Something’s missing here

Her father died nearly 11 years ago. About the same time, her fiance disappeared from her life and it seems from the face of the earth. And she is no ordinary woman but the dogged Detective Inspector Kat Donovan. Could the plot get thicker? Yes it does, often too thick. Indeed, the story unfolds with much intrigue if not cutting-edge tension.

Kat, played by Rosalind Eleazar, is in charge of tracing missing persons. Why she has not cared to find out where her boyfriend vanished is as baffling as his sudden popping up on a dating site. Instead, she seeks the help of her friend, private investigator Stacey Embalo (Jessica Plummer), to track him down, actually do half her jobs, including finding her way into a prison hospital. Stacey’s job otherwise is to nail cheating husbands and wives. Amidst fishing in the woes of failing marriages, she plays agony aunt to Kat and directs her to a dating app.

In the strands of a dating site, Melody Cupid, which matches couples on the basis of their musical tastes, stands a story of love, murder and corruption. Deceit too, as scammers go about catfishing, which means tricking or attracting someone by pretending to be someone different on the social media. Red herrings, as expected in a mystery thriller, are aplenty. Who killed Kat’s father? Is it her boss, Detective Chief Inspector Ellis Stagger (Richard Armitage)? Why does she think the man, Monte Leburne (Marc Warren), serving a sentence who has already confessed to her father’s murder is not the real suspect?

As if answers to these queries are not enough, there is a parallel narrative racing in between. A widower is missing and a son too is on the trail of his mother. It’s only a matter of a few episodes when Kat’s path will cross that of dog breeder Titus (Steve Pemberton does the spiteful act well), who loves dogs and hates unfaithful partners. But the ominous reality is not what meets the eye.

The series, set in the UK, is based on a book by American writer Harlan Coben, whose 12 books have already seen their way to screen. He has also signed a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix, which is where the five-episode series is streaming. Expectedly, writing is of a reasonable standard. Dialogues have a certain pun with an underlying wit. Sample this: ‘Refusing to tidy up in the 21st century is a bold act of feminism’, or ‘you turned off love like it was a hate crime’.

The title ‘Missing You’ is clever… as much a love song by John Waite as an allusion to missing persons. On the socially correct parameter of inclusivity, too, the series ticks many boxes. There is a trans woman, Aqua, a yoga teacher. Not only are two episodes directed by Isher Sahota, there is an Indian character as well. Rudi Dharmalingam’s Rishi Magari is dispensable though and there are certain surprises we can’t reveal, for those classify as spoilers.

Acting, except by the lead star Rosalind and the chirpy Jessica Plummer, who adds glamour and allure to her ‘lure act’, is perfunctory.

With several threads crisscrossing the limited series, things get entangled, heightening the suspense but also sapping our investment in its lead characters. Repeated flashbacks don’t help. The pace is fine but if the tempo doesn’t lag, nor does it take you to adrenaline-rush junctures. There are a few edge-of-the-seat moments, and it’s hard to fathom or predict the twists. More often than not, you are taken aback by the turn of events. Why, one big reveal is reserved for the anticlimax when you think all has after all ended happily ever after.

If each episode has a prelude, there is a final epilogue too. Though there is a possible window for another season, mercifully the series does not end on a cliffhanger. Bingeable for sure, however, ‘Missing You’ is certainly not the kind you would regret missing out on. It’s that filler when you have nothing to do and nothing better to watch.