Crime
Last Seen
Apple TV’s ‘Last Seen’ is a mature, dark crime drama with a lot on its mind. The contemplative series unearths trauma and harsh profanities in equal measure.
Don’t mess with Frances Neagley.
A former Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Neagley now works as a private investigator in Chicago, catching the most crooked crooks in town. She’s settled into a steady rhythm: At her private investigation firm, York Investigations, Neagley is permitted to work alone (her preferred arrangement), and she has time to take care of her father, Calvin Neagley, who’s on his deathbed.
But things get personal when Neagley discovers that her childhood friend Tommy Crane died after stepping in front of a moving L Train.
Everyone dismisses Tommy’s tragic death as a drug-related suicide, but Neagley suspects foul play. After all, the Tommy she knew would never take enough dangerous drugs to end his own life. And Neagley finds a suspicious note that Tommy wrote shortly before he died. As she uncovers more clues, Neagley becomes convinced that Tommy’s death is really a murder.
And based on what she finds, a cult-like commune called Echo Canyon Farm—led by the charismatic Lawrence Cole—might be to blame.
Although Neagley prefers to work alone, several unlikely associates join her mission: Hudson Riley, a detective for the Chicago Police Department who hopes solving this case might improve his reputation; York Investigations receptionist Renee Birdwhistle, who hopes to become a private investigator like Neagley; and petty criminal Keno, whose street orphan background is the perfect cover for him to infiltrate and spy on Echo Canyon Farm.
Neagley uncovers dark truths about Echo Canyon, including its involvement in illegal pharmaceutical testing that may have contributed to Tommy’s death. Meanwhile, Neagley also uncovers long-suppressed wounds from her past—which her father tried to conceal—that contributed to her nearly lifelong haphephobia, or fear of being touched.
While both these investigations are often unpredictable, one thing is certain: Neagley demands justice, and she’ll do anything to see it carried out.
In Micah 6:8, the prophet states that doing justice is an element of righteous living. If that’s where the passage ended, I’d characterize the justice-driven Frances Neagley as the epitome of virtue. But Micah also says that another important aspect of righteousness is loving mercy…and that’s where Neagley—and her eight-episode Prime Video series—fall short.
The frequent punches, kicks, gun fights and torture all indicate that “loving mercy” isn’t really on the minds of anyone in Neagley. Instead, merciless violence seems to be what consumes both the characters in, and the creators of, the show. Much like in Reacher (the show that Neagley is a spin-off of), people die and are injured in very graphic ways—including exploding in a crashed car and being threatened with electric shocks underwater. Blood splatters and pours from people’s bodies, and the main characters are in nearly constant peril.
Particularly disturbing is the show’s discussion of sexual abuse. While the action isn’t shown, characters talk about a man who sexually abused children, and a flashback scene shows a man confronting this abuser and later stabbing him repeatedly—in front of a child. There are also a few scenes that feature adult nudity and explicit sexual actions.
The nefarious nature of Echo Canyon Farm also warrants caution. The cult-like commune leader Lawrence Cole claims to be his followers’ “own personal Jesus,” and he frequently misapplies God’s Word for personal gain. For example, Cole quotes, “Let he who is without sin throw the first stone” as an encouragement to get people to stone a woman to death. Echo Canyon is also responsible for testing dangerous pharmaceuticals on humans without their informed consent. These tests yield disturbing and often catastrophic results.
Harsh profanity including the f-word and s-word adds to—and in some ways intensifies—the show’s other problems.
So while the narrative twists in Prime Video’s Neagley might be compelling for some mature audiences, most families will likely want to turn another way.
(Editor’s Note: Plugged In is rarely able to watch every episode of a given series for review. As such, there’s always a chance that you might see a problem that we didn’t. If you notice content that you feel should be included in our review, send us an email at letters@pluggedin.com, or contact us via Facebook or Instagram, and be sure to let us know the episode number, title and season so that we can check it out.)
Tommy Crane is dead. The Chicago police department dismisses his death as a drug-related accident, but Frances Neagley thinks there’s something more nefarious going on. With help from detective Hudson Riley and petty criminal Keno, Neagley begins to follow clues related to Tommy’s demise.
Neagley and her companions engage in frequent physical altercations involving punches and kicks. Those involved in these physical tangles experience gruesome effects, often coughing up blood, getting bad bruises and spilling blood from various body parts. Often fights involve guns or knives, and people kill others with guns. Several people get in minor car accidents, which cause some bleeding and bruises. In one particularly bad car accident, the car flips several times (with a person inside) and later explodes. The victim’s charred and bloody body is shown. Later, men pull teeth out of the dead victim’s mouth in a particularly gruesome scene.
A man walks in front of a train and is killed when it hits him. People discuss how his death is possibly a drug-related suicide. In one scene, Neagley rescues a kidnapped child, who we see tied up and shaking in the trunk of a car.
Characters use frequent harsh profanity including 11 uses of the f-word, 12 uses of the s-word, two uses of “g–d–n,” two uses of “d–n,” one use of “a–hole,” three uses of “a–” and five uses of “h—.” Someone also misuses Jesus’ name.
The bare backside of a man is shown. In a disturbing scene, a large group of completely unclothed people engage in an orgy. While this moment happens too quickly to discern details, the people’s vocalizations and movements make clear what’s happening.
Adults drink beer at a baseball game. A man says that he experimented with psychedelic drugs in college. Someone admits to Neagley that he’s working with people who sell illegal drugs. Another character says that he comes from a family of drug smugglers. In the background of a scene, a song about heavy drinking plays.
Someone lies to her boss at work. People briefly mention what they think is a cult. Neagley’s father experiences medical issues, and she visits him in the hospital.
Apple TV’s ‘Last Seen’ is a mature, dark crime drama with a lot on its mind. The contemplative series unearths trauma and harsh profanities in equal measure.
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