The Vanishing Triangle

I am a crime writer who has studied the individual cases that are commonly associated with Ireland's so-called Vanishing Triangle.

This show basically just took the phrase and spun it into yet another far-fetched, cliche crime drama series.

It's a cash grab by someone who realised that the title would garner some interest.

Another reviewer said that it is based on true events. This statement is so false that I suspect it was written by someone who is associated with the series.

The vast majority of the women who went missing in Ireland's "Vanishing Triangle" are believed to have been killed by someone who was well-known to them. There is a very strong suspect in each case.

Only two are believed to have been the victim of a stranger abduction.

When I first heard that someone was creating a series called The Vanishing Triangle, I thought that we'd get an in-depth look at the victims and their cases. Or at least a factual dramatisation that accurately represented their stories.

Instead, we got a series about a journalist taking a murder investigation into her own hands and some lad running around in a balaclava.

It's rather daring. To execute this crime story in a manner we remember from the 80's. The 1980's that is. But, it works. Up to a point. They manage to stir up the tension and keep it boiling until... the famous final scene. Where it gets a bit slow and archaic.

Yes, it is a relief to escape from mobile phones and computers. That world of instant messaging that kills most of the excitement. And we get a lot of passionate acting in many supporting roles. And India Mullen fights for her life surrounded by soggy memories.

This is strictly watching the Detectives. The old-fashioned police & thieves saga.

. . . If a TV drama doesn't have an ending, then it shouldn't be given a beginning !

This is one series that should never have been allowed to be released on TV.

{Overall thoughts/opinion:}

~~ The series is mind-blowingly inept.

~~ Poor storyline, with appalling lack of structure.

~~ Why are so many threads left straggling and incomplete?

~~ The ending : WHAT ending?!

~~ Generally, the drama was put together with no solid framework. There is too much flimflamming all over the place. Lots of wildly different plot ideas were included, but these elements were too numerous. This gave the meandering tale NO sense of direction.

The only 2 good things in this drama are:

(1) there was considerable viewing excitement generated in the programme. This at least entertained the audience of this thriller.

(2) the acting was good: the two lead actors did excellent work in their roles, as did the actors in smaller parts. So they showed some true skill in the drama.

Other than that: if I cared to do so, there are a million more shoddy plot components about which I could complain.

But, frankly, I don't give a hoot! The more time spent on this dross drama, the more of my life is wasted.

So: onto watching more promising dramas, I hope . . .

Twisty plot contrivances get a little unhinged in final episode, but creepy tone and excellent performances particularly from the two lead actors kept us glued to the screen.

Based on true still unsolved murders, this show depicts a what-if scenario to try to explain the disappearances of missing women in Ireland in the 1990s. The feeling of dread and tension doesn't exactly fit in with Irelands identity as a charming friendly country.

The unique element of the show is that it doesn't just search out the bad guy serial killer. It also shows how the institutions of the time were totally corrupt.

What a disappointment. The series ending was incomplete and left me feeling unsatisfied and frustrated. At least one more episode was required to tie up all the loose ends. Could have rated this much higher if they didn't decide to wrap it up like they no longer cared about creating a full story. Don't waste your time watching it. It's six hours of your life you'll never get back. If the producers had any sense they would have cancelled the release until they had an ending they could sell to the viewers. What a shame. Could have been something special but they chose to cut corners and release a second class product.

I gave it a 2 out of 10 as a decent story was devolping. Sadly it never lived up to its potential.