MAJOR SPOILERS for Neflix’s Missing You are ahead!
Throughout Netflix’sMissing You, actor Mary Malone plays a character named Aqua, who harbors deep secrets that could ruin her closest friendship. Based on the eponymous 2014book by Harlan Coben, the mystery show follows Kat Donovan, a police investigator who reopens her father’s murder case after matching with her ex-fiance, Josh, on a dating app.Even though Rosalind Eleazar has the lead role, a different actor steals the spotlight – Mary Malone.
Malone is a young trans actor who started appearing onscreen in 2021. Prior to her appearance inMissing You, Malone was best known for acting in an episode of The Girlfriend Experience and the 2023 Doctor Who Christmas Special. The actor offers an air of authenticity and likeability to each of her roles. Ultimately, because of Malone’s incredible performance, Aqua is one of the bestcharacters inMissing You.
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Outside of Kat Donovan, Aqua is one of the most narratively crucial characters inMissing You, bringing extra attention to Malone’s performance. Kat frequently confides in her two best friends, Aqua and Stacey, showing a level of trust and intimacy that she doesn’t have in other areas of her life. Many of their conversations take place in the park – which wasfilmed at the historic Bandstand in Sefton Park, Liverpool– where Aqua teaches yoga. Unfortunately, tension grows between Aqua and Kat, though, when the former discourages the latter from trying to find or speak to Josh.
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This is easily written off, given Aqua’s previous relationship with Josh. She introduced Josh and Kat because she was his roommate and her best friend, and she appears in most photos with the couple. Aqua would have every reason to feel hurt and betrayed by the fact that Josh disappeared. However, Kat eventually learns that Josh has talked to Aqua twice since leaving, and her friend’s cagey behavior has to do with Josh’s involvement in Clint Donovan’s death.
Mary Malone’s Missing You Character Brings Great Trans Representation To The Show
Missing You’s Aqua Is Fully Fleshed Out And Avoids Transgender Stereotypes
In Hollywood, trans characters are often relegated as side characters with one-dimensional personalities and little impact on the plot. Historically, they’ve also fallen into one of two major tropes: trans tribulations (where transness is the source of distress) and trans villains (where trans characters are evil). Luckily, Mary Malone’s Aqua defies all expectations in Netflix’s Missing You, offering fantastic trans representation. As Malone states in an interview withPink News, “She is intertwined in the complex spider web that is Missing You. She’s woven in. She’s not this trans side character. She’s an essential part of the narrative.”
The creative team behind Missing You clearly listened to the LGBTQ+ community, who has requested stories that aren’t focused on our coming out journeys and traumas.
One of the most lovable parts of Aqua is the fact that she has a multifaceted and bubbly personality, caring deeply about her friends and expressing an interest in yoga and astrology.Missing Youdoesn’t flatten Aqua down to her identity as a trans woman.Her gender identity is simply a fact about her instead of her defining trait, and it doesn’t negatively impact her relationships. The creative team behind Missing You clearly listened to the LGBTQ+ community, who has requested stories that aren’t focused on our coming out journeys and traumas.
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Additionally, Aqua doesn’t fall into the villain category, which is a breath of fresh air, especially in a thriller. Malone stated to Pink News that “[Aqua is] not all good, and she’s not all bad, and I think she’s a real human with a lot going on, which is really a joy to play.” It’s obvious, looking at the writing and character complexity,that they worked with experts at the organization Trans+ On Screen to create theMissing Youcharacter
How Aqua Is Involved In Missing You’s Twist Ending
Aqua Plays A Central Role In The Accidental Murder Of Clint Donovan
The central mystery of Netflix’s Harlan Coben novel is who killed Kat’s father, Even though Leburne admitted to killing him, the real murderer was Kat’s fiance, Josh Buchanan. At theend ofMissing You, he reveals that Aqua found out that Clint was having an affair with a man named Parker. He followed her back to her apartment to confront her, asking her to keep her mouth shut. Because Aqua is a genuinely kind-hearted person, she agrees not to tell Kat but suggests that he should tell them himself so that he can live a more authentic life.
After rejecting her suggestion, Clint sees her phone light up with Kat’s name, making him think that Aqua had already told his daughter.He tries to kill Aqua with a knife, but Josh shows up to save her, burying the knife in Clint’s chest.Ultimately, the worst thing that Aqua does in Netflix’sMissing Youis keeping the truth from her best friend, allowing Kat to feel rejected after Josh leaves. However, the fact that she makes this poor decision prevents Aqua from feeling like an angelic caricature instead of a three-dimensional individual.
