Vanished follows Alice (Kaley Cuoco), whose seemingly perfect boyfriend Tom (Sam Claflin) disappears without a trace during a romantic getaway. Armed with nothing but determination, questionable detective skills, and a chewing gum wrapper as her only “clue,” Alice teams up with disgraced journalist Helene to uncover the truth. Through flashbacks revealing how they met and their final days together, the four-episode limited series spirals into a web of suspicion, jealousy, and secrets that’ll have you questioning everything including your own sanity by the final credits.
Kaley Cuoco proves she’s more than just Penny from The Big Bang Theory, she’s grown into a genuinely compelling dramatic actress who can anchor a thriller. As both lead and executive producer, she throws herself into the role of Alice with impressive commitment, nailing the desperate girlfriend-turned-amateur-detective vibe. She’s stunning, sharp, and brings an authenticity to the paranoia and determination that drives the entire narrative.
Sam Claflin as Tom does solid work with what he’s given, oscillating between charming boyfriend and potential villain in the flashback sequences. The chemistry between them sells the relationship, making the stakes feel real even when the plot loses its mind.
The standout wild card? The investigative journalist Helene, a pop-down reporter desperately trying to redeem her career but coming across as beautifully reckless. She’s got her own agenda, turning the partnership into a delicious cat-and-mouse game that adds layers to what could’ve been a straightforward mystery.
Visually, Vanished is a love letter to its setting. The city is gorgeously shot, with sweeping cinematography that could double as a tourism campaign. Every frame drips with atmosphere, moody lighting, tight close-ups during tense moments, and expansive shots that emphasize Alice’s isolation in her search.
The soundtrack complements the paranoid energy well, with an escalating score that ramps up tension as Alice spirals deeper into the mystery. There’s a kinetic quality to the editing, particularly in how the flashbacks are woven into the present-day narrative, keeping you constantly off-balance about what’s real and what’s speculation.
The production doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it’s polished enough to keep you visually engaged even when the story starts testing your patience.
Let’s get one thing straight: Vanished opens with an insane first scene that grabs you by the throat and doesn’t let go. It’s bold, unsettling, and sets up a mystery that genuinely had me hooked.
For the first three episodes, this show knows exactly what it’s doing. The central hook… did Tom flee to be with another woman, or is something more sinister at play?This is milked for maximum suspense. The flashbacks showing their whirlwind romance and final moments together add depth and context, making you genuinely invested in whether this guy’s a victim or a villain.
Alice transforms into an absolute athlete, sprinting through the city at Olympic level speeds, chasing leads with the determination of someone who clearly skipped leg day never. Watching Cuoco run up and down Marseille while unraveling clues is more entertaining than it has any right to be.
With only four episodes, the show crams an ambitious amount of plot into a tight runtime. Revelations come fast, twists pile up, and the climax hits surprisingly quickly. For three-quarters of its run, it actually comes together quite well, the pacing works, the tension is real, and you’re genuinely curious about where this is all heading.
But then… the cheese factor goes into overdrive. The tension ramps up, yes, but so does the absurdity. The dialogue takes a nosedive straight into Stupidville, with characters saying things that would make a soap opera blush. There’s an entire operation of absolute madness unfolding, international intrigue, danger at every turn and all Alice seems to care about is whether Tom slept with someone else. Priorities, darling.
The final episode is where everything nosedives spectacularly. It’s like the writers forgot what show they were making and decided to throw darts at a board of bad thriller clichés. The plot twist is weak, predictable, and frankly insulting after the solid build-up. The gunshot effects look like they were outsourced to someone’s nephew who just discovered After Effects. Everything that made the first three episodes engaging gets tossed out the window for a rushed, nonsensical conclusion that left me genuinely annoyed.
It’s baffling, unsatisfying, and retroactively makes you question why you invested the time.
Vanished is a frustrating case of a show that had all the ingredients for success but fumbled spectacularly at the finish line. Kaley Cuoco delivers a strong performance, the production is slick, and the first three episodes are genuinely engaging thriller television. But that final act? It’s a masterclass in how to destroy goodwill and leave your audience feeling cheated.
Watch it for Cuoco’s performance and the gorgeous Marseille backdrop. Just maybe stop before the final episode and write your own ending, it’ll probably be better.
