Vanished: Kaley Cuoco’s twisty thriller is gripping — but the finale frustrates

Collider critic Jasneet Singh says MGM+’s Vanished, a four-episode miniseries starring Kaley Cuoco and Sam Claflin, delivers a gripping, twist-filled ride but builds to a confusing, jarring ending. The series follows archaeologist Alice Monroe (Cuoco), who disappears into a spiral of secrets after her boyfriend Tom Parker (Claflin) vanishes from a train in France while Alice naps.

Local police assume he’s run from commitment, so Alice teams with a fellow passenger-turned-investigative-journalist, Helene (Karin Viard), to hunt him down. Singh praises the show’s clever plotting, relentless narrative shifts and self-aware comedy, and highlights Cuoco’s emotional lead performance and her chemistry with Claflin.

The review also notes strong contributions from supporting players including Matthias Schweighöfer, Karin Viard and Simon Abkarian. Where the review takes issue is the final stretch: the last ten minutes and closing twist are described as confusing, tonally inconsistent and undermining the series’ earlier gravity.

Singh argues the finale’s punchline risks undercutting the heavier themes the show touches on. Despite the problematic ending, the review calls Vanished an intriguing, entertaining mystery worth watching. The piece notes the series is set to arrive Feb.

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