One of Apple TV’s best new thrillers is flying under the radar
One of Apple TV’s best new thrillers is flying under the radar
In ‘Last Seen,’ a former detective gets a call from a girl who may be his daughter, 11 years after she disappeared.
Apple TV is proving that you don’t need to make bets on a lot of shows in order to make great ones. It’s got one of the best batting averages of all the streamers. And with so few shows, it’s hard for any of them to really sneak under the radar. But the Australian thriller, “Last Seen,” has done exactly that. Despite great critical reviews and a high concept twist, no one I’ve talked to is watching this show. And when I told Tara (my wife) we should try it, she hadn’t heard about it either. And now we’re hooked — counting down the days to new episodes. So, here’s why I think “Last Seen” is the best under-the-radar thriller show on Apple TV you should be watching.
Best under-the-radar thriller TV show on Apple TV
Why ‘Last Seen’ is the most underrated thriller series on Apple TV
Every great thriller starts with a great premise that pulls you in, and “Last Seen” has it. Patrick Brammall plays Ian Ridley, a former detective (now an emergency dispatcher) whose three-year-old daughter Maggie disappeared 11 years earlier. And it’s left a mark on him — it cost him his marriage, he’s a recovering alcoholic now, and he’s still not over her disappearance. And then he gets a call from a pay phone… from a distraught girl who sounds just like Mags, and who says she could be Mags. Is it her? And if it is, how will he find her?
Patrick Brammall is sensational here. He’s exhausted, angry, obsessive, vulnerable, and just teetering on the edge of the abyss. If you know him for his comedy (like “Colin From Accounts”), get ready for a totally different experience. And the supporting cast is just as strong. Newcomer Chloe Jean Lourdes as Sarah Reid is great — you really buy her as this recluse who hasn’t had too much exposure to the real world. And her father, Henry Reid (Brendan Cowell) is great as the ultra-religious, imposing father.
Now, this isn’t a thriller with a huge twist every episode. It does have them, but it likes to let you sit in the emotional consequences of what’s revealed. You probably get more information earlier on than you would in other shows. But I like that because it lets the actors really sit in it. There’s nothing melodramatic about any of it, which is important with a premise like this. And even though it’s grounded, the story moves fast with just six episodes total.
So why isn’t it getting the love it deserves? There are a few possible reasons. Brammall is respected but he’s not a big name in the U.S. This also isn’t a big Apple TV IP play like “Silo” so the marketing is more subdued. It’s also dropping at the same time as much bigger shows like “Ted Lasso,” “Slow Horses,” and “Dark Matter,” which all have name recognition already on Apple TV. And it’s Australian, so you wouldn’t expect a giant push in the U.S. Still, if you give it a chance, you’ll be telling your friends about it in no time.
Last Seen
When emergency dispatcher Ian Ridley receives a frantic call from a teenager he believes could be his long-missing daughter, he stops at nothing to find her.
What is ‘Last Seen’ about?
“Last Seen” follows Ian Ridley (Patrick Brammall), a former detective whose three-year-old daughter Maggie disappeared 11 years earlier, tearing apart his family and his life. Now working as an emergency dispatcher, Ian answers a frantic call from a teenage girl and becomes convinced the voice on the other end belongs to Maggie. That sends him straight back into the mystery he’s never been able to let go, pulling him toward another family whose secrets may be connected to what happened all those years ago.
Other underappreciated thriller TV shows on Apple TV
If “Last Seen” works for you, Apple TV has a few other thrillers that scratch a similar itch. “Hijack” throws Idris Elba into a hostage crisis aboard a plane (and then a train), with the story playing out in real time as he tries to talk and think his way through it. “Presumed Innocent” goes in a more legal-thriller direction, following a prosecutor who suddenly finds himself at the center of a murder investigation involving someone from his own office. Then there’s “Black Bird,” a much darker psychological drama based on a true story about a prisoner asked to get close to a suspected serial killer to get a confession. All three are tense, character-driven, and easy to get hooked on if you want something to roll into after “Last Seen.”
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.