Cancelling this show for whatever reason is beyond me! Luckily somebody put up the remaining episodes for anybody to see! This show was exciting and moving from the start till the end with a hell of a cliffhanger and closure! In that aspect it succeeded where "Vanished" failed! The cast is great and the plot is thrilling! The characters all have their good points and flaws! Even the bad guys show their caring side! Which was refreshing to see! So the people portrayed in the show seem very human! It is easy to sympathize with many of the characters which makes the viewing experience more enjoyable! "Kidnapped" is full of surprises and never gets boring! This series deserved air time and even continuation for an extra season! Why do these so called experts canceling these great shows? Don't be fooled by their judgment! "Kidnapped" is top quality entertainment and drama!
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chrichtonsworld21 March 2007
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With movie production values, an excellent ensemble cast and an unpredictable and gripping plot, "Kidnapped" is a recent gem of the small screen. Why a television series of this quality failed to attract a large audience is a mystery and it's a genuine shame that the series was axed after its first season.
Timothy Hutton plays Conrad Cain, a billionaire who has his son kidnapped for reasons beyond money. Dana Delany plays his beautiful wife. It's the guys who are brought in to find the missing boy that really bring the series alive, though. Delroy Lindo is very likable as just-retired FBI agent, Latimer King. Jeremy Sisto is the unconventional Knapp, aided by the beautiful Susan Kelechi Watson. Watson is a face to look out for in the future.
One of the best series of the noughties, I'm going to miss it.
8 out of 10. -
I came across Kidnapped in a local DVD exchange store for a cheap price, when I was buying more than one DVD at the time. I bought it and gave it a go, by the end of the first of thirteen episodes I was hooked. The premise is simple at first, but it is interwoven into many different leads and in the end you have a large conspiracy that keeps you thinking. The kidnapping begins to turn out not to be a big factor in the conspiracy.
The cast is what for me made me watch on until the final episode, Jeremy Sisto and Delroy Lindo really work well together; one a former FBI agent who now works privately for people helping to find their loved ones kidnapped and one his former partner and boss. The pair work together to find the kidnap child of a wealthy family who have many dark secrets. The formula and route the show takes is similar to 24, and even Prison Break with many cliffhangers at the end of episodes. The action of Kidnapped is quite well directed and aimed, and also filmed. Characters are deep and have purpose, you do not watch thinking they are hollow or without attributes you can take a liking to. There are characters you will love and others you'll despise, but it makes you watch on to find the reason why the boy was kidnapped, and the dark secrets his family have.
Kidnapped is not without its flaws; at times it can be cheesy and at others you can see what is coming before it happens, as its clichéd. But its a worthy show to give a watch if you buy it on DVD or find it repeating late at night on cable. -
patsrb2821 December 2006Given the show was canceled after 3 weeks on NBC, I would assume there would be quite a bit of skepticism around the show. That being said, everyone makes mistakes and NBC made a big one here. Kidnapped has the same complex characters, interesting plots and strong acting that makes 24 such an addictive franchise. But apparently NBC lacks patience and would rather create another lame game show for its programming. Anyway,Kidnapped is a great show. If you like 24, you'll like this show as well. Several strong plot lines - some are more relationship driven (father/son, husband/wife, co-workers, etc.) some are more of your typical action drama related (who are the good guys, who's the mole, etc.), but, for the most part, the plot line are well written and not terribly predictable like many shows on the air these days. The acting is superb as well, throughout the cast. Most of the lead characters are complex and are relatively well developed even though NBC decided to cut the number of episodes down from 22 to 13. If it ever comes out on DVD, check it out.
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juanita28 September 2006Everything about this series is exceptional, the production values, the casting, and the riveting plot. While most of today's crime dramas seem to center around the same old tried and true CSI and Law and Order formulas of-crime committed, investigation proceeds, cops figure it out and prosecution is executed (within an hour), this series involves the exploration of the affect of the crime on all of the individuals touched by it. The fact that the writers have an entire season to explore reasons, relationships and consequences, gives this show a level of depth that most movies, let alone television series are no where near achieving.
