A Garota Roubada

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.

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 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.

Very well directed. The storyline is very interesting from both a criminal and a psychological perspective. The story unfolds gradually with unexpected twists and turns. The role of the journalist is pivotal, contributing significantly to the narrative. It portrays a rare yet challenging situation with a sense of realism, highlighting the complexities and nuances involved. The script adds depth to the characters, as well as to the changes in their relationships brought about by the pressure they experience. The actors deliver good performances, bringing depth and authenticity to their characters. Additionally, the plot is not only intriguing but also layered, keeping you engaged.

It was a good series. Entertaining, but I firgured out pretty quickly what must have happened. I was waiting for another twist, but it never came. I did watch it in one go, so it kept me interested!

Great perfomance by the women in gthis cast, especially the woman who plays Elisa and the woman who plays Josephine's mother. The man who played Fred also did a great job.

Not everything seems to be realistic in my opinion, but it also wasn't extremely farfetched. I would watch if there will be another season made.

I was left with a few questions about the 'why?' of some things, so maybe those questions could be answered in a second season.