Missing You Misses the Usual Charm of Netflix’s Harlan Coben Adaptations

As anyone who has tuned into Netflix’s growing Harlan Coben (limited series) universe can tell you, there is no shortage of delectable mysteries, jaw-dropping twists, and unbelievable and unsettling final moments… except in the latest installment, Missing You. The new show is remarkably lacking in the usual charm and gripping storytelling that accompanies these book-to-screen thrillers, which have included The Stranger, Shelter, and Fool Me Once so far. There’s a lot to explore in this five-episode-long series, and it begins with quite a bit of potential. However, with so much to dig into and so little time to do so (five episodes, really?), Missing You ultimately fails to deliver in any satisfactory manner, losing the gut-wrenching thrill that its predecessors had and the signature, unpredictable twists.

The series follows Detective Inspector Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) as several investigations—both personal and professional—come to a head in her life. The first surrounds her former fiancé Josh (Ashley Walters), who ghosted her 11 years prior and hasn’t contacted her since, something she’s still struggling with that bleeds into her other romantic prospects. But when Josh resurfaces on a dating app and matches with her, Kat decides it’s time to get some answers. Additionally, just before Josh ghosted her, Kat’s father was murdered, and the conclusion of the case has left her feeling uneasy ever since. And, finally, her DI skills are tested when she and her coworkers begin digging into a missing person’s case that is much larger than it appears.

Perhaps the most flawed and consequential aspect of the series is that every supporting character is so completely underutilized and underdeveloped. Although Kat is the center, it’s those around her that bring the series to life. Her relationships with nearly all of the supporting players are the most important part of the show, yet said characters (and, thus, their relationship with Kat) are all fundamentally lacking. Considering this tale begins with Josh and the long-lasting fallout of his ghosting Kat, there is a considerable lack of exploration of his character and the relationship they shared. Instead, each episode has the same flashback(s) playing in Kat’s mind on a loop, when that vital time could have been used to go deeper and make us care about what they shared.

Likewise, the immensely talented Richard Armitage, appearing here in his fourth Coben adaptation, is all but completely wasted as Kat’s boss and mentor Sergeant Ellis Stagger. Meanwhile, Kat’s friend Stacey (Jessica Plummer) is arguably one of the most interesting characters to come out of the Coben/Netflix universe (and I would definitely love to see her lead a series of her own following her wild adventures as a private investigator), but again there’s so little effort and time devoted to this friendship. Stacey exists almost solely as a tool for Kat’s investigations, which is disappointing. Additionally, antagonist Calligan (James Nesbitt) is such a fun character; however, we spend surprisingly little time with him, which is just one more squandered opportunity for a show full of them.

And then Kat and Stacey’s best friend Aqua (Mary Malone), who plays an important role in the goings-on, is even less developed, causing far too much of the series to fall flat. Like Josh, this character needed more time to make certain areas of the story hold any real emotional weight, especially with the impact her actions are supposed to have on Kat. It’s a shame, really, because Malone is excellent in what limited material she does have to work with. Three more episodes and a better use of its limited time could have easily solved all of these outstanding character issues.

Most Coben mysteries take an unexpected turn, but those presented in this Netflix offering are rather straightforward, a bit dull, and rather predictable. There’s nothing here to catch the viewer by surprise. (Well, maybe one thing…) The villains are nothing but generic foes for Kat to stop, and the answers that we do get to the many questions raised during the series are underwhelming.

Missing You falls short of the caliber of the usual Coben/Netflix fare. Despite Eleazar delivering a great performance, it’s tough to say this is worth your time. The potential is clearly there, but the execution doesn’t come close to living up to it. Netflix’s other Coben adaptations have such rich characters, despite each also being a limited series, paired with gripping mysteries and dynamics. And although readers have praised this novel’s intricate story since its release, it just doesn’t translate well to the screen, at least as it is presented here. It’s definitely missing something, and too much of it.

Jay Snow is a freelance writer. He has published many places on the internet. For more of his thoughts on television and to see his other work, follow him @snowyjay.

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