Stephen King praises Apple TV crime thriller Last Seen
Stephen King Praises Apple TV Crime Thriller Last Seen Ahead of October Finale
Stephen King has delivered a glowing review of the under-the-radar Apple TV miniseries Last Seen, pointing his social media followers to the Australian crime drama as it moves toward its October series finale. Debuting its first two episodes on September 9, 2026, the six-part series is directed by Christian Schwochow and adapted by writer Kris Mrksa from Ryan David Jahn’s 2011 novel The Dispatcher.
Quick Facts on Last Seen
- Platform & Schedule: Streaming on Apple TV, having launched on September 9, 2026, with the finale scheduled for October 9, 2026.
- Critical Standing: Holds an 87% critic approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 23 reviews, alongside a 76% audience score.
- Core Cast: Stars Patrick Brammall as Ian Ridley, featuring Chloe Jean Lourdes as Sarah, alongside Brendan Cowell, Maxine Peake, Daniel Henshall, and Zahra Newman.
Stephen King and Critic Reactions to the Australian Drama
Four episodes into the six-part run, King took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his assessment of the series. As King wrote, “Two observations about ‘LAST SEEN,’ 4 episodes in (Apple+): 1—It’s a fantastic show, and 2—I see no good resolution for the families involved. Or for Sarah, who is played beautifully by Chloe Jean Lourdes.”
https://x.com/StephenKing/status/2103087794428207245
Critical response has largely mirrored King’s enthusiasm. Writing for The Guardian, Luke Buckmaster described the series as “one of the standout shows of the year,” noting that he felt “deeply invested from the start and by the third episode I was totally hooked.” RogerEbert.com critic Brian Tallerico awarded the project three stars, praising the narrative depth given to supporting characters rather than turning them into mere plot devices. Radio Times similarly lauded Patrick Brammall’s central performance, characterizing the show as seriously good despite its bittersweet trajectory.
Not all reviews were entirely unreserved. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter pointed out that protagonist Ian Ridley’s actions can become “completely inappropriate and frequently illegal in a way that would probably be unsustainable,” though Fienberg conceded that the strength of Brammall and the ensemble cast holds the production together.
From American Novel to Australian Production
In the adaptation, Patrick Brammall stars as Ian Ridley, a former detective turned police dispatcher who is six months sober and separated from his wife while still grappling with the disappearance of his young daughter, Maggie, 11 years prior.
The plot accelerates when a storm unearths the remains of a young girl, potentially belonging to Maggie. A subsequent phone call at the conclusion of Episode 2 draws Ridley into contact with a reclusive couple named Henry, played by Brendan Cowell, and Jenna, played by Maxine Peake, as well as their teenage daughter Sarah, portrayed by Chloe Jean Lourdes.