Vanished: A Thrilling Mystery with Kaley Cuoco – Is It Worth Watching?
With Sam Claflin largely absent from the screen, the weight of this formulaic show falls heavily on the shoulders of Kaley Cuoco, known for her iconic role in The Big Bang Theory and her captivating performance in The Flight Attendant. While Cuoco delivers, is it enough to salvage a narrative that feels…well, vanished before it truly begins?
A Familiar Premise, A Lengthy Run
Prepare for a hefty dose of suspense! Vanished unfolds over three hours, cleverly disguised as four 45-minute episodes. The series stars Kaley Cuoco as Alice, an archaeologist whose life takes a dramatic turn when her long-distance boyfriend, Tom (Sam Claflin), mysteriously disappears during a train journey to Marseille. This echoes her previous role in The Flight Attendant, where she played a stewardess entangled in a web of intrigue and danger. However, unlike the darkly comedic and layered Flight Attendant, Vanished struggles to find its footing.
Love, Mystery, and a Disappearing Act
Alice and Tom have maintained a four-year long-distance relationship, fueled by stolen moments in hotel rooms across the globe. Just as Alice is offered a promising position at Princeton, Tom books a luxurious getaway to celebrate their potential future together. But their plans are abruptly derailed when Tom vanishes without a trace. The initial mystery is intriguing, but the execution feels rushed and predictable.
A Cast of Characters and a Slow Burn
Cuoco isn’t alone in this pursuit. She receives assistance from Helene (Karin Viard), an investigative reporter who witnesses Tom’s disappearance, and Monsieur Drax (Simon Abkarian), a skeptical police inspector. As Alice delves deeper into the mystery, she uncovers a trail of suspicious hotel bills, cryptic phone records, and a photograph of a woman with a tattoo matching Tom’s. She also seeks answers from Tom’s former colleague, Alex Durand (Matthias Schweighöfer), who reveals a darker side to her boyfriend’s life – one involving chases, suspicious deaths, and accusations of murder.
Comparing to ‘The Flight Attendant’
The Flight Attendant succeeded by blending caper elements with genuine humor, giving its protagonist depth and vulnerability. Cuoco shone as a flawed character navigating extraordinary circumstances. Vanished, unfortunately, feels like a pale imitation. It lacks the comedic spark and nuanced character development that made its predecessor so compelling. While Cuoco does her best with the material, she’s given little to truly sink her teeth into. Claflin, meanwhile, is relegated to fleeting flashbacks, his potential largely untapped. You can learn more about Kaley Cuoco’s career trajectory on IMDb.
Final Verdict: A Distraction, But Not a Masterpiece
If you’re looking for a light and diverting thriller to pass the time, Vanished might suffice. It’s daft, distracting, and offers enough twists to keep you mildly engaged. However, don’t expect a groundbreaking mystery or a compelling character study. Hopefully, both Cuoco and Claflin will soon find roles that allow them to showcase their full talents. Vanished is currently streaming on Prime Video.
