Kaley Cuoco’s New Thriller Leaves Critics Underwhelmed

Kaley Cuoco has a new thriller dropping on MGM+ in a matter of days, and early reactions are... let’s say mixed at best. If you were hoping for The Flight Attendant 2.0, critics are saying this is not that, even if the vibes sometimes rhyme.

The setup

'Vanished' is a four-episode limited series premiering on MGM+ on February 1, 2026. Cuoco plays Alice Monroe, whose picture-perfect vacation in France derails when her boyfriend disappears, and everything spirals from there. The cast around her is solid: Sam Claflin, Karin Viard, Matthias Schweighofer, Simon Abkarian, and Dar Zuzovsky.

So what are critics saying?

• Paste (Saloni Gajjar): Sees a lot of overlap with Cuoco’s 'The Flight Attendant,' but calls this a relatively hollow thriller. Also knocks the show’s habit of slapping a sepia wash on scenes set in Middle Eastern countries. Cuoco and Sam Claflin get credit for their individual performances, but their on-screen chemistry doesn’t land.
• ScreenRant (El Kuiper): Labels it an unsatisfying, fast-paced ride that never finds a compelling villain. The four-episode format is a sticking point, too, cramping character backstories. That said, it’s hard to look away once you’re in, and the standout relationship is between Cuoco’s character and Karin Viard’s — both actors earn praise.
• Comic Book Resources (Martin Carr): Calls the show formulaic. There’s clear potential for something sharper, but the execution settles for the middle and rarely taps that promise.
• Collider (Jasneet Singh): Almost a rave with a giant asterisk: the series is cruising along near-perfectly until the last 10 minutes, which reportedly undercut the whole thing. Still, they say it’s intriguing and fun enough to be worth your time.
• Los Angeles Times (Robert Lloyd): More downbeat. Says the show lacks spark and suspense, and even questions whether Cuoco feels right for this part, arguing the direction and dialogue don’t do her any favors.

LA Times on Cuoco: 'a person playing a person, rather than as the person she’s playing.'

The read between the lines

The consensus right now: performances (especially Cuoco and Viard) keep this from flatlining, but the story and character work aren’t as tight as they should be. A few reviewers also side-eyed the visual shorthand for Middle Eastern settings — the old sepia filter is apparently still alive and well — and several felt four episodes wasn’t enough runway for a clean takeoff and landing.

Bottom line: even some of the harsher reviews admit it’s watchable. If you’re a Cuoco fan or just want a compact thriller you can burn through in a weekend, it might scratch the itch — just temper expectations for the finale.