New Year Premiere: Netflix’s “Missing You” Arrives Just in Time

Netflix is starting the New Year off with a bang, bringing viewers a captivating new series just in time for the holidays. Since 2020, the streaming giant has been delighting audiences with a UK miniseries based on the thrilling books by Harlan Coben. And it looks like their strategy is working: last January, “Fool Me Once,” starring Michelle Keegan, Adeel Akhtar, and Joanna Lumley, became one of Netflix’s most-watched shows of the year, racking up a whopping 108 million views.

This year, get ready for “Missing You,” based on Coben’s 2014 bestseller. The series stars Rosalind Eleazar as Detective Inspector Kat Donovan, a specialist in finding missing persons—except for her vanished fiancé, who disappeared without a trace 11 years ago.

The release of this show on January 1st is no accident. Actor Richard Armitage, a veteran of winter Coben adaptations, shares, “They know Jan. 1 is the sweet spot for them. People have really taken to these shows, and they want their Harlan Coben fix on New Year’s Day.”

The storyline kicks off with Donovan’s ex-fiancé reappearing on a dating app after more than a decade, leaving her stunned. And the series promises plenty of twists and turns along the way. In fact, the cast had to turn to the book to find out how the story ends, as they weren’t initially given the final two scripts.

According to Eleazar, Harlan Coben has a unique talent for leading viewers down the wrong path. “You’re always wrong about who or what is really going on,” she explains. The show’s ending, described as “hair-raising” by Armitage, will surely keep audiences on the edge of their seats.

So, while you binge-watch all five episodes of “Missing You” from the comfort of your home, the cast members will be celebrating the new year in various ways. From Lenny Henry’s cozy traditions surrounded by roast potatoes to Eleazar’s elaborate themed costume parties at rented castles, each actor has their unique way of ushering in the new year.

One thing is for sure, “Missing You” is set to be the perfect start to 2025 for fans of gripping thrillers and captivating storytelling. Get ready to be hooked from the first episode!