Vanished series review:

The thing about being an archaeologist is that you have an insatiable urge to dig deeper. Even when you know the truth might be unpleasant, the impulse for closure takes over. Take Kaley Cuoco's Alice Monroe from the new thriller, Vanished, for instance. When her boyfriend Tom Parker (Sam Claflin) vanishes from the train during a trip to Arles, France, she has two choices: either return home and hope for him to come back or find out the truth for herself, even if it means an ordeal. Unsurprisingly, Alice chooses to dive deep into the mysterious circumstances behind her boyfriend's disappearance. And despite persistent warnings from law enforcement and those close to Parker, Monroe refuses to stop the relentless search.

Creator David Hilton’s series does not rewrite the rules of storytelling in the mystery thriller genre. Seasoned thriller viewers can see some of the plot machinations and revelations coming from a mile away. The series delivers its twists and turns with a trigger-happy sense of efficiency. However, despite the familiar tropes, Vanished still works as a gleefully slick, well-crafted mystery thriller with mostly intricate plotting and terrific performances.

Creator: David Hilton

Cast: Kaley Cuoco, Sam Claflin, Matthias Schweighöfer, Simon Abkarian, Karin Viard

Streamer: Lionsgate Play

In an era of bloated, intentionally prolonged web series, the four-episode count in Vanished is a refreshing change of pace. The length keeps us in the dark long enough alongside the characters. Who is Tom Parker? Why is he reluctant to tell Monroe the truth about his life in the first place? We wrestle with these thoughts as the characters tip-toe through the cobbled streets of France in search of the answers. Just to make things even more interesting, Hilton cleverly adds an investigative journalist (Karin Viard) and a hard-nosed police officer (Simon Abkarian) into the story. It is a delight to see the journalist and Monroe offer different perspectives about the true nature of Parker and his job. One of them makes a case for his innocence, even as the other comes up with a wild theory that could put Parker away for good. These dynamics do more than provide some fun banter. They play a part in the choices of these characters, making them weigh evidence against intuition while actively driving the plot.

Speaking of which, the compelling point that Vanished makes centres on a core question: how well do we truly know the people closest to us? How much secrecy can a relationship afford before trust completely goes for a toss? Commendably, the series finds just enough time to pause and reflect on these qualities that make us who we are even as the story unravels at a breakneck speed.

There is also some clever writing here that gives us insights into the nature of the characters. For example, when Parker initially invites Monroe on the company-sponsored Arles trip, it excites her so much that she starts checking off items from her bucket list right away. “Your love seems very conditional right now,” he tells her seemingly in a half-joking manner. When Parker disappears from the train, however, and Monroe learns more facts about his identity, she starts to question the same conditions that form the bedrock of their relationship.

Vanished’s story has elements that occasionally make us roll our eyes and giggle, such as Monroe following Parker's trail based on his bubblegum near a speeding train. How come a train that moves so fast stops in the middle of nowhere and nobody even realises it? Monroe's wild-goose chase in and around Marseille requires some amount of suspension of disbelief, although it is well worth the ride.

What makes the thriller even more fun and efficient is the fine array of performances from the cast. Claflin performs Parker with equal amounts of charm and charade that make the chasm in his arc seem convincing. Matthias Schweighöfer brings smooth sophistication to Alex Durand, while Simon Abkarian and Viard elevate their inspector and journalist roles with sharp wit and panache. Even the Marseille setting adds much allure to the mysterious mood that the makers aim for. Ultimately, though, the show belongs to Cuoco, who aces the role of an empathetic archeologist whose quest for truth trumps even her personal comforts. In a story about choices and consequences, her performance ensures that Monroe's ultimate decision serves as a fitting ode to her profession.