Entertainment
‘Vanished’ Starts Sweet, Then Drops You Into A Twist-Heavy Mystery You’ll Devour
Starring Kaley Cuoco, this twisty limited series hurdles ahead like a bullet train you’d die to take a ride on.
There’s nothing like a romantic getaway to beat back winter blahs, is there? This was the feeling of Alice Monroe (Kaley Cuoco) at the inception of MGM+’s new limited series Vanished. Like any reasonable person would, she thinks “My Seasonal Affective Disorder is no match for a spontaneous trip to Paris for a hotel tryst with my devastatingly handsome lover, right? Right!” Wrong.
It’s all fun and games until her boo accepts a call from an unknown number while they’re bound for the sun-drenched south of France on a high-speed train. When he disappears from the train traceless, Alice embarks on an increasingly dangerous journey in pursuit of her lost lover… on a desperate mission to piece together where he went, why, and if he’s even the person she thought he was in the first place.
If you’re looking for a little suspense to check those mid-winter doldrums, this deliciously twisty limited series — premiering February 1 in four weekly episodes — is one to watch. With its sharp, sexy, suspenseful plot and gorgeous European landscapes, the series is a marathon-worthy thriller anchored by a strong female lead who’s anything but a damsel in distress. It doesn’t hurt that Alice’s enigmatic missing boyfriend, Tom Parker, is played by Sam Claflin, whose cheekbones could cut glass (Is that how he escaped the train?!).
Tom’s face card deadliness aside, read on and click the pluses on the collage to reveal more about why Vanished is your new winter must-watch.
The Hero Doesn’t Run In Heels
No shade to stiletto-lovers, but Alice’s glow up from cozy girlfriend to kickass action hero finds her chopping her hair and donning a chic yet functional tracksuit and sneakers to sprint across Europe fighting to uncover the truth. Anyone familiar with Cuoco’s credits knows she can more than hold her own as the dynamic lead of a whirlwind whodunit, and in Vanished she ups her game. Alice is unapologetically competent, brilliant, and badass — a grounded heroine who comes across as human, never cliche.
The Plot Moves Like a Bullet Train
In this era of drawn-out story arcs and long (some might even say cruelly so) breaks between seasons of prestige TV, there’s something incredibly satisfying about a plot that hurtles breathlessly to its finish in just four exhilarating installments.
Vanished is always moving because Alice — an archaeologist by trade, with the skill set to dust off each clue in Tom’s disappearance like an ancient artifact — never stops, whether she’s leaping off of buildings to escape death or playing cat and mouse with the police inspector (Gaspard Drax) who’s convinced she’s a cold-blooded killer.
The Twists Will Leave You Breathless
When Tom vanishes off the bullet train bound for the south of France, she's determined to find him. The train staff, the police, and even his colleagues offer convenient explanations and platitudes, but it doesn't shake Alice's hunch. Something is being hidden from her.
Alice's search leads her from city to city throughout the Riviera, following small clues that snowball into major conspiracies. Every sign points to her most trusted person not being who he claims to be. Her feelings, freedom, and safety are all at risk, but it might just be all worth it if she can grasp what she wants most: the truth.
Archaeologist Alice Monroe and international aide worker Tom Parker are used to their long distance relationship. But with a life-changing job offer on the table, she has an opportunity to build a life with her continental lover. And he's... on board?
The best mystery thrillers keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing right up to the end. Vanished doesn’t disappoint, weaving its propulsive web of intrigue with perfectly-paced reveals that upend everything just when you think you’ve got the details pinned down. Apart from Alice, there’s no one that she — or we — can trust, but the final episode brings everything together in a way that feels sophisticated, earned, and unexpected. No spoilers here, but the final scene sticks the landing in a way that’s more deeply satisfying than any finale in recent memory. 10/10, no notes.
Vanished premieres on Sunday, February 1 with a weekly release on MGM+. All four episodes will be available to stream Friday, February 27 on Prime Video in the US, UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Latin America.
