Spoorloos

- Season 1

(2023)

The town is in turmoil: surely Frikkie's disappearance can't be the work of the serial killer of long ago; he is dead and buried, no so? Detectives are summoned from Johannesburg and for the first time since his little brother was stolen on his watch, Ian Vos returns to his hometown. Detective De Wet discovers the files are in disarray and the tape recording of the previous serial killer's whistling is missing. Two grade seven boys decide to launch a secret rescue mission.

The town is in turmoil: surely Frikkie's disappearance can't be the work of the serial killer of long ago; he is dead and buried, no so? Detectives are summoned from Johannesburg and for the first time since his little brother was stolen on his watch, Ian Vos returns to his hometown. Detective De Wet discovers the files are in disarray and the tape recording of the previous serial killer's whistling is missing. Two grade seven boys decide to launch a secret rescue mission.

Sonja offers her help with the investigation, but she doesn't get the response she expects. Three kids lure the beast out of its hiding place. Ian recognizes his sweetheart of long ago, Lara, but her behaviour baffles him. Werner and Gert conspire against the police investigation. Angelique's suspicion leads to a confrontation. S'bu phones in news of the forensic results: the call is intercepted and the local journo-lady gets a tip-off.

The Gazette front page has the town stunned in disbelief. Esti creates a smokescreen while Jan-Gustav and Keagan leap into action to trap the beast. The conspirators leak the name of the police's main suspect and the town storms to his place to wreak revenge. Petrified Keagan has to go and check the trap in the bush all by himself.

Keagan befriends a shy Highschool boy who behaves strangely. The dominie's wife tries to tame Estie. The kids sneak out into the night to follow up puzzling clues. Basjan tells them why he has run away from home. Adam establishes a neighborhood watch and Werner realizes he has to do something to counter Adam's growing popularity. Grootboom, Werner's ex-farm worker, is going to testify about a dark deed that was done a long time ago.

On Werner's instruction, Gert sabotages the investigation. The police are outraged. The children hear the Guardians plan to search along the river, and realise Basjan is in danger. Frieda Vos runs through the streets at night, calling out for her dead son. The next morning, next to the church, the dominee finds a terrible message to the town. Basjan is looking for food on a farm and sees something that distresses him. He realizes he's the only one who can intercede.

Sonja discovers something heartbreaking about De Wet's past. It's Jan-Gustav's birthday, but it's a bad time for a party. As a funeral gets underway in the town, Ian confronts Lara about a lie from the past and Frieda arrives to cause havoc. Sonja shares a theory with De Wet about the sixth child of long ago. Ds Els is convinced he has failed his congregation and his wife loves someone else. He loses his head and seizes a final chance of liberation. Ian sees a picture in the newspaper and recognizes the face with dismay. Frikkie's parents get shocking news.

S'bu discovers what the sound is in the background of the whistle recording. A new search is launched. Lara and Ian reveal the truth about what happened long ago. Ian confronts his mother over her role in the tragedy. Keagan tries to tell his father what they discovered at the river, with painful consequences. Sonja finds a clue that sends the police in a new direction. The information is leaked to the Guardians. They jump the gun and get a confession from the suspect.

The town celebrates. The police reject De Wet's conviction that everyone is on a false track. Meanwhile, the conspirators must at all costs prevent the interrogation of the prisoner. Angelique makes a decision. She offers herself as an act of vengeance against Werner. Lara hears Ian is about to depart. Sonja shares private information with Ian that causes him to reconsider. Gert proceeds to bury the truth forever. Junior wins his father's admiration when he finds information about Adam which can eliminate the competition.

Ian poses one last request to Lara. She agrees but it has negative consequences. Adam got up to something that fills him with regret. He arrives late to pick Keagan up from school and hears Keagan has left with Jan-Gustav. De Wet and Sonja work through former newspaperman Herman vd Merwe's notes on the murders of long ago. They discover information about the suspect captured by the Shepherds. News breaks: two boys are missing. Basjan is watching his father's house. He sees one of his friends in the distance. A car stops. Something happens that shocks Basjan.

Lara tells Junior of her disruptive intentions. Werner is determined to stop her. One of the boys is found, but the other is still missing. Search parties are sent out into the night. Basjan works out who the murderer is, but cannot reach the police. The missing boy wakes up in captivity and is terrified. A search party finds something in the bush. De Wet receives information from NAMPOL that matches Herman's notes. Sonja sees a photo that reminds her of an interview: she brings the information to De Wet. Bingo.

Gert makes a bitter confession to Magda and her world collapses. Basjan sees where the killer goes. The captured boy is chained in a dilapidated building. Basjan thinks of a way to send an emergency message. He returns to help his friend, but it goes wrong. Ian discovers a drawing in the sand. De Wet works out what it means. The police surround the building. From a distance somebody aims a rifle. A shot goes off.

The people of Digtersdal are celebrating with a torch festival, to symbolically drive out the darkness of the past. The influential Werner Malan crosses swords with the rebel leader, Adam Arendse, over the coming election. Along the river, Werner and Adam's sons spot someone or something lurking in the reeds. A short while later, 9 year old Frikkie Botha vanishes without a trace. Is the nightmare starting all over again? Has the serial killer of thirteen years ago returned?