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augustanarox19 January 2007This was too great of a show to be canceled! Nbc made a BAD decision to cancel it without giving enough time for people to discover this excellent drama. Even though it is now canceled and they even stopped showing the episodes online at nbc.com, there have been tons of newcomers who join the Kidnapped board on nbc.com. Please join us if you would like to see Kidnapped return for a new season =). The characters are ALL well thought out and played really well by the actors. Especially Will Denton, for a "child" actor, he REALLY can act! GOOD JOB!!!! He really has a great future in acting. This was a much better show than Heroes! BRING KIDNAPPED BACK NBC!!!
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CareyDaste25 December 2006This was the best thing I've seen on TV in a long time. The casting, direction, music..... everything was excellent. It was too bad I had to watch the remaining episodes online at NBC.com, but we were all thankful we could at least see them. NBC made a huge mistake in cancelling this show. This was a show that we all looked forward to week after week. It was not just another Law & Order. Even though I love Law & Order, it is just so predictable. That's what made Kidnapped great....all of the twists and turns. We are all hoping it comes out on DVD. I'll buy it even though I've already seen it .... especially if they add back in episodes that were not shown! :)
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blakeneyd13 October 2007This is the kind of quality show that should be on television, not half the detritus that's on today. Expertly plotted, always engaging, superbly acted. The series is not for the whole family; there is a lot of violence and gore (graphic depictions of people shot in the head); also some drug use and promiscuity on the part of the Cain's college-age daughter.
Still, on the whole, the good guys really do turn out to be admirable characters. I rented this series from netflix on a whim, and boy was it ever worth the investment. I loved it from start to finish. Even the one character who I thought was pretty lightweight turns out to have an incredible twist at the end. Go and see it - you won't be disappointed. -
Grinand17 August 2006This show mixes the missing persons angle of "Without A Trace" with the season-long plot of "24." The hero - played by Jeremy Sisto - is somewhat appealing, but definitely no Jack Bauer... yet the show seems to be built around him in the same way "24" is built around Jack. By pilot's end, I didn't really know that much about him, except for the fact that he hates cops and doesn't think they do a good job of finding people. There is an interesting line in there about how the cops have two objectives when seeking a missing child - to find the kid but also to catch the bad guy, which can sometimes get in the way of the first goal. Jeremy Sisto - Cain - only concentrates on getting the kid back.
Anyway, this show would be sufficiently entertaining if Cain found a new kid every episode, but he's only finding one kid over the course of an entire season. The pilot didn't leave me confident that this particular case is complex and dramatic enough to sustain interest that long. Kind of like the first season of "Murder One." I might give the second episode a chance, but I'm not too excited about it. -
gottakickitup855 May 2007I do not really care for TV unless I am absolutely bored and there is nothing better to do, but this show made me drop everything I was doing and just watch in awe. It was by far the greatest show I have ever watched. The acting was superb and I commend all of them on their wonderful jobs. Jeremy Sisto is especially incredible. I have never seen him in anything before, but I will definitely be keeping an eye out for things he is in in the future. I cannot, for the life of me, imagine why NBC would cancel it, but it is their loss. I will definitely be buying the DVD now that I know it is available. I wish NBC would bring it back!
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larmo9 October 2022October 9, 2022 - I really enjoyed this series. The cast of actors is one of the best. All of them giving very professional performances. The writing is good, as are the production values. I think I will always remember the scene when Alice, the sister of the kidnapped boy. Interacts with the big basically silent man who is assigned to be her bodyguard for the first time,"Sooo Jimbo..") .😁 The young actress' name is Lydia Jordan, and fortunately she has continued to get acting roles as she has grown older. It's too bad that NBC cancelled the series going into its second season. In comparison to a lot of the "cookie cutter" series, and endless iterations of series that have been renewed for sometimes decades. Kidnapped was a quality show that certainly deserved more support from the network. The good news is that all of the talented actors and actresses have gone on to work in other productions.
