The Stolen Girl

This mini-series is well-paced at 5 episodes, with a decent, well-written storyline.

Multiple twists and developments keep it engaging, with interesting emotional shifts as the series progresses.

The production seems to have been appropriately budgeted for with decent cast, brilliant scenary and good diversity of locations throughout.

Mod plays the role of the tenacious journalist really well, while I found some of Grainger's more dramatic scenes less than convincing. Gough's performance was brilliant throughout and she was able to showcase a good degree of range in this title.

I think this will age pretty well, and is definitely worth a watch in my view.

Somewhere deep inside is a plot that has some merit but, with the exception of Holiday Grainger, the acting is so bad it's beyond laughable. One can only suspect that Disney+ signed it up unseen.

The performance of the distraught mother (Elisa) and the lead detective (D. I. Sinclair) are disgraceful but award winning by comparison to journalist (Selma) and her editor (Kaleb). Most of the others are bad but could easily blame diabolical direction.

Selma interviews without taking notes and receives photographic evidence via email which arrives within seconds and without having given her address.

Reactions are amateurish and situations contrived however, the worst part of all is that I watched all 5 episodes but in my defence, I had a wager on the ending.

The main plot of the show is really good, and the production is paced well. It has that problem that most 'streaming binge' drama has in that it is constantly explaining the obvious, treating the audience as if they are either a) on their phone or b) really stupid. So the script feels a little on the wonky side from the get go.

The major drawback, and this stops it getting a higher score for me is just how howlingly bad some of the acting. Everything line comes at you with a sigh, every line has a sharp intake of breath and a really laboured way of delivering 'plot' which makes it feel less classy than a show of this budget should.

It's okay and passes a few hours of telly wallpaper but with a plotline that's as potentially good as this it could have been much much better.

The resolution of the story is an absolute let-down and utter disappointment. Millennial do-goodism afflicts the choices of how the characters behave and of how the climax unravels. I felt cheated. But that's usually the case with contemporary defanged narratives. Pity, the acting is top notch, and much deserving of a better and much ballsier and darker script writing. The first couple of episodes are great, unfortunately it quickly becomes a morality tale of atonement that is a tad too predictable for my liking. The revelations do not land with a gut punch but with a fizzle. Once I realised where it was heading I kept hoping it would re-adjust course. It never did.

A well acted and we'll written thriller with a strong cast and good performances throughout. It play's on the fears of parents everywhere. The tension builds from the start and whilst it stretches credulity a little in places with maybe one too many plot twists the overall premise is sound. It would probably have benefited from being longer which is a rarity in these days of streaming and looking back at it in hindsight there are a few minor plot holes but nothing significant enough to spoil my enjoyment. Somewhat reminiscent of Harlan Coban but where as his work does have a habit of getting a bit preposterous this tended to stay just the right side of the line. Looking forward to the next Alex Dahl adaptation.