A series that has recently entered Netflix’s top ten most viewed titles has left audiences with ‘so many questions’.
The first two seasons of the drama Departure are now available on the streaming platform. Originally produced in Canada and aired on the Peacock network in the US, it made its UK debut on Sky TV.
However, it has since found a new audience on Netflix. Although it was initially broadcast between 2020 and 2023, the first two series have been added to the platform for subscribers to revisit. As of this writing, it has already climbed to the fourth most watched series currently available. It trails only new releases such as Harlan Coben’s Missing You, Squid Game and Black Doves, reports the Mirror.
Each season of Departure centres around the fictional Transport Safety and Investigations Bureau. In the first season, they investigate the disappearance of a British passenger plane over the Atlantic Ocean and the reasons behind it. The second season follows the team as they probe into the crash of an automated high-speed train travelling from Toronto to Chicago.
Archie Panjabi stars as the leading TSIB investigator Kendra Malley in the gripping series. Audiences will recognise Panjabi from her acclaimed performances in The Good Wife and her anticipated role in the upcoming season of Doctor Who.
The earlier seasons also showcased the talents of Oscar-winning actor Christopher Plummer. Tragically, the show marked his last screen appearance; he passed away after filming of the second and third series.
While the series has notched an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it appears to have split audience opinion. A fan expressing their enthusiasm online stated: “Just found this show and I’m loving it. I just keep wanting more at the end of each episode. This is epic!”, while another suggested: “If you’re looking for entertainment and a great binge watch with EXCELLENT acting, you’ll enjoy it.”
Conversely, one critic confessed that they were left baffled by numerous queries after just the first episode, pondering online: “Why do most scenes seem to last no more than around 60 seconds? Do the investigators possess a secret teleportation device? Why is a 90-year-old man running the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau?”
A critic from Variety was more complimentary, writing: “A drama that will hook those who seek from their viewing a charge of adrenaline, if not always the most rigorously challenging of mysteries.”
Another reviewer compared it favourably to a popular series, stating: “This six-episode drama reminded me of 24 in all the best ways, as Archie Panjabi’s investigation into a jetliner’s vanishing leads to reveal after plot twist after red herring after conspiracy. It’s one wild ride.”
Departure is streaming on Netflix.