. It’s unclear why Josh is back in town and using this app after his previous unkind behavior. Undeterred, Kat swipes right and they connect. She reaches out to him, seeking some form of resolution. However, he dismisses her, stating that it wouldn’t be wise for them to converse.

At approximately the same period, it comes to light that Monte LeBurne, the ruthless contract killer who ended up taking Kat’s father’s life, is battling a rapid-progressing cancer, leaving him with only a few days left to live. In an imprudent move, she persuades her private detective confidante to help her gain access to the prison where LeBurne resides, hoping for some form of retribution or explanation. Despite his reluctance and unwillingness to see anyone, an enigmatic nurse with red lips manages to let Kat in due to the seemingly relaxed ethical standards in a dying prisoner’s final days.

That’s only reinforced when, after Monte clams up and revels in making Kat cry, his creepy nurse injects him with some sort of morphine-based truth serum, saying it’ll have him singing like a bird within minutes. It does the trick and Monte, believing Kat to be his sister, tells her that he wasn’t paid to kill her dad but rather to take the fall. He was already locked up for two other killings, so what’s a third? Kat’s shocked, but anyone with half a brain could have told you that Monte wasn’t going to be good for this murder one way or another. It’s episode one, after all. There’s more story to tell.

Simultaneously, Kat receives a call from her private investigator friend who’s parked outside the prison, revealing that they’ve obtained records of everyone who has ever visited Monte. (Gasp!) It turns out Josh was there the day prior to his sudden disappearance from Kat and town, adding further suspicion to his behavior.

For Kat, her private struggles aren’t isolated incidents; they intertwine with her professional life as well. She encounters turmoil at work due to a fresh, tech-savvy colleague and the mysterious disappearance of a man named Rishi. We occasionally catch glimpses of Rishi, who seems disoriented and lost in fields, or deep in thought about an elusive woman he’s fondly imagined against soft illumination.

It’s questionable if that girl was real; In episode 1, Rishi is captured and bound by a man in a tractor, while Kat and her associates search the cottage Rishi had rented. Inside, they discover unopened champagne, wrapped lingerie, and a claim that he had booked the cottage for two people but arrived alone. I suspect the man with the cattle prod might have deceived Rishi about this mysterious woman, though it’s unclear whether or not it connects to Kat, Josh, and her deceased father’s storyline. Fortunately, you can find out more in the next episode of Missing You on Netflix, which is readily available for your late-night viewing pleasure.

Missing Notes

• I’d bet big money that the decision to shoot Missing You in the U.K. rather than NYC was made for either budgetary or logistical reasons, but I love it. There’s something about watching relatively unknown (to us) dramatic actors traipse around cute row houses, alfresco dining spots, and big empty farms that I just can’t get enough of. It’s more prestigious somehow, and I can’t explain why, but it’s a fact.

In the final moments of this latest episode, I found myself questioning the secrets hidden within the tight-knit circle of Kat’s friends, especially Mary Malone’s Aqua. Their enigmatic expressions suggested they harbor knowledge far beyond what they choose to reveal. As for Richard Armitage’s character, Stagger – Kat’s superior – his cryptic demeanor only fuels my suspicion that he is privy to some hidden truth as well. I find it hard to believe otherwise.

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2025-01-01 19:54