‘The Family’ Recap: ABC’s Drama, Starring Joan Allen And Andrew McCarthy, Offers Thrills

The premiere of The Family on ABC fit right in with the rest of the “family” on the channel with its mysterious plot twists, flashbacks, secrets and a possible murder. The show was created by Jenna Bans, a former writer Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes.

‘The Family’ Recap

The Family centers around the Warrens when their eight-year-old son, Adam, goes missing and when he returns 10 years later. The first episode transports the viewers between both time periods and plays on their emotions from when he lost and when he is found. The biggest question that is begging to be answered is whether the Adam that returned is the same Adam that was lost.

The family comprises of Claire, the mother who is a Republican politician played by Joan Allen looking for her next big political break as mayor. Her cheating husband, John played by Rupert Graves and Adam’s siblings, Willa and Danny who are played by Alison Pill and Zach Gilford. They each have their own secrets and they will eventually be revealed by the sneaky town journalist, played by Floriana Lima. It also focuses on the Warrens’ neighbor, Hank played by Andrew McCarthy, who confessed to killing Adam. The relationship between the two before Adam disappeared is also a mystery.

The show inevitably gets the audience to also question who Adam (Liam James) really is. He plays a very distant, creepy character with secrets of his own and an underdeveloped sense of reality.

The first episode focuses on the physiological struggles of each of the character dealing with the return of Adam and whether he is who he says he is.

The Family is on ABC at 9 p.m. on Thursdays.