Packed with a lot of action, twists and drama the first season of ABC’s “Missing” has been released on DVD.  The high-tension complete first season can now be seen without interruption, the whole 430 minutes on the three DVD’s.  If you like good acting, direction and an intriguing plot Missing would be a good choice for both the ladies and men.

If you are just new to the show the first season goes something like this.  After a car explosion that kills her husband, Becca Winsstone retires from the CIA and goes into seclusion with her son Michael. Some ten years later, her son gets kidnapped in Europe and Becca sets out to get him back.  Over the course of the ten episodes we find Becca in tight situations not being able to trust anyone on her way to finding Michael.

Surprises around every corner, there’s never a rest for Becca and Ashley Judd proves perfect for the part.  Judd’s beauty doesn’t detract here as the fine actress shows her strong determination and perseverance in the difficult role.  The continuously moving plot gets totally exhausting at times, but Judd never lets down.

The direction by Stephen Shill through the first four episodes moves the film along pretty good building up character and adding background while Becca has to deal with CIA bureau chief Dax Miller (Cliff Curtis).  If there is a weakness in Shill’s direction during the first four chapters, it’s not getting a realistic performance out of Curtis. I wish he had tighter control over Curtis, as his character doesn’t show any convincing leadership in controlling the situations he’s thrown into.  I also did not care too much for Keith Carradine in the role of CIA training coach Martin Newman.  The only thing I can say here is that the character of Newman did not come across sly enough to carry out such a nefarious mission.

The cast has some very good performances in Sean Bean as Becca’s husband Paul Winstone, Nick Eversman as Michael Winstone, Laura Donnely as cagey CIA operative Violet Heath and Tereza Voříšková as Michael’s love interest Oksana.  The performers worked well together giving excellent support to Ashley Judd.

The bonus features are pretty good considering Missing’s a television show.  More like the ones for a theatrical movie, the extras are well made.

Bonus features include:

• Missing: In Action- Executive Producer Gina Matthews, Creative/Executive Producer Gregory Poirier and Actor Ashley Judd discuss how a desire “to make television for the world” culminated in a thought-provoking, heartfelt drama disguised as an action-packed spy show.
• On Location: Inside Istanbul- Travel to this spectacular city with the Missing cast and crew, and experience what it’s like to coordinate and ambitious shoot with an international team at the crossroads of the world.
• Deleted Scenes

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good drama with intrigue and surprises. (C+)

Specifications and additional film information:

• Cast: Ashley Judd, Sean Bean, Nick Eversman, Cliff Curtis, Laura Donnely, Tereza Voříšková and Keith Carradine
• Directed by: Stephen Shill, Paul Edwards, Phil Abraham and James Strong
• Rating: TV14 for Language and Violence
• Genre: Drama, Action, and Spy Thriller
• Running Time: 430 minutes
• Street Date: June 12, 2012
• Original Television Release Date: March through May 2012
• Language: English
• Format: DVD
• Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
• Video: Widescreen, 1.78:1 – Enhanced for 16X9 Televisions
• Subtitles: English SDH, French and Spanish
• Number of Discs: 3 Discs, 10 Episodes
• Distributed by: Buena Vista Home Entertainment