The BBC’s critically acclaimed anthology crime drama has earned a stunning 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and viewers say it rivals the very best on TV — including Broadchurch and Breaking Bad
The series has been compared to Breaking Bad(Image: BBC/New Pictures Ltd)
Crime drama fans who relish nothing more than a nail-biting series, packed with unexpected twists, will feel right at home with this highly acclaimed BBC show.
Although it first aired back in 2014, viewers appear to keep discovering the binge-worthy series and have nothing but admiration for its storylines, performances and distinctive settings.
The Missing is a British anthology drama with the first eight-part series centring on the harrowing hunt for a missing boy in France and the second on a missing young girl in Germany.
Across two seasons, the show explores how far parents are prepared to go in their unconditional love for their children and the devastating impact that having missing children can have on the families left behind.
A number of comments across the review site Rotten Tomatoes draw comparisons to some of television’s most celebrated shows. One viewer shared: “I am enjoying Broadchurch, but I think this is even better. Totally absorbing.”, reports Wales Online.
Meanwhile another described it as the “closest thing to perfection I’ve seen on TV since Breaking Bad or The Wire”. They even explained they found the show to be “so good” that they wish they hadn’t seen it at all, only to “experience the brilliance again”.
In the powerful first season, James Nesbitt takes on a leading role as Tony Hughes, the father of the missing boy. Alongside him is Frances O’Connor as Emily Hughes, Oliver’s mother, whom we later witness developing a new relationship with someone connected to her son’s case.
When the narrative’s setting and characters shift in season two, released two years later, viewers can look forward to seeing David Morrissey as Captain Sam Webster and Keeley Hawes as his wife Gemma Webster.
Both seasons are anchored in specific time periods, brilliantly capturing the cultural significance of each era, with the first child’s disappearance revolving around the 2006 FIFA World Cup in France. The second centres on the sudden reappearance of a British girl who went missing near a German military base back in 2003.
It’s fair to say the show became a phenomenon after its first season, amassing an impressive overall review score of 96%, a near-perfect Rotten Tomatoes rating. Audiences and critics alike were united in their admiration for the character development and the sheer range of emotions conveyed within a single storyline.
It wasn’t just television enthusiasts who recognised the show’s enormous potential, as it received nominations at some of the most prestigious award ceremonies, having been put forward for numerous Emmy Awards, Golden Globes and BAFTAs upon its release.
One detailed review reads: “Brilliant. The writers have crafted a very clever, enthralling and all too realistic storyline about children taken by reprehensible people.
“The characters are fleshed out with depth; you feel the pain, fear, horror, and frustrations each one feels for their situation. And excellent casting and performances all around.”
The Missing is streaming now on BBC iPlayer.
