Harlan Coben’s work has become a breeding ground for high-rating crime dramas on Netflix. The Stranger, Stay Close, Missing You are just a few examples. The mix of family conflicts with seemingly complex mysteries is the trademark of the author who has become a familiar fixture in the streamer’s catalog. This time, the adaptation is I Will Find You, which brings all the hallmarks of series based on Coben’s writing, but adds a dash of manhunt thriller that makes it slightly different from the others—and even if it isn’t the best of the bunch, it still follows the tried-and-true formula of keeping viewers hooked until the end without much effort.

The story centers on a man (Sam Worthington) who is convicted of murdering his son. Five years after being sent to prison, developments outside the walls suggest that not only might he be innocent, but his son could still be alive. With the help of his sister-in-law, played by Britt Lower (Severance), he begins hunting down the real culprits, gets tangled up with the Irish mob and, of course, continues searching for his own son. Milo Ventimiglia, Jonathan Tucker and Clancy Brown round out a cast packed with recognizable faces and largely forgettable performances.

What makes I Will Find You, let’s say, special is the way it embraces its nature as a soap opera—a dramatic genre built on quick, simple resolutions and a specific focus on one central conflict (the mystery surrounding the son)—while also venturing into crime-thriller territory. That second attempt doesn’t work perfectly, but it provides the necessary momentum to keep the episodes from feeling like just another dull family drama. Worthington is, once again, a family man who runs from his family, clashes with the police and, at the end of the day, plays the role of the wronged hero—now with touches of a fugitive on the run, which adds a certain grounded charm to the actor.

That blend works until the final third, when the script leans too heavily on unbelievable coincidences and moments where every character on screen seems to lose all common sense. The police can’t find anyone, clues appear out of nowhere and the resolution comes barreling in. If it had been like that from minute one, no problem—the issue is that the first two-thirds of the series move more slowly because of the drama it builds, and builds well—then, whenever it’s convenient, the show suddenly speeds everything up. 

But how does that end up being a positive overall? The answer to the mystery itself is surprising, and it’s delivered so quickly that it’s impossible not to be stunned. And again, amid so many mediocre productions and a sea of content that simply isn’t entertaining, I Will Find You won’t stay in anyone’s memory, but it never feels like it wasted anyone’s time either.

Eu Vou Te Encontrar

Created by: Robert Hull

Where to watch: