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Jennifer Garner Truly Shines in Thrilling New Apple TV+ Series ‘The Last Thing He Told Me’

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*Warning: Spoilers ahead*

It might sound a bit familiar: a television show or a movie that revolves around a spouse who suddenly goes missing without a trace. (Think: Gone Girl, The Girl on the Train and A Simple Favor.) So, when we heard the premise for the new Apple TV+ series titled The Last Thing He Told Me, which follows a similar plot, we were wary but definitely interested.

Based on the bestselling novel by Laura Dave, the show (which premieres today) follows a wife named Hannah Hall (played by Jennifer Garner), who discovers her husband has gone missing. In an effort to uncover the truth behind his disappearance, Hannah teams up with her teenage stepdaughter Bailey Michaels (Angourie Rice) and together, they set out to find answers. 

The seven-episode series features a talented ensemble cast, including Rice (Mare of Easttown), Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Game of Thrones), Aisha Tyler (Criminal Minds) and Victor Garber (Alias, Titanic). However, it’s the show’s star who really blew us away with her stellar performance: Jennifer Garner. Keep reading for an honest review of The Last Thing He Told Me.

Not even five minutes into the first episode of the series, we’re thrown right into the thrilling mystery. The episode starts with Hannah frantically searching for her stepdaughter, Bailey, who has suddenly disappeared from her hotel room. She quickly runs down to the lobby. No luck. She tries calling her cell phone. That’s a dead end too. Even though there is so much (and we mean a lot) going on in these first few minutes, the show does a great job of keeping the viewer engaged in the storyline. Because we would be lying if we said we didn’t have a million questions running through our mind the entire time. 

Just when Hannah is about the exit the room again, she is met by an unknown visitor who leaves her speechless—and that’s when the episode begins. We are taken back four days earlier from that thrilling moment and we’re introduced to her husband, Owen (Coster-Waldau).

Through their casual conversations and banter, we truly get to see the loving dynamic between them. From the outside looking in, they appear to be the perfect couple, but once her husband goes missing without an explanation, we soon learn that there were so many hidden secrets underneath the surface. And we can’t help but sympathize with Hannah even more because, in the end, she is forced to find the missing pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.

Hannah and Owen The Last Thing He Told Me CAT
Apple TV+

Through Garner’s powerful portrayal of Hannah, we can see many different sides of her character. While Hannah is grappling with her husband’s disappearance, we can feel everything she’s feeling as a concerned wife, and it’s all thanks to the 13 Going on 30 star’s ability to convey her character’s conflicting emotions in a way that’s simply unforgettable.

Jennifer Garner in The Last Thing He Told Me CAT
Apple TV+

The first episode concludes with Hannah standing outside of her househouse in a truly intense moment that made us think, “Woah, this is going to be a great show.”

PureWow Rating: 4 out of 5

Mystery show lovers will surely enjoy The Last Thing He Told Me because it has an intriguing storyline. Fans of the original book will also find the show quite satisfying. And Jennifer Garner gives a performance that you will not forget. The first two episodes are now available to stream on Apple TV+. New episodes will premiere every week until the season finale drops on May 19. 

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karelle mckay headshot e1678464959710

Assistant Editor, News And Entertainment

Karelle McKay is the Assistant Editor of News and Entertainment at PureWow. Before she started writing about all things pop culture, she was a literal couch potato who loved...