Vanished Review: Kaley Cuoco’s Flight Attendant Replacement Is Stylish But Basic

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While the series Vanished starts with some familiar tropes, it quickly becomes a captivating watch. Starring Kaley Cuoco as the determined archaeologist Alice Monroe, the show evokes a classic film noir feel. Audiences are drawn into a world of glamorous getaways across Europe, particularly the intriguing city of Marseille, as Alice and Tom (Sam Claflin) settle into their surroundings.

Alice and Tom are the perfect romantic pairing, brought together by chance in a difficult situation. Their mysterious jobs create an idealized image of each other, and the film Vanished captures a dreamy, sun-drenched European atmosphere. Shot on location, Vanished lures viewers in with a story of a woman caught in a dangerous situation, a series of escalating events, and shocking surprises they won’t anticipate.

Vanished Leans into Its Exotic Locations & Hitchcock Homage

Despite its simple starting point, the series Vanished feels surprisingly full and engaging. The mystery of the missing person is brought to life by the vibrant setting. The beautiful streets and architecture of Marseille create a captivating atmosphere, and the city itself almost becomes a character, significantly shaping the story’s mood and providing essential support to the plot.

The country of Jordan is just as important to the story, providing the setting for Tom and Alice’s relationship. Their jobs – one a global aid worker, the other an archaeologist – naturally connect within this peaceful yet challenging place, revealing who they are without needing a lot of explanation. Unlike the busy, modern city of Marseille, Jordan’s character comes from its landscape – the ever-changing sands perfectly capture the mood of this captivating series.

Despite a seemingly straightforward plot, the movie Vanished reveals its complexities through subtle details, though it initially feels like a typical sunny thriller. The film cleverly shifts viewpoints, leading viewers to believe that Alice is the only trustworthy character amongst a group of people, each with hidden motives.

Similar to other aspects of this show, the characters Marseille and Jordan feel like pawns in a carefully crafted game designed to play with what viewers expect from familiar movie tropes. The show leans into clichés, but cleverly uses them as tributes rather than relying on tired stereotypes. Kaley Cuoco understands this balance, which makes her ideal for the role of Alice Monroe. While the character might initially seem predictable, it gives Cuoco a chance to showcase her range as an actress.

Kaley Cuoco Elevates This Paper-Thin Premise

Kaley Cuoco has had some success moving beyond her famous sitcom role, but she’s still determined to take on new challenges. After wrapping up The Flight Attendant and receiving positive feedback for Based on a True Story, Cuoco hopes her latest project, Vanished, will finally allow her to leave the character of Penny behind. Regardless of whether this marks the definitive end to that chapter of her career, she’s fully committed to her role as Alice Monroe.

The new series plays to Kaley Cuoco’s strengths as an actress. When Sam Claflin’s character, Tom Parker, goes missing, Cuoco’s character, Alice, immediately starts investigating. Fans of her show, The Flight Attendant, will recognize similar themes, and Cuoco expertly brings those qualities to this role, navigating language differences and building relationships across France as the mystery deepens.

Kaley Cuoco consistently charms viewers with her natural talent, and her new series, Vanished, is no exception. The show cleverly balances intense personal drama with a compelling mystery, making even Alice’s solo investigations in Marseille feel believable and keep you hooked. You readily accept her working under pressure because the emotional core of the story is so strong.

Throughout the novel, the author consistently commits to the unbelievable situation, and this commitment will keep readers invested in Alice’s journey, no matter how dark it gets. While the story centers on Alice and her transformation, it’s also about the compelling group of characters she encounters along the way.

The European Ensemble Cast Is An Essential Element of the Show

Matthias Schweighöfer adds a sense of seriousness to the film Vanished. As Alex, a likable character in a sea of unknowns, he grounds the thriller in reality. He’s a long-time friend of Tom and a trusted advisor, offering Alice both wisdom and comfort, though viewers might wonder what he’s really up to.

The show also features Simon Abkarian, an actor many viewers will recognize. This year marks the 20th anniversary of his work. He plays Gaspard Drax, a law enforcement figure in Marseille who provides guidance and helps de-escalate tense situations. While his role may be smaller, Abkarian’s performance brings a genuine quality to the series.

If you’re not familiar with the César Awards – France’s equivalent of the Oscars – consider this: Karin Viard, who appears alongside Kaley Cuoco in Vanished, has been nominated for a César Award 13 times and won three. A highly respected actress in France, Viard brings depth and emotion to her role as Helene and makes every scene with Cuoco even better, despite having limited screen time.

Preston Thompson, much like a skilled director, has assembled a fantastic supporting cast for his film. For this suspenseful European thriller, he wisely included experienced European actors who can bring a sense of authenticity and avoid tired tropes. These three actors are particularly strong, transforming potentially flat characters into complex individuals and adding significant depth to the story – they’re almost worth seeing the movie for on their own.

Vanished Is Let Down by a Reliance on Formula

The biggest weakness of the limited series is that Vanished feels very familiar – it follows a common thriller storyline about missing people. It’s not a poorly made show, but the plot isn’t original, so don’t expect anything groundbreaking. If you’re just looking for easy, undemanding entertainment, Vanished delivers.

One of the things that makes this project appealing is its reliability, and Kaley Cuoco’s role as Alice Monroe feels like a smart, dependable choice. The show also features Sam Claflin, who many will recognize from The Hunger Games, and boasts a generally talented and engaging cast. While Cuoco is the lead, it really seems like a collaborative effort from everyone involved.

Throughout the four episodes, the impact of certain details might seem brief, as the show maintains a consistently slow pace. However, Vanished avoids overstaying its welcome. Clever and understated editing reveals important background information, developing the core relationship while deliberately keeping the character of Tom somewhat mysterious. This makes it more challenging for actor Tom Claflin to fully realize his performance.

Sam Claflin Suffers as Vanished Plays it Safe

I first noticed Sam Claflin acting opposite Bill Nighy, and he really stood out! But honestly, in Vanished, he doesn’t get nearly the same chance to shine. It’s a shame, because he’s such a unique talent, and seeing him play a more supporting role feels…underutilized. He brings a lot of depth to his character, Tom, but it often feels like he’s just there to support the story, instead of really getting a chance to make a mark. And that’s kind of how the whole show feels, actually – everything just falls into place a little too neatly. It rarely makes you think, you know?

Unfortunately, the portrayal sometimes feels predictable and stereotypical. The character is presented as an impossibly perfect partner, always shown in beautiful, idyllic settings, which makes it hard for viewers to truly connect with him. If the actor had been allowed to add some flaws or complexities, he might have been more memorable. This same issue – a lack of depth – plagues much of Vanished, and it’s what prevents the show from being truly exceptional.

If MGM+ had allowed the story and characters to be more daring and realistic, Vanished could have been a truly outstanding show. It had the potential to be a unique, hard-edged European thriller, giving the actors a chance to really shine. Unfortunately, the current version feels like a compromise, rarely living up to that potential.

Vanished premieres on February 1.

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2026-01-30 11:08