Tune In Or Tune Out: 'Found' Shines A Bold Look Into The Underground World Of Lost Victims

NBC’s Found philosophizes the morality of unjust actions for a moral cause, following Gabrielle “Gabi” Mosley (Shanola Hampton) and her vigilante group dedicated to finding kidnapped victims overlooked by the system. Not only do they fight assailants, but they fight the police and each other as they traverse the criminal world of human trafficking. Emotions constantly run high as Gabi and her crisis management team are either victims of kidnappings themselves or have previously kidnapped loved ones. The series examines the criminal justice system’s underlying instability and its prejudiced assessment towards cases centering around people of color. The intersectionality of the cases creates tension among the team members, with cases involving undocumented people, homeless people, indigenous people, and people of color. Found’s high-stakes narration brings serious topics to the forefront of TV and offers a look into the messy world of underrepresented victims in the eyes of the law.

MEET GABI

This serialsodic procedural drama begins with a flashback of Gabi, kidnapped by Hugh “Sir” Evans (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) for one year and eight days before she escapes with Lacey Quinn (Gabrielle Walsh). Taken as a teen, the audience glimpses her life while imprisoned throughout the series’ 11 episodes, showcasing her struggle at the hands of Sir and the unflinching reality that she may never escape. Sir kidnaps young Lacey to provide Gabi with a “sister” just a couple days before they make their escape. After 20 years, Gabi is far from the shy and vulnerable teen in episode one. She leads Mosley & Associates, a crisis management firm that specializes in finding abducted individuals. However, in order to gain insight into the mind of a kidnapper, Gabi kidnapped Sir. The two ideologically duel throughout the series, with Sir convinced they are one in the same; she constantly blurs the lines between legality and morality as she delves further into illegal means to find kidnappees.

The series effortlessly highlights Gabi’s internal struggle with her own sense of justice. She does immoral things for righteous reasons, and Sir is the amalgamation of her philosophical battle between good and bad. She justifies his kidnapping as revenge for those he has hurt, yet she treats him the same way he treated her. Hampton and Gosselaar dynamically work off each other, effortlessly conveying the emotional turmoil that Gabi endures as Sir plays the devil’s advocate. Hampton presents Gabi as brave with a strong sense of justice and a hint of fragility; her performance showcases Gabi’s outward strength while struggling with her childhood trauma. This vulnerability is amplified whenever she confronts Sir about a case. His bravado in the face of adversity gets to her in a progressively more intense way. She wants him to feel the same way she felt all those years ago.

The entire cast’s performances highlight the nuanced struggle of those fighting beneath the radar. Lacey and Zeke Wallace (Arlen Escarpeta) — a tech expert with intense agoraphobia — reconsider their position on the team as memories of the past cloud their current judgment. One episode shows lead investigator Margaret Reed’s (Kelli Williams) inability to move on from the disappearance of her son that occurred 13 years prior. She visits the bus station he was last seen every night, hopelessly waiting for him to return. Clearly, underneath her Sherlock Holmes-esque deduction skills lies a deep melancholy. Williams’ performance culminates in a tear-jerker episode that showcases Found’s ability to evoke empathy for those that never found justice.

Constant interpersonal turmoil lies underneath the series’ crime of the week, providing a base from which each cast member can shine. While characters have their own struggles to overcome, they don’t break away from their archetypes. Rarely do characters exhibit anything other than their established character traits; this leads the show to struggle when focus turns to side plots. However, the series manages to find the sweet spot between episodic storylines and overarching character arcs that ties everyone’s past into the present.

WAS IT TUNE IN OR TUNE OUT?

Aside from Gabi and Sir’s ideological struggle, much is left to be desired in the side plots. The series focuses on the struggles of each team member, yet it feels miniscule and underwhelming. Episodes carry little impact with its side characters as most of their struggles are solved within the episode. This bleeds into the main case of each episode; characters are given reasons to act irrationally only to suddenly return to normal the next episode. Thus, their internal struggles feel unresolved, rushed, and forgotten by the time new episodes release. The only character that doesn’t suffer from this is Gabi, as her overarching narrative with Sir and her team acts as the catalyst for the second season.

However, the series doesn’t disregard the complex situations that Gabi’s team faces. Each case highlights societal issues that permeate our existence, such as the season finale’s case with an interracial couple. The heartfelt speech that Gabi gives Officer Mallory (Bill Kelly) about African Americans as victims will strike a chord with audiences. The constant despair presented in each episode doesn’t overwhelm the audience given each episode’s uplifting and motivating conclusions. It presents an alternative to our real world, a world where we can see swift justice brought to those that desperately need it.

While the side characters don’t get as much coverage as Gabi, the series showcases the complexities of victims and how their trauma manifests itself into their character. The hopelessness of each new victim doesn’t go unnoticed by the cast, but thankfully an optimistic perspective relieves audiences of the pessimistic situations that arise. Additionally, Gabi and Sir’s incessant mental battle forces a discussion surrounding the morality of doing unjust things for a just cause. It raises questions about how good deeds are approached, and whether or not breaking the law for a good cause makes you a good person.

WHO WILL LIKE IT?

Found brings audiences into the dark underworld of kidnappings. Throughout its 11-episode run, characters suffer under the weight of their past while actively working to make a change. While character arcs don’t go anywhere in terms of overarching narrative, the story provides gripping moments that leave audiences with an emotional tale highlighting those overlooked by the criminal justice system. If you are looking for a procedural drama that aims to uplift, then Found is not the show for you. While it has its occasional cheesy one-liners, the series revels in the shadows of the voiceless; it offers commentary on our current criminal justice system and its politics. It can be dark and moody, but the series aims to inspire rather than tear down. Its discussion surrounding good and bad takes audiences on a journey that will leave them wanting more. All 11 episodes of Found's first season can be streamed on Peacock TV.