Early reviews for The Big Bang Theory alum Kaley Cuoco‘s new thriller series, Vanished, have surfaced. However, many of them are far from positive, with the series’ plot and storytelling both being criticized. The show’s premise follows Alice Monroe, whose idyllic French vacation turns into a harrowing nightmare after her boyfriend disappears.
The upcoming four-episode series will launch on MGM+ on February 1, 2026. In addition to Cuoco, the show stars Sam Claflin, Karin Viard, Matthias Schweighöfer, Simon Abkarian, and Dar Zuzovsky.
What Vanished reviews are saying about Kaley Cuoco’s new thriller series
Vanished’s reviews have criticized the show’s plot and its handling of character and story elements. However, several reviews have praised Kaley Cuoco’s performance as the protagonist, Alice Monroe.
Paste‘s Saloni Gajjar, who highlighted Vanished’s similarities to Cuoco’s earlier series The Flight Attendant, called the show “a relatively hollow thriller that depicts Middle Eastern countries with an annoying sepia filter.” While their review praised Cuoco and her co-star Sam Claflin’s individual performances, it criticized their on-screen chemistry, saying the pair “[failed] to fully sell their characters’ seemingly intense dynamic.”
El Kuiper of ScreenRant labeled the show “an unsatisfying, fast-paced thrill ride.” Their review also highlighted the show’s lack of a compelling villain and took issue with the four-episode format, stressing that it limited the usage of the characters and their backstories. Kuiper added, “Vanished feels like a combination of every miniseries or made-for-TV thriller you’ll have seen before. Where it succeeds is in keeping your attention despite its many pitfalls. Once you’re in, it’s hard to look away, and that might just be enough to justify its existence.”
However, Kuiper also praised Cuoco and Karin Viard’s performances, as well as the relationship between their characters, calling them “the most impactful character relationship [in the show].”
Comic Book Resources‘ Martin Carr said that the series’s formulaic approach to thriller stories hampered it. He added that it had the potential to be “exceptional” but ended up becoming “a halfway house that rarely exploits that potential.”
Collider‘s Jasneet Singh said that the near-perfect series was undermined by its last 10 minutes. However, their review said the series is “intriguing and fun enough to be worth watching.”
The Los Angeles Times‘ Robert Lloyd said in his review that the show “lacks spark and suspense.” He also took issue with Cuoco’s performance, stressing she “[felt] out of joint [in the series].” He added that the “pedestrian direction and dialogue” didn’t help her performance and that she came off as “a person playing a person, rather than as the person she’s playing.”
Originally reported by Abdul Azim Naushad on ComingSoon.
