2026 is shaping up to be a banner year for Patrick Brammall. The Australian actor has been a steady presence on screens, from his charming turn in The Devil Wears Prada 2 to the bittersweet finale of his beloved rom-com Colin from Accounts. Now, he's diving into darker territory with Last Seen, a six-episode psychological thriller on Apple TV that refuses to follow the genre's playbook.
Written by Kris Mrksa and directed by Christian Schwochow (The Crown), Last Seen is loosely adapted from Ryan David Jahn's novel The Dispatcher, relocating the story from East Texas to the fictional Australian seaside town of Port McKenna. The series centers on Ian Ridley (Brammall), a former detective whose life unraveled after his three-year-old daughter, Maggie, vanished without a trace eleven years ago. Now working as an emergency dispatcher, Ian has never given up hope, but his obsession has cost him his marriage and his sobriety.
One night, a frantic call comes in from a teenage girl who tearfully claims she might be the missing 'Mags.' This sparks a desperate investigation that forces Ian to confront old leads and long-buried secrets. His ex-wife, Debbie (Jessica Wren), and their son, Dean (Tobias Muhafidin), are skeptical, while new Detective Senior Sergeant Izzy Pena (Zahra Newman) is wary of Ian's involvement. Meanwhile, a seemingly unrelated family—Henry (Brendan Cowell), his wife Jenna (Maxine Peake), and their daughter Sarah (Chloe Jean Lourdes)—live a quiet life on a remote farm, unaware that Sarah bears a striking resemblance to an age-progressed image of Maggie.
What sets Last Seen apart is its commitment to character over plot mechanics. The series doesn't string viewers along with cheap twists; instead, it reveals key truths early and focuses on the emotional fallout. Brammall delivers a nuanced performance, capturing Ian's fragile hope and self-destructive tendencies with a likability that keeps you rooting for him. The supporting cast shines, particularly Wren's vulnerable portrayal of Debbie and Lourdes's breakout debut as Sarah, whose performance anchors the story's most poignant moments.
The show also explores the ripple effects of trauma across two families, examining how secrets fester and how grief can both connect and divide. The dynamic between Ian and his sponsor, Donald (Daniel Henshall), adds another layer, especially as Donald finds himself torn between loyalty and duty. The series' twists are rooted in human nature rather than contrived surprises, making for a more satisfying and thought-provoking watch.
For fans of Apple TV's other thrillers like Slow Horses or Severance, Last Seen offers a different kind of suspense—one that lingers long after the credits roll. It's a testament to the streaming service's commitment to bold storytelling, much like Anya Taylor-Joy's The Gorge earlier this year.
In a genre often defined by formula, Last Seen stands out as a refreshing, emotionally resonant take on the missing-child thriller. It's not just about who took Maggie—it's about what happens to those left behind. And that's a mystery worth unraveling.
