Stephen King Praises Apple TV’s ‘Last Seen’ But Foresees No Happy Ending

Avatar photoValentina Kraljik
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Few individuals are better equipped to evaluate a dark family mystery than Stephen King, and the horror maestro is open about his viewing choices. His social media presence has become a trusted indicator of which streaming shows merit attention. This week, the new Apple TV thriller ‘Last Seen’ caught his eye.

Created by Kris Mrksa and directed by Christian Schwochow, the Emmy-nominated filmmaker known for ‘The Crown’, this series is based on Ryan David Jahn’s 2011 novel ‘The Dispatcher’. Filmed in Victoria, Australia, it premiered globally on September 9 with two episodes, releasing new episodes every Wednesday until the finale on October 7.

The premise is starkly simple. Police detective Ian Ridley (Patrick Brammall) experienced a devastating loss 11 years ago when his young daughter Maggie disappeared, and he now serves as a dispatcher. When he receives a distress call from a teenage girl he believes to be Maggie, he is determined to find her at any cost.

After watching four episodes, King shared his thoughts on X, calling ‘Last Seen’ a fantastic show but expressing concern that he sees no positive resolution for the families involved, nor for Sarah, portrayed beautifully by Chloe Jean Lourdes. His post garnered over 11,000 views shortly after being published.

Sarah is the teenage daughter of Henry (Brendan Cowell) and Jenna (Maxine Peake), fundamentalist recluses residing on a remote farm. Ian’s search leads him to their doorstep, intertwining the fates of two families in a shared unresolved narrative. This dynamic explains why King believes no one emerges unscathed, as every answer seems to come at a cost to someone’s family.

King’s endorsement carries significant weight, given his history with the platform. He has previously praised Apple TV’s ‘Maximum Pleasure Guaranteed’ and highlighted Tatiana Maslany’s performance, as well as offering warm remarks about the sci-fi series ‘Constellation’. Thus, ‘Last Seen’ is the latest in a series of Apple shows that have piqued his interest.

Lourdes is a newcomer, and critics have taken note. The Hollywood Reporter described her as exceptional in her role as a young woman confronting a world she has been sheltered from, while also praising Cowell’s gruff zeal and Peake’s haunted kindness. That’s a significant burden for a first major role.

The same review offered mixed opinions on the writing, suggesting that Ian’s rapid unraveling stretches believability, with his actions becoming inappropriate within the first hour. It also noted that some segments are laden with backstory. Nonetheless, it labeled the show a solid mystery, with performances consistently receiving acclaim.

Overall reception has been positive. As of September 14, Rotten Tomatoes reported an 89% approval rating with a 7.2/10 average from 18 critic reviews, while Metacritic assigned it a score of 78, indicating generally favorable reviews. Critics highlighted Brammall’s performance as elevating the series.

Screenshot 2026 09 23 at 07 32 09 Last Seen Rotten Tomatoes

In addition to the leads, the ensemble cast features Daniel Henshall, Zahra Newman, Jessica Wren, and Tobias Muhafidin. Newman plays Isabel Pena, and Muhafidin portrays Dean Ridley. Apple has yet to release a detailed character biography for Sarah, maintaining the mystery’s most pressing questions.

With two episodes remaining after the fifth airs on September 30, there is ample opportunity for the narrative to either validate or contradict King’s predictions. TV Insider mentioned that a second season would hinge on the conclusion of the first and whether there’s more story to tell after six episodes. If King’s intuition is correct, the finale may leave viewers emotionally impacted regardless of the outcome.

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