Which show is better? Kidnapped or Vanished

terpfan1980 · 09-20-2006, 03:28 PM

Kidnapped premieres tonite. I've seen the pilot episode via Netflix/NBC's special offer making the pilot for it and Studio 60 available early. My personal opinion will show up in the poll anwer, but basically I've long since lost interest in Vanished and am pinning my hopes on a long run for Kidnapped.

The two shows are similar in that they revolve around someone being kidnapped or missing and occur over a long season. They aren't one night events like Without a Trace, etc.

Vanished has a bit more of the Da Vinci Code type elements, but Kidnapped has been hyped a show where you should trust no one and believe nothing.

In anycase, with Kidnapped airing tonite, hopefully over the next few days people can offer their opinions on which show they think is better, and expound in the comments area on which will have the better life span (or perhaps the poll answer will reflect neither, etc.)

The poll answers are obviously tilted towards which show is better, so again please expound in comments on which show you think will have the better season (ratings, following, etc.)

drew2k · 09-20-2006, 03:29 PM

I guess I'll wati until I see Kidnapped, but I've been following Vanished from the begininng and can only presume Kidnapped will be leaps and bounds better.

DevdogAZ · 09-20-2006, 03:52 PM

All the critics seems to say Kidnapped is one of this season's best, while I've not heard anything good about Vanished. I'm still watching Vanished, and I'll definitely check out Kidnapped, but it's too early to vote in the poll.

jking · 09-20-2006, 04:54 PM

I've learned my lesson from a couple of shows last season. I started watching Vanished, but when I realized that it wasn't that great out of the gate, I decided to SP all the remaining eps and wait to see if/when it's cancelled. I will probably do the same with Kidnapped.

Amnesia · 09-20-2006, 05:03 PM

I've seen the 5 aired episodes of Vanished, but only the pilot of Kidnapped. So far, I'd have to say that Kidnapped is better, but it really depends on how the next couple of episodes go...

Werd2406 · 09-20-2006, 06:35 PM

I like Vanished but I think sometimes it tries to be too complex for its own good. I think the mystery is good but I don't think it will last.....

I've only seen the pilot of Kidnapped obviouslly but it doesn't seem like too bad of a show...

drew2k · 09-21-2006, 01:20 AM

Just watched the pilot. Kidnapped wins, hands-down.

For one thing, in less than 30 minutes I was given my choice of characters to care about (bodyguard, Mother, Father, FBI-agent, recovery-specialist). After seeing 5 or 6 episodes of Vanished so far, I'm still not sure who I care about.

For another, the writing and acting on Kidnapped just blows away what Vanished has presented so far. My season pass for Vanished is in serious jeopardy of being deleted.

kbohip · 09-21-2006, 02:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drew2k

For one thing, in less than 30 minutes I was given my choice of characters to care about (bodyguard, Mother, Father, FBI-agent, recovery-specialist). After seeing 5 or 6 episodes of Vanished so far, I'm still not sure who I care about.

Well said, and I think this is the reason why I couldn't care less about Vanished right now.

terpfan1980 · 09-21-2006, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbohip

Well said, and I think this is the reason why I couldn't care less about Vanished right now.

+1 to both of the above.

I swear after watching Vanished I was just kind of bleh. I had no emotional attachment to the characters. None of them at all.

As Drew2k noted above, and kbohip seconded as well, I found myself drawn into Kidnapped much more easily.

It's weird though because before the season started I was excited about Vanished and thought I'd enjoy it. I watched the pilot of Kidnapped on the Netflix disc (it shared the disc with Studio 60's pilot episode) and really had no expectations going in. I figured it was worth watching the one episode but questioned how it could really play out over a season, or at least I felt that way before watching. After watching I could see easily how it was going to play out, or at least how it would make a very enjoyable season.

I liken it a bit to Prison Break where the concept seems simple enough, a show about a Prison Break, but of course it was never that simple, and isn't just about that one event. I think Kidnapped will be the same, it's going to take many twists and turns and be a nice intense show. Up there with 24 in some ways, and certainly as tense as Prison Break normally is.

Sirius Black · 09-21-2006, 08:19 AM

I said enough with the polls alread but only because there wasn't an option for "I haven't seen Kidnapped." Based on the comments herre though, I might have to check it out.

tivoboyjr · 09-21-2006, 12:37 PM

After reading over and over about how great Kidnapped was going to be and how it's so much better than Vanished, I was pretty disappointed with Kidnapped. Seemed pretty generic to me. At this point, I think I like Vanished better, though that's not saying a lot.

boywaja · 09-21-2006, 03:50 PM

We'll see. After one episode of Kidnapped, I still prefer Vanished.

cheesesteak · 09-22-2006, 09:45 AM

I lasted two episodes with Vanished which made me not even bother with Kidnapped. If Kidnapped gets cancelled because it fell one viewer short of expectations, blame Vanished.

skaeight · 09-25-2006, 04:03 PM

Having just watched the pilot of Kidnapped last night, I can finally vote in this poll. So far I like Vanished better. Kidnapped did not seem very original. It was well made though, and I did like that it was set in NYC. I'll give it a couple more episodes to see where it goes.

DevdogAZ · 09-25-2006, 04:17 PM

So far, I'd have to say that the production values and acting on Kidnapped are far better, but the story on Vanished has me much more intrigued. Perhaps that's a function of having seen 5-6 episodes vs. one episode, but so far I don't really care that much about Leopold Crane or his parents. The Jeremy Sisto character seems interesting, but I'm not sure if I care about the case he's investigating (yet).

KRS · 09-25-2006, 04:19 PM

Rebecca Gayheart was the only reason to watch Vanished. I watched the first three and was solidly in the 'meh' camp. My TiVo missed episode four of Vanished, and I was sort of relieved to have an excuse to dump the show.

Kidnapped does a much better job of drawing you in and has better pacing.

Zevida · 09-25-2006, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdogaz

So far, I'd have to say that the production values and acting on Kidnapped are far better, but the story on Vanished has me much more intrigued. Perhaps that's a function of having seen 5-6 episodes vs. one episode, but so far I don't really care that much about Leopold Crane or his parents. The Jeremy Sisto character seems interesting, but I'm not sure if I care about the case he's investigating (yet).

+1

drew2k · 09-25-2006, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zevida

+1

OK, +1.5 ...

Gale Harold and Ming Na are just horrible in their roles, but the story on Vanished is REALLY starting to heat-up.