"Vanished": Kaley Cuoco's Whirlwind Adventure In The Heart Of Marseille

If you thought "The Big Bang Theory" actress Kaley Cuoco was done with thrilling roles, think again! After a decade-long tenure on the famous sitcom and two thrilling seasons of "The Flight Attendant", Kaley's acting voyage has now landed her smack in the middle of Marseille in the MGM+ series, "Vanished". Sporting both the star and executive producer hats, Kaley has spun a tale of mystery and intrigue in the gorgeous French locale that makes one wonder if her long stint in Burbank induced a burning desire for international adventures.

Riding on the eerily familiar wave of being an ordinary individual thrown into extraordinary circumstances, Kaley's character in "Vanished", the ever-curious archeologist Alice Monroe, gets herself involved in a terrifying enigma. Instead of waking up next to a body as we saw in "The Flight Attendant", Alice embarks on a romantic journey with her dreamy doctor boyfriend, Tom Parker (played by the charismatic Sam Claflin of "The Hunger Games"), only for him to mysteriously disappear. What follows is a web of suspense spun over four concise episodes, directed by the wizard behind "Spice World", Barnaby Thompson and written by his talented son, Preston Thompson.

As entertaining as the rushed narrative may be, "Vanished" could be perceived as an abridged cousin of "The Flight Attendant". Alice on the quest for her missing boyfriend mirrors Cassie's hunt in the previous thriller, the humor feels somehow suppressed, giving it an almost predominantly dramatic undertone. One can't help but imagine a humorous spin on this tale of modern-day ghosting complete with assassins and human traffickers!

Throughout the series, we're gifted clips of Tom and Alice's lovable moments from the past, throwing us a nostalgic look at their sweet romance that blossomed amidst archeological digs and vaccine drives for an NGO called SOS Global. Tom remains a consistent presence even in his conspicuous absence. Alice is eventually joined in her quest by a French journalist, Hélène, played by Karin Viard, who takes audiences for a riveting tour through the vibrant city of Marseille.

However, the story's portrayal of a particular Middle Eastern neighborhood to emphasize Alice's vulnerability leaves a somewhat unpleasant aftertaste. Despite the criticism, Kaley's newfound love for globetrotting roles is evident and adds a refreshing facet to her on-screen persona. Whether this pursuit continues or takes a change of course remains to be watched. In the meantime, enjoy all four episodes of "Vanished" streaming now on MGM+.