The Missing, episode 7, review: A last-minute bluff crushes expectations
Viewers seeking answers were sent off course with a deft bluff tonight
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Your support makes all the difference.We’re approaching the end of The Missing but just to make things a little bit more interesting writers Harry and Jack Williams have thrown a red herring into the mix that pulls us in hook, line and sinker.
The disappearance of a French boy in 2009 - that may or may not be linked to the disappearance of Oliver Hughes - takes up a good chunk of the episode and keeps audiences guessing.
Again, there are similarities to reality that add to the believability of the story. This red herring is reminiscent of the disappearance of Shannon Matthews in 2008, it emerged that she was kidnapped by her mother’s boyfriend.
It’s an artful move by the writers. Just like grieving parents Tony and Emily Hughes, we want to find out what happened to Oliver on that fateful day by the swimming pool and are willing to believe almost anything.
A bluff so close to the finish – it’s episode seven of eight after all - raises our expectations before crushing them. Luckily we are rewarded when a recovered scrap of evidence puts us back on course.
While some dramas use the penultimate episode to solve the mystery and the final episode to wrap things up, The Missing is keeping its viewers in the dark.
Instead the tension is ramped up even further with the death of prisoner Khalid Ziane (Said Taghmaoui) seconds before he can give evidence. On top of that is Tony’s threat of exposure for the murder of Ian Garrett if scheming journalist Malik Suri (Arsher Ali) has anything to do with it.
There are so many factors that continue to maintain the momentum and ensure there is never a plodding moment in this series. It’s been a thrilling and engaging journey over nearly two months, with one episode to go, will we finally learn the truth next week?
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