In the first episode of Last Seen on Apple TV, we learned about Ian Ridley (Patrick Brammall) and his search for his missing daughter, Maggie.
It seemed as though after 11 years her body had finally been found. But there was an implication that there might be more to the story. In the second episode of the two-episode premiere, “The Call,” we learn that there is indeed more to the story.
Meet Sarah
We open back with Henry (Brendan Cowell) and his family. He’s married to Jenna (Maxine Peake), and they live with their daughter, Sarah (Chloe Jean Lourdes). But it’s clear that they are living off the grid and keeping to themselves. Sarah leads a sheltered life. She never leaves the property — not even for school.
When a new family moves into the farm behind their property, she makes a friend with a boy named Tommy (Felix Cameron). Tommy is a connection to the outside world, and he’s surprised at how little she knows. But Sarah explains her family is very religious and keeps to themselves. When Tommy’s father arrives to try and make friends, Henry puts his family into hiding and quickly gets the man to leave.
But it’s not really religion that is the reason they are so guarded. And it’s not the reason they are keeping Sarah from engaging in the world. And when Henry spots a flier for a vigil in Maggie’s honor, it spooks him. It also spooks his wife. He decides he’ll attend but shelters Sarah from all that is going on.
Manhunt at the vigil
Meanwhile, Ian is developing a theory. The place where the body was found is secluded. The original theory had been that a drifter had passed through, taken Maggie, and killed her. But this is an area that only a local would know. So, Ian begins to suspect that the killer might still live in the area, meaning that the vigil would be a chance to flush them out.
So, he turns to his son, Dean (Tobias Muhafidin). Dean was home with Maggie when she disappeared. He got a knock at the door that at the time went nowhere. Dean has struggled with guilt over what happened to his sister, and this offers him a chance to help. At the vigil, he’ll pass out candles and see if anyone sparks his memory.
The problem comes with Det. Pena (Zahar Newman) letting Ian know the DNA is back and the body isn’t Maggie. She expects the vigil will be cancelled, but Ian asks to be the one to tell his family. He keeps the vigil going to keep his plan going, but it doesn’t bear fruit. Worse still, Det. Pena arrives and lets Deb (Jessica Wren) know the truth. She’s rightly upset, as is Dean, and Ian is still no closer to the truth.
Ian goes back to work
In order to maintain his sobriety during a chaotic time, Ian heads back to work. He’s put on calls to help give him a focus. It helps him to do what he’s good at and make a difference, but one of the calls further rattles him.
Sarah sees her father leave for the vigil and uses it as an opportunity to sneak out with Tommy.
Tommy convinces her to go to a party, which is something Sarah isn’t prepared to experience. She’s given soda and alcohol for the first time, and it throws her. While at the party, she sees a flier for Maggie Riley, and it jogs a memory. She remembers writing her nickname — Mags — on a log. It causes even more confusion, and she wanders away and into the street.
In her panic, she finds a public phone and calls emergency services. She’s connected to Ian, and as she begins to say she might be Mags, he wonders if this could be his daughter. He leaves the headquarters to drive to where she’s calling from, but by the time he arrives, Sarah/Maggie is nowhere to be seen.
This is quite a cliffhanger ending. We know Maggie is alive, and Ian knows it, too.
Now, Sarah is beginning to suspect there is more to her story. But who picked her up? Was it Henry returning from the vigil? And will Sarah even remember what happened given the state she was in? There’s a lot to unpack as we head toward episode 3.
Last Seen streams Wednesdays on Apple TV. Check back next week as we recap all the action of the season. Have a question or a theory? Share it in the comments below!
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