Netflix’s ‘Missing You’ Debuts With Disappointing Rotten Tomatoes Score

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As a cinephile with a penchant for thrillers and a soft spot for Harlan Coben’s works, I eagerly anticipated the arrival of “Missing You” on Netflix. The New Year’s Eve binge-watching seemed like the perfect opportunity to dive into this fresh adaptation. However, as someone who has witnessed the highs (Fool Me Once) and lows (One More Time) in Coben’s television journey, I approached “Missing You” with a mix of excitement and trepidation.

The series started off intriguingly enough, but as I delved deeper into its narrative, I found myself wrestling with the pacing and character development. The skeleton tumbling out of a closet every other scene was, indeed, becoming increasingly ridiculous. Our protagonist, Detective Kat Donovan, while tenacious, seemed to be more of a hindrance than a help in her own investigation.

However, I’m not one to dismiss a series based on early reviews alone. After all, the success of shows like The Handmaid’s Tale and Big Little Lies proves that well-executed stories can captivate audiences and win critical acclaim, even when they start off with a lukewarm reception.

So, I’ll continue to follow “Missing You,” hoping it finds its footing and delivers the gripping thriller experience that I’ve come to expect from Harlan Coben. And who knows? Maybe one day I’ll look back on this review and laugh at my initial reservations, much like how I chuckle at my initial skepticism about peanut butter and jelly sandwiches… a culinary combination I now can’t imagine living without!

On January 1, 2025, “Missing You”, the Netflix adaptation of Harlan Coben’s novel, premiered. This show comes at a perfect time to offer you a fresh viewing option after New Year’s Eve festivities, allowing you some quiet time with loved ones before embarking on a new year. Interestingly, the Rotten Tomatoes rating for this series has been released, and the results are intriguing.

When Detective Kat Donovan finds a match on a dating platform with a man who went missing years ago, she realizes that certain mysteries may be better off unsolved.

The show Missing You has started off at a modest pace, as we’re still in the early stages of its release and viewers are just starting to stream it. Nevertheless, the opinions from critics on Rotten Tomatoes have been published, and they’ve given it a mixed reception. At this moment, the show has earned a 44% score on the review aggregator, based on nine reviews. Some critics have commended its captivating storyline and adherence to the original source, while others have criticized aspects such as its pace, delivery, and character development.

The Follow-Up To Coben’s ‘Fool Me Once’ Isn’t As Well-Received

Last year, Harlan Coben’s previous Netflix series, titled “Fool Me Once”, was a massive hit when it debuted on the streaming platform. Critics applauded its engaging plot, clever dialogue, and powerful acting, giving it a commendable 71% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Given that “Fool Me Once” proved to be an exceptional addition to Netflix’s expanding collection of thrillers, anticipation for the new series, “Missing You”, understandably ran high.

Regrettably, the show “Missing You” hasn’t garnered the same level of praise as expected. Critical reception has been mixed. For instance, Brian Tallerico on RogerEbert.com criticized the series for its repetitive plot twists and called the protagonist a poor detective, stating that it “constantly reveals a new skeleton in the closet every other scene, growing increasingly preposterous as it ties itself in knots to keep the main character in the dark.” Lucy Mangan from The Guardian found the series forgettable, commenting that “you won’t recall anything about it just 10 minutes after the credits finish rolling.

Adapting books to screen isn’t always predictable; they can either strike gold or fall short. Shows like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Big Little Lies,” for instance, have shown the power of skillfully told stories to captivate viewers and receive high praise from critics. However, even with initial negative reviews, a show like “Missing You” still has potential to find its rhythm as more people discover it. It’s worth noting that some of Netflix’s most beloved shows and films have received mixed or poor critical reception. The main challenge for “Missing You,” though, might be the intense competition from other well-regarded detective thrillers on Netflix, which could make its current lukewarm response a tough sell.

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2025-01-02 19:36