The Vanishing Triangle

Twisty plot contrivances get a little unhinged in final episode, but creepy tone and excellent performances particularly from the two lead actors kept us glued to the screen.

Based on true still unsolved murders, this show depicts a what-if scenario to try to explain the disappearances of missing women in Ireland in the 1990s. The feeling of dread and tension doesn't exactly fit in with Irelands identity as a charming friendly country.

The unique element of the show is that it doesn't just search out the bad guy serial killer. It also shows how the institutions of the time were totally corrupt.

The story, pacing and video side of the production including the acting were very good. However, the overall experience is let down by some rather shoddy sound engineering. Within the first 10 minutes, it should have been obvious to the Director that there was a shortfall. Considering the fact that I grew up in in Dublin and that I had to have sub titles switched on should be indication enough that there was something not so effectively done.

As stated in another review, the sound separation was abysmal for a modern production, even Smart TVs with Dialogue Enhancers and various surround enhancing alternatives did not do enough to help.

The Dublin dialect can be difficult to understand as certain words roll into others so it IS important. The speech coach should have realised this on first review as well and questioned whether it was actors' failings or inadequate sound capture and/or separation.

Interestingly enough, the actor that stands out as being the most articulate is the one who worked on Downton Abbey. Possibly the bigger a production is may demand more resources thrown at actor articulation?

Otherwise, as I said, I found the story very intetesting.

After sitting through what was a tolerable but not great series, we are presented with an ending that suggests that bigotry and violence are the way to go. If it was intended to show that this was the case, at the time this series was set in, you could perhaps get some satisfaction. I suggest that this is not the case for the majority of viewers..as least I hope so. I never quite understand programs that do this...there are others and I suspect most viewers have seen similar. Perhaps it is not always probable to present positive outcomes. If this ending was a statement then the closing vignettes should have been more pointed.

These cliffhanger series endings are becoming far too common and very irritating. Without revealing any spoilers, the viewer should be forewarned. I doubt that with such a low rating there will be another season to tie up the storylines, but I hope at least there would be. But what a disappointment after investing so much time watching this series. Allen Leech is one of my favorite actors, and while I wasn't familiar with any of the other actors, they were all very good, especially India Mullen. This series is supposed to have been modeled after a true story, so it's hard to believe that this was the way the case ended. I guess I can only hope that there will be a second season to find out.

. . . If a TV drama doesn't have an ending, then it shouldn't be given a beginning !

This is one series that should never have been allowed to be released on TV.

{Overall thoughts/opinion:}

~~ The series is mind-blowingly inept.

~~ Poor storyline, with appalling lack of structure.

~~ Why are so many threads left straggling and incomplete?

~~ The ending : WHAT ending?!

~~ Generally, the drama was put together with no solid framework. There is too much flimflamming all over the place. Lots of wildly different plot ideas were included, but these elements were too numerous. This gave the meandering tale NO sense of direction.

The only 2 good things in this drama are:

(1) there was considerable viewing excitement generated in the programme. This at least entertained the audience of this thriller.

(2) the acting was good: the two lead actors did excellent work in their roles, as did the actors in smaller parts. So they showed some true skill in the drama.

Other than that: if I cared to do so, there are a million more shoddy plot components about which I could complain.

But, frankly, I don't give a hoot! The more time spent on this dross drama, the more of my life is wasted.

So: onto watching more promising dramas, I hope . . .