I will find you - Web Series

I Will Find You 

is a Netflix web series based on a novel by Harlan Coben. When it comes to the cast, I only recognized Sam Worthington from Avatar and Clancy Brown, who played Captain Hadley in The Shawshank Redemption. Apart from them, another actor looked very familiar, but I still cannot remember where I had seen him before. That was Aaron Ashmore, who plays Ronald Dreason in this series. If any of you know where I might have seen him before, do remind me. Anyway, let us get into how my experience was watching this series.

According to the story, David Burroughs has been serving a prison sentence for five years in Briggs Prison, Maine, for allegedly beating his three year old son Matthew to death with a baseball bat. The story begins when his sister in law Rachel Mills visits him in prison and shows him a photograph. After that visit, several attempts are made to kill David inside the prison. For five years nobody had bothered him, so where did all these enemies suddenly come from? Just like David, we are left confused. Very quickly, the reason becomes clear. The problem is the photograph Rachel showed him. In that picture, David's son Matthew, who was supposedly killed three years earlier, appears to be walking hand in hand with someone as an eight year old boy. The image is out of focus, but there is one detail that stands out clearly. Matthew had a large birthmark on his right cheek, and it is visible even in the blurry photo. But if Matthew died five years ago, and David is in prison because of that death, then who is the child in the photograph? More importantly, who was the child found dead in David's house? If David can prove that the boy in the picture is really Matthew and that he is still alive, then his long standing claim I did not kill anyone will finally become the truth.

The first problem is that David is in prison. So, exactly as most of us would expect, he escapes. What happens next forms the heart of the series. Does David find Matthew? Can he prove that he is not a murderer? If the boy in the photograph is truly Matthew, then who kidnapped him? Who was the child that was actually found dead in David's house? And who was responsible for that murder? The series answers all these questions through a chain of twists and surprises.

David Burroughs is played by Sam Worthington. There is nothing overly heroic about his performance here. He plays a frightened and vulnerable man. He looks like someone who would jump if a person suddenly shouted behind him. That is exactly how the character is written. However, prison life and the situations he faces gradually force him into action. The character development works quite well.

The standout performance for me comes from Britt Lower, who plays Rachel Mills. She shares most of her screen time with David and Hayden Payne. The romance track belongs to Rachel and Hayden, even though they have already broken up. Rachel is not David's romantic partner, but she is clearly the female lead while David remains the male lead. The writing never loses sight of that balance.

One thing that could have felt illogical is Rachel helping her former brother in law even after her own sister has remarried and is now pregnant. The writers cleverly solve that by making Rachel a famous journalist. That professional drive gives her a strong reason to keep investigating and helping David. It is smart writing.

Another character I really liked was Hayden Payne. He is extremely wealthy, yet he continues helping Rachel even after their breakup. He also helps David simply because he feels sorry for him. This is a man who casually spends millions of dollars to support Rachel's efforts. Rachel may attract our attention, but Hayden earns our respect through his actions. He is a genuinely well written character.

Then there is Clancy Brown. What an attitude. Do not worry, that is not a spoiler. A villain is a villain. But he is a stylish and commanding one. Every moment he appears on screen, he carries himself with confidence and menace. As long as he is present, the villainy never loses its impact.

I started watching the series only this morning. It is around five hours long, and the story moves with excellent pacing. The dark tone, constant suspense, and flowing narrative made it very easy to binge watch. I think many of you will enjoy it too. Give it a try.

Until the next review, let's meet again, folks. See ya!