‘Found’ Recap: ‘Missing While Perfect’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

FOUND -- "Missing While Perfect" Episode 204 -- Pictured: Shanola Hampton as Gabi -- (Photo by: Matt Miller/NBC)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 204 of ‘Found’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. This article also contains discussions regarding domestic violence, which may be triggering to some individuals.
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When we think of stories about people that go missing as a result of domestic violence, we have a pretty good of idea of how the story is going to end. Because sadly, the world has taught us that domestic violence and the abusers that take part in it, have crossed some awful lines when it gets to that particular point. Wherein they’ve hurt someone badly or they’ve ended their life, and that person has to go missing… to keep the abuser safe. Because they are at their core, absolute human garbage, and only care about the health and well-being of their own worthless hide. But we sit through a story we know, because it has something important to say on such matters and to help raise awareness on such a horrifying reality regarding our world.

But what if… that kind of story went in a different direction. One that perchance, could offer something different, something more? Would it result in a happy ending? Or would it just be a new way to offer us something dark? Well, it just so happens, that the next episode of Found on NBC informs us that more can be done with these stories, and they can harbor a better ending, a feat that ‘Missing While Perfect’ accomplished by introducing the team to a teenager named Jay. Who was worried and concerned about his mother going missing. Which of course, the team made their concern and let’s not put any gloss upon it, it didn’t take long for them to learn that Jay’s dad, was an abuser. In fact, Jay often saw his father commit to violence against his mother and that did make it seem as though, this was the same ol’, same ol’ regarding this kind of story.

For there was forensic evidence to be found that indicated foul play took place and it stood to reason that both of them disappearing, since dear old dad was nowhere to be found, would be part of that old school playbook as well. But the more the team dug into the case, the more the standard outcome didn’t make sense. For something was truly amiss, something that Sir pointed out. Because he injected himself into the case here, and told Gabi to look at a different angle, and after seeing the contents of the mother’s phone, and thinking about what Sir said, it became clear… this was a flip the script moment. Wherein the abused fought back and took agency and went and hid because penalty was the norm for them, so it was better to hide away from more trouble than come forth. But that revelation did allow for Gabi and the team to find them, and confirmed that she did indeed fight back, and for her troubles… she was finally free of any further harm since her son convinced her husband… to just leave her be.

Which made for a powerhouse story, one that offered a satisfying ending since the abuser did not win for a change, but it also had more to offer than just the primary plot. After all, there was mention of Sir lurking about in this story, and well… he revealed his own plans in this tale. In that, he was going to take Gabi and lock her up in the same way she did to him in a faraway land. To have that power and have that agency, and while he worked on the ultimate key to that plan, Lacey worked to heal and remember and offer forgiveness. Because this case reminded her, they’re all involved in something bigger. So, she asked everyone to make nice with Gabi and work to heal, and even Detective Trent softened here on the matter. Since his boss pointed out there was nothing to bring her in for, and because… this case helped him heal.

But sadly, all the good vibes could not last here, because eventually, Sir put his plan into motion, and he knew that only one thing would bring Gabi to him… Lacey. So, he swooped in and took her again and set into motion more shocking chaos for Gabi. Which was a stunning way to end a stunning episode. One that truly did offer more than the usual on such plots, and that was refreshing for certain. Because we’ve all had enough of abusers that win the day and bring pain and suffering to everyone in the story. But alas, some of the monsters out there, still do win the day, and because of that… a mentally fragile Lacey is in real trouble, and it will be compelling to see how Gabi and the team search for her once again and if Gabi can bring Sir to justice or if her guilty conscience, one that hasn’t felt forgiveness yet, will force her to surrender to Sir and his plans for a perfectly disturbing life. Until next time.

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