Absentia

Emily Byrne was an FBI agent who vanished while tracking a serial killer, and after six years she's suddenly found alive. She returns to a world that declared her dead, but her memories are fractured and suspicion follows her. As she tries to reconnect with her ex-husband and son, accusations and new crimes pile up, pushing her to clear her name and piece together what happened during those missing years, without revealing any major twists.

Premiering in 2017, the series was created by Matthew Cirulnick and Gaia Violo, with Oded Ruskin directing episodes. Stana Katic leads as Emily Byrne, joined by Patrick Heusinger, Neil Jackson, Matthew Le Nevez, and Natasha Little. The show was produced for television and ran across multiple seasons.

The show has a solid audience approval, scoring 7.282 out of 10 from viewers, and critics gave mixed to generally favorable reviews. Reviewers often highlighted the central mystery and Katic's steady screen presence, while some noted uneven plotting across seasons. Key themes include identity, memory loss, the strain of trauma on family ties, and the ethics of justice.

Absentia attracted attention for Stana Katic's return to serialized TV work, and it found a dedicated fan base among crime drama viewers. Scenes of Emily confronting her past and the visual of her unexpected reappearance became frequent talking points online. The series also helped sustain interest in female-led procedural thrillers during its run.

The show wasn't a major awards contender, but it earned recognition from fans and genre-focused outlets for its performances and atmosphere. Katic's portrayal in particular was cited by many viewers as a highlight, and the series kept a steady profile through streaming and international broadcasts rather than big industry trophies.