The Missing (2014-2016), the acclaimed British anthology crime drama created by Harry and Jack Williams, remains one of television’s most emotionally devastating and masterfully crafted series, blending heart-wrenching family tragedy with intricate, non-linear storytelling across two unforgettable seasons.

Broadcast originally on BBC One and later on Starz in the US, the eight-episode seasons each tell self-contained stories of child abduction, exploring the ripple effects on parents, investigators, and communities. Season 1 (2014) follows Tony and Emily Hughes (James Nesbitt and Frances O’Connor) whose five-year-old son Oliver vanishes during a family holiday in France in 2006. The narrative alternates between the immediate aftermath and eight years later, as Tony obsessively pursues leads while his marriage crumbles.

Season 2 (2016) shifts to a new case: the disappearance of Alice Webster in 2014 from a British army base in Germany, with flashbacks to 2003. Tchéky Karyo reprises his role as French detective Julien Baptiste, the only recurring character, linking the seasons with quiet determination and moral depth.

What elevates The Missing beyond typical procedurals is its refusal to prioritise plot twists over human cost. The Williams brothers craft narratives where resolution is rare and ambiguous, focusing on grief’s long shadow. Nesbitt’s raw portrayal of Tony — swinging from hope to despair — earned BAFTA nominations, while O’Connor’s Emily embodies suppressed rage. David Morrissey, Keeley Hawes, and Laura Pyrrokalo in Season 2 add further emotional weight.

Critics hailed its innovative structure and atmosphere. The Guardian called it “television at its most gripping and heartbreaking,” while The New York Times praised its “relentless emotional honesty.” Both seasons hold 95%+ on Rotten Tomatoes, with audiences describing binge sessions through tears.

Karyo’s Baptiste became iconic, leading to the spin-off Baptiste (2019-2021). The series’ legacy lies in humanising victims’ families, avoiding sensationalism while delivering shocking revelations — often in final minutes that reframe everything.

Filmed in Belgium and Germany with bleak, rain-soaked visuals and Hans Zimmer’s haunting score contributions, The Missing feels European in its restraint yet universal in its pain. It redefined anthology crime drama, influencing shows like Your Honor and The Undoing.

A decade on, The Missing endures as essential viewing — not for answers, but for the unflinching truth of loss. Stream both seasons on Starz or BBC iPlayer — but keep tissues close. This is television that doesn’t just entertain; it devastates.