The Missing is indeed a highly acclaimed British anthology thriller series created by brothers Harry and Jack Williams. It premiered in 2014 and consists of two eight-episode seasons.
While your description of the show’s plot and its intense, dual-timeline narrative is accurate, it is worth noting a few details regarding its current availability and format:
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Anthology Format: You are correct that it is an anthology series. Each season tells a self-contained story about a different child’s disappearance and the subsequent impact on their family. The French detective Julien Baptiste (played by Tchéky Karyo) serves as the recurring character who bridges the two seasons.
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Availability: Availability on streaming platforms like Netflix can vary significantly by region and often changes over time. If you are having trouble finding it, it is frequently associated with BBC (in the UK) or various international distributors depending on where you are located.
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Potential Confusion: Be aware that there is also a 2023 thriller film titled Missing (starring Storm Reid), which was released on Netflix in certain regions (like the US). Because of the shared title, search results might sometimes point you toward the film instead of the 2014–2016 television series.
For fans of The Missing, the spin-off series Baptiste (which focuses entirely on the detective) is also available and continues the Williams brothers’ signature style of psychological, slow-burn mystery.
Both seasons are deeply harrowing, but they offer distinct experiences—Season 1 is often praised for its gut-wrenching look at a father’s obsession, while Season 2 is noted for its complex, layered exploration of institutional secrets and identity. Which aspect of the storytelling do you find more compelling: the raw, personal grief of the Hughes family in the first season, or the twisty, multi-layered conspiracy in the second?