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.

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 first episode had me hooked. Although not typically a fan of disjointed storytelling, I liked the way the show unfolded, which makes the final episode and the conclusion of the story that much more irritating. After the final episode, I kept checking back for another episode not believing that was the actual ending of the story.

The acting was good, particularly the leads. I found the detectives role in the story pretty terrible, I also didn't think the reporter editor interactions with him.

Overall, I liked the story, and the twists that unraveled through the disjointed storytelling. However, I just can't support the ending.

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.

The abduction was quite innovative in the way it was planned so there was some initial intrigue. That said, this series failed to deliver on several fronts, the motive for the kidnapping was silly, and so was the whole line of the story associated with it. The ending fell flat. The car crash scene was verging on the ridiculous, the way the stationary car was overturned and destroyed and yet the other car travelling at speed didn't so much as get scratched, farcical. But the worst thing about the series for me was the acting of Ambika Mod, painfully wooden and bland. The character she was playing was also childish and annoying, not sure if that was intentional or not. Unbearable to watch either way.