Critic Reviews

The four episodes sent to critics work well enough because of the performances--especially those of Heusinger, Brake and Katic--the direction by Oded Ruskin, and our wanting to know what Nick is going to do about the two wives and what the two wives are going to do about him. And each other.

The troubling questions and terrific performances are enough to keep you following this murky trail, if you're not seriously burned out on serial killers. There seems to be one waiting around every corner in television, and this dark corner can be found near the intersection of trite and tremendous. Absentia is both.

Though Katic does her best, there are better shows involving an obsessed, morally compromised cop looking for answers. But if you need an atmospheric and propulsive binge-watch and don't linger on the details, Absentia will be there for you.

Absentia is just a messy TV series that at its best serves as a reminder that good writing is essential to the medium and that pouting and looking dour and confused it not really premium-cable-style acting.