In the world of television adaptations, few authors have inspired as many series as Harlan Coben. With Netflix and Amazon on board, the author's works have been transformed into a never-ending cycle of thrillers, each one more maddeningly watchable than the last. But is it all just premium-grade bunkum? I Will Find You, the latest addition to the Coben collection, is a prime example of why this series has become so popular. Set in the US, the show follows David Burroughs, a muscular everyman serving a life sentence for the murder of his son. But is he really guilty? As the story unfolds, a labyrinthine global conspiracy emerges, and David and his ex-sister-in-law, Rachel Mills, find themselves up to their fugitive nostrils in questions. But is it all just a web of red herrings and plot holes? Personally, I think that the Coben formula has become a bit tired. The author's ongoing deal with Amazon suggests we could be trapped in an ever-spiralling cycle of preposterous thrillers for eternity. What makes this particularly fascinating is the way in which the show plays with our expectations. The breathlessness comes with bigger guns and captions shouting things like BOSTON, which adds a layer of authenticity to the story. But what many people don't realize is that the show is ultimately just a series of cliches and tropes. The script is made of Play-Doh, and our protagonists are but flaps of luncheon meat pegged to a washing line. And yet still we must - must! - find out what happens. This raises a deeper question: why do we keep watching these shows? In my opinion, it's because we're drawn to the promise of a good story, even if it's just a series of red herrings and plot holes. But what this really suggests is that we're not just watching for the story, but for the escape it provides. The show is a form of escapism, a way to forget the mundane and the ordinary for a few hours. From my perspective, the Coben collection is a fascinating study in the power of storytelling. It's a reminder that, despite the flaws, we're still drawn to the promise of a good story. And so we stagger, dazed, into the next episode, eager to see what happens next. But is it all just a waste of time? Stay strong, everyone.
