The Netflix series, Missing You, brings a fresh twist to the concept of ghosting. In this five-part limited series, viewers follow Detective Kat Donovan (Rosalind Eleazar) as she investigates the sudden disappearance of her fiancé Josh Buchanan (Ashley Walters) and her father Clint Donovan’s (Lenny Henry) murder.
Early in the narrative, Kat makes a startling discovery when she encounters Josh’s profile on a dating app. Intrigued, she matches with him to uncover the reasons behind his departure. However, when she sends him a song that holds special meaning for them, “Missing You” by John Waite, he responds by blocking her.
Despite enlisting the help of her best friend and private investigator, Stacey (Jessica Plummer), Kat struggles to track down Josh. Eventually, when she does manage to find him, he denies creating the dating app profile.
The gripping finale of Missing You reveals a haunting family secret (Photo: Missing You/Quay Street Productions)Uncovering Hidden Truths
As Kat delves deeper into Josh’s disappearance, she simultaneously works to solve her father’s unsolved murder case, as well as another missing persons investigation that has been ongoing throughout the season.
Eleazar shared insights about Kat’s journey, noting, “What I actually found interesting is that she never uses her skills to figure out where he [Josh] went in those 11 years until he pops up on a dating site. I think she could have found out where he went, what happened, but I think she was afraid to find out why he left because that might be heavier.”
The Dramatic Conclusion of Missing You
As the series reaches its climax, Kat uncovers the unsettling truth about her father, Clint. Rather than the ideal family man she envisioned, he turns out to be a corrupt officer entangled with gangster Dominic Calligan (James Nesbitt), who was blackmailing him due to a hidden relationship with Parker (Cyril Nri).
The story culminates with Josh confessing that he accidentally killed Clint, prompting his need to disappear entirely.
On the night of Clint’s demise, Aqua Vanech (Mary Malone), Kat’s friend and Josh’s roommate, witnesses a heated argument between Clint and his secret lover Parker, which triggers a panic in Clint. Following this, Clint frantically contacts fellow officer Ellis Stagger (Richard Armitage) to request an address search for Aqua.
Confronting Aqua at her home, Clint begs her not to disclose his affair with another man to Kat. Although Aqua agrees, she insists that he must confess to both Kat and her mother.
However, when Kat calls Aqua, Clint’s temper flares, leading to a violent confrontation where Aqua grabs a knife for protection. In the ensuing struggle, Clint gains control of the weapon, and when Josh arrives, he intervenes, inadvertently stabbing Clint.
Stagger arrives just in time to hear Clint’s final words, wherein he insists that the incident is his fault and that Kat must never discover the truth. Stagger, initially introduced as Kat’s superior, then covers up the death by paying Monte Leburne (Marc Warren), a murderer already facing trial for multiple killings, to take the blame.
Eleazar reflected on Kat’s experience, saying, “She gets revelation after revelation, and she doesn’t really have time to breathe. You almost want her to just stop and take a breath, take stock and move forward. But she doesn’t. She literally doesn’t have a moment to reflect on how much trauma she has been through, and how much trauma she’s still going through.”
The Disturbing Origins of Josh’s Profile
The creation of Josh’s dating app profile is linked to the same individuals involved in the missing persons case Kat is investigating.
Kat’s relentless pursuit for answers plunges her deeper into danger (Photo: Missing You/Quay Street Productions)As the final episode progresses, Kat discovers that Titus Monroe (Steve Pemberton) and his associates fabricate fake profiles on dating apps to entice victims to a secluded farm, where they are subjected to extortion and even murder.
In a dramatic turn, Kat and her team trace the profiles to the farm, leading to a tense confrontation. When Titus learns of Kat’s investigation, he attempts to harm Brendan (Oscar Kennedy), the son of one of his victims, who has been collaborating with Kat.
The detective intervenes just in time, saving both Brendan and his mother, Dana (Lisa Faulkner), by shooting Titus first. Dana assists in liberating the remaining captives, resulting in the arrest of the criminals, while the survivors receive medical attention.
The Future of Kat and Josh
The final moments of Missing You reveal a poignant scene between Kat and Josh. After confessing to Kat that he accidentally caused her father’s death, they share a silent moment together, with Kat reaching out her pinky towards his hand.
Reflecting on this emotionally charged scene, Eleazar shared, “That was a really hard scene to shoot. Both Ashley and I were shattered by the end of that day because it was so heavy.” She added, “There’s something quite nice about her reaching toward him in the end. I think you could read that in many ways.”
