Move over, The Diplomat and The Night Agent. Netflix has a new obsession, and it’s a decade-old gem that’s suddenly exploded to the top of the global Top 10: Absentia, the dark, relentless psychological thriller starring Stana Katic that originally premiered on Amazon Prime in 2017. After quietly landing on Netflix in select regions last month, the three-season series has become the streamer’s biggest sleeper hit of the year, racking up 78 million hours viewed in its first week alone and spawning viral TikToks with captions like “I stayed up until 5 a.m. and now I don’t trust my own shadow.”

Created by Matt Cirulnick and Gaia Violo, Absentia centers on FBI Special Agent Emily Byrne (Katic, Castle), who vanishes while hunting one of Boston’s most notorious serial killers. Declared dead in absentia after six years, she’s found barely alive in a cabin in the woods, with no memory of her captivity. But her return isn’t a happy ending—it’s the beginning of a nightmare. Her husband Nick (Patrick Heusinger) has remarried, her son Flynn (now played by newcomers across seasons) barely remembers her, and the Bureau suspects she might be complicit in her own disappearance. As Emily fights to reclaim her life, she uncovers a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of law enforcement—and realizes the monster who held her might still be watching.

What makes Absentia so addictive is its refusal to let viewers breathe. Every episode ends with a gut-punch revelation: Is Emily losing her mind, or is someone gaslighting her? The series masterfully blends procedural elements with psychological horror, using Emily’s fragmented memories and PTSD to create a hall-of-mirrors effect. Katic’s performance is the anchor—raw, ferocious, and heartbreaking. “Emily Byrne is the role of a lifetime,” Katic told Variety in 2018. “She’s a warrior who’s been broken and rebuilt wrong—and still chooses to fight.”

The supporting cast is equally stellar: Patrick Heusinger as the conflicted ex-husband, Neil Jackson as Emily’s brother Jack, and Angel Bonanni as the enigmatic killer whose presence lingers like a ghost. Seasons 2 and 3 escalate the stakes, taking Emily from Boston to Europe as she hunts a shadowy organization that may have orchestrated her abduction. The final season, widely praised for its bold ending, leaves viewers stunned—and begging for more.

Originally produced by Sony Pictures Television for AXN, Absentia was a modest hit on Amazon Prime before fading into obscurity. Netflix’s acquisition has resurrected it as a global phenomenon, with viewers discovering the series through algorithmic magic and word-of-mouth. “I thought it was a new 2025 show,” one viral tweet reads. “Then I realized it’s been hiding this masterpiece for eight years.”

Critics who overlooked it on first release are now singing its praises. The Hollywood Reporter called it “a masterclass in sustained dread,” while Collider dubbed Katic’s performance “one of the most underrated of the decade.” The show’s blend of The Girl on the Train paranoia and Homeland intensity has made it the perfect binge for dark winter nights.

With all three seasons now streaming on Netflix in over 190 countries, Absentia isn’t just a comeback—it’s a takeover. If you haven’t started yet, clear your schedule. Once you press play, there’s no turning back.