"Persons Unknown" is the first psychological horror series I've ever watched—a social experiment in which a group of people is kidnapped and held captive in a place isolated from all other forms of life. Completely strangers and disoriented, none of these people seem to know each other or to have ever met before, which sets the stage for alliances and betrayals. In just 13 episodes, we follow the interactions and struggles of a small group that doesn’t know why they’re there or what they must do to find their way out.
Each episode leaves you with a sense of mystery that easily makes you empathize with some of the characters. Amid challenges and clues, each person must carve out their own way out—even if that means leaving someone else behind. It’s hard to work as a team to figure out why you’re with six other people in a practically empty town where you’re under constant surveillance. Just waking up and seeing the sunrise in a place you don’t know, surrounded by people you don’t know either, is enough to create psychological torture—all while you, as a viewer, are also trying to understand the series’ central theme.
It’s not just a group of people trying to escape from a place, but also someone investigating from the outside to uncover the reason behind such an experiment. While outside there are journalists who are taking the investigation into this very seriously, inside we find people with such unique backgrounds—ranging from a single woman to a man who serves in the U.S. Marines. Obviously, the variety of occupations also leads to a wide range of skills and attitudes that bring depth and life to every episode of this series.
In my opinion, this is the perfect series for fans of suspense and psychological tension. With its open ending, many were hoping for a second season or at least a slightly longer first season, but overall, I think Persons Unknown is one of those series that, without making a big splash, guarantees a solid plot with a narrative thread that draws you in in a special way from start to finish.
Thank you for taking the time to read this post and for your attention.
See you soon.
Rating: 100/100