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Brassy429 September 2006Kidnapped is a show that will keep you asking questions thats for sure! From the 1st show I couldn't take my eyes off,and I keep coming back for more , Will Leopold get away ? will he make friends with Otto an get help from him ? Does Sully have anything to do with Leopolds kidnapping ? Will Conrads Dad help from a far to close the gap of father an son ? Will the Mom play a bigger role in the family secrets? No wonder it takes a whole season for this all to play out !! Did Knapp get someone killed is that why he's not a agent anymore ? This show gives you a look into the family of the victim, lets you get to know some history of these people and understand how it effects them.Kidnapped does not just jump in and show you whats going on , it lets you get to know others that may have some shady past and dealings with the Cains, it tells you a story if your willing to see the out come of this show for the season you will be pleased and come back for more. I can't wait, I keep coming back for more it's my NBC addiction !
Check out
kidnapped on Nbc Wednesdays... Might be moving to Saturdays 9/8. -
Raivenblade17 September 2007Talk about an unoriginal concept. Basically, this series mixes the plot of "Ransom" with Mel Gibson, and the plot of "Man on Fire" with Denzel Washington and come up with a concept in which every other scene reminds you of one of the two.
Certain scenes, characters and plot lines are literally the same. And because of it, the series becomes very predictable. If you haven't seen the films in question, you might get some enjoyment out of this. However, you would be much better of just watching the movies.
It wasn't a surprise to see it cancelled, quite frankly, I'm surprised they even got away with it in the first place. Series based on movies are almost always disappointing, and it this case even more so because they don't even seem to acknowledge the original material from which they "borrowed" -
I sent the following message to site (http://members.optusnet.com.au/nickhalloway/episodes.htm) streaming last episodes: Thanks to your terrific site my wife and I were able to watch all of Kidnapped (just finished day 13).
It is simply unbelievable how stupid the major networks were in cancelling this in N. America. We hope it comes out on DVD the same way Firefly, Boomtown and Wonderfalls did.
Many thanks and happy New Year.
Trevor and Donna Montreal
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This series felt like, and was as good as Man on Fire. The writing and acting was tight; the full story and denouement were amazing. When viewers chase (on the internet) after episodes promised and not delivered by the networks then the quality was evident. Only most will never know how good the story and series were, and what it potential was. -
mascfam18 January 2007Viewers hooked on Kidnapped, which was far-too-quickly yanked from NBC's 2006 fall line-up, watched a superb cast that included Jeremy Sisto, Delray Lindo, Dana Delaney and Timothy Hutton, play out the multiple twists and turns of this suspenseful thriller on-line. Will Denton delivered a focused, utterly believable performance as Leo Cain, the 15-year-old kidnap victim, who played a gripping psychological cat-and-mouse game for survival with his captors, brilliantly portrayed by Robert John Burke and Otto Sanchez. Even secondary characters had gripping back stories and the acting was uniformly excellent. The plot kept viewers guessing and stressing. When and if Sony provides a Kidnapped DVD, SNAP IT UP!
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PeachHamBeach22 October 2006This intense crime drama is the creme de la creme of network TV. When you consider the excellence in which this show is produced and written, you can become both thrilled and saddened; thrilled because a show like this is joining a select few other dramas in attempting to rid some of us of the mindless deluge of reality and junk TV; saddened because due to lazy marketing and unenthusiastic promotion on NBC's part, this outstanding show has apparently met with its untimely end.
Every week the story gets increasingly twisted and impossible to predict, and the characters more interesting. Knapp's enigma is giving way to explanation. Leopold continues to refuse to be the helpless little victim. Conrad Cain's darker side is beginning to perform an eclipse. sliding its way over what we saw in the beginning. Who knows what can happen??? That's what makes this show a load of fun for me. It keeps your brain engaged. I highly recommend it.
And that's all I have to say about that! -
deano22123 April 2007I've just finished watching this excellent series and cannot believe that it was cancelled mid-way through it's run in the USA, and after the ambiguous end to series 1 it is not been picked up for another series. It has been a while since there has been such an intelligent, complex and well acted show on TV. This show could have run and run in the same way 24 does, as the premise is quite similar. All of the actors involved were exemplary but hats off to Jeremy Sisto as the anti-hero Knapp and what I believe was the best acting seen on TV by an actress this year in Dana Delaney....every single word she spoke rang true from the off. Ultimately very disappointed but happy to have seen the one series available. Thnaks Channel 4 in the UK for airing a show they knew had been cancelled.
