Kidnapped

I just watched the first episode. I usually point out positives and negatives when reviewing, but I don't have any negatives yet. It's already hard to find a good 30-minute show that's not a comedy but is still thrilling. The first episode literally kept me on the edge of my seat; it felt like it was happening to me. The direction and the cast's performances are so real that once you start the episode, you can't help but watch quietly. The good part is that there are only six episodes, each about half an hour long, so I think it will be fast-paced and interesting.

I made the mistake of watching this show in the morning. I should have waited until the afternoon or evening. Starting the day by watching someone get kidnapped is something I should have avoided, as it can really bring down your mood.

Update: I just finished it, and here's my review of the remaining episodes: The first three episodes were good, but the 4th and 5th episodes felt like they were dragging. They seemed slow and unnecessarily stretched, repeating the same things over and over, which is why I had to increase the playback speed to 1.5x just to get through them. But, the finale (6th episode) was good. I think four episodes or a short movie would have been enough for this story, as they didn't have enough content to justify six episodes.

Overall, it's a good watch, 2.75/5. I initially rated it 4/5 after the first episode, but the unnecessary stretching to make it a six-episode show downgraded the experience.

I had never heard of Chloe Ayling nor the event that this docudrama focused on.

So for me it was completely messed up by focusing on the aftermath at the beginning of the first episode.

Any sense of drama or interest was lost as the reenactment of the kidnapping unfolded over subsequent episodes.

As the outcome had already been revealed it was just a case of waiting for the kidnap to play out as we knew nothing would happen to her while being held to ransom. As a result it was drawn out and tedious.

It would have had far more impact if the drama had been played out in chronological order and then the attention from the gutter press/media/social media would have had far more impact as a viewing experience.

With regards to the attention, Chloe Ayling was a victim of her own personality. She took full advantage of her abduction to raise her profile as a model and dressed accordingly when interviewed on TV, which is to say inappropriately for someone who wants to be taken seriously.

I suppose there is not much a writer can do when the storyline is about a dull girl locked in an isolated farmhouse with a guy. Both speaking in monotone voices with expressionless faces. The only character showing any emotion and animation in an all too brief appearance was Robert Glenister as Piers Morgan. I am writing this as I watch episode 2 with the intention of not watching any more. The background music is not that good either. To be honest I found myself not caring one way or another if this girl is released or not and I feel bad about that because it claims to be based on a true story.

I'm not a fan of celebrity culture and with the poor reviews here I had very low expectations.

So bearing that in mind I was pleasantly surprised. I thought the storyline was well told with nuance and I enjoyed the pace of it. I think the six half hour episodes were about the right length.

I'm quite surprised at the very low reviews here. The acting I thought was pretty good both from the kidnapper Lukas and from Chloe herself. The program gave a good insight into the very harmful behaviour of the Lynch Mob mentality of the tabloid press and social Media trolls that will jump onto stories and publish made up story angles and express their vile views without retribution.

We live in a society today where the self interest of social media and tabloids is to grow ever more sensationalist and outrageous to drive advertising traffic irrespective of the truth.

I particularly enjoyed the Italian court sequence in episode 6. I think the poor reviews are a little undeserved.

Bit slow in parts but eye opening as this was the first I'd heard of this story.......... I thought the police were a little harsh with Chloe when she first spoke to them, they didn't seem to realise or have any idea what she might have been through and gave the impression that she was the guilty party when it was her who had been kidnapped and been through hell Would recommend a watch and the half hour episodes were about the right length. I think this programme also highlights the dangers faced by young girls alone on the continent and the dangers of people smuggling.

More precautions should be taken.