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NBC was crazy for letting this show go! It was real and rendered great insight into many different LIFE experiences that eventually collide. The result of the collision presents the opportunity to examine some real life existences and the responses to them. Love the internet for letting me happen upon this show. BTW loved the familiar actors they did their job...and then some.
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craf_T118 January 2007Kidnapped was the best show that I have seen in years! The fact that NBC canceled it astonishes me. It was an edge of your seat drama that kept you guessing until the very end. I don't want to give it away for anyone who hasn't finished watching the season but you would never guess who the kidnapper is but once you find out it all makes sense. You can watch the whole season on youtube.com and believe me it's well worth the effort! The casting was great! Dana Delaney, Tim Hutton, Jeremy Sisto, Delroy Lindo and newcomer Will Denton round out the cast. AMAZING talent! The actors brought the story alive. I found myself crawling into the TV screen, then later the computer screen, to accompany Knapp and Turner as they went about trying to find poor Leo Cain. I wanted to wrap my arms around Mrs. Cain as she tried her best to soldier on without her son. Knapp told Mr. and Mrs Cain to go about their daily duties as if Leo had not been kidnapped and Mrs. Cain was finding it increasingly difficult to do so. We are in Mexico as Leo tries his best to befriend the two men holding him captive. You'll cry, scream and cheer as this family faces their fears and mistakes before they are ultimately reunited.
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redhead_9au-119 September 2011I loved everything about this series... the acting and characters were spot on, the story development made me want to watch each episode in concession (the joys of having it on DVD) I could only imagine having to watch this week to week...I would have been counting down to the next one!
No clue why this series was ended, it was a brilliantly done TV show that should have continued! The characters were very well developed throughout and I found myself immersed in both the story and the individual characters.
Have passed this box set to friends and family with a similar response! What is wrong with networks these days? The amount of crap produced and this slips through the cracks.....would have loved to see more!! -
Let's have a go at making a "24" style show! Hmm, I'm sure the idea was great when the writers were slightly drunk at a party. But the constant "useful" circumstances that allow "bad guys" to escape (The assassin lady getting "transported" to the FBI offices ages after she was court with only two agents etc etc... or clichés borrowed from bad action movies gets a little dull after a while. Not surprised it was axed. Now we have to endure the whole series on channel 4 in the UK. Everyones got a dark past, that's original. Everyone know's a little more than they let on, that's original. An expert loner fired by a federal agency, once again... original!
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ash_a_leigh18 January 2007The stupidity of NBC killed this show. It has an excellent cast of the best caliber--even the unknowns were superb. The writing was constantly surprising and slick, yet, in a heartbeat, would turn to heartrending and moving.
The most surprising thing about the show was the kidnapped victim himself. Leopold Cain is easily the most intriguing teenager ever put on television. He suffers quietly, never giving in, never panicking, always setting his brilliant mind to find the loopholes and minor mistakes of his captors. It is his tenacity and genius that keeps him alive as long as it does.
The other fascinating thing about the show is the family dynamics. The Cains are wealthy, intelligent, influential and quirky. There are as many skeletons in the closet as there are people who hate them--and believe me, there are far too many for comfort.
Beyond that,the creator of the show, Jason Smilovic had a brilliant concept for a show and he executed it perfectly, even though the show was cut to 13 episodes.
It will be out on DVD hopefully in the Fall of '07. You really need to get it and watch. Then you'll curse NBC as often as I do for cutting short the life of such an outstanding show. -
turnera18 January 2007I had such high hopes for Kidnapped when I first heard about it last year, the people who would be involved, the quality (money) they were spending on it. You just knew NBC had high hopes, too. Unfortunately, in their ongoing quest to deal out as much profits to the head people running the network as possible, Kidnapped suffered from their unrealistic and illogical, poor attempts to advertise this show. No interviews, no visits to shows like Today Show or Letterman, no nothing, except a few views of one scene of the first episode. No one knew that the show was a mystery; they didn't understand it, so they stayed away. NBC made no more attempts to understand or fix the problem; they just dropped it because, according to the higher-ups, it was too expensive to produce, and they'd rather put out game shows so as to get more profit.
Unfortunately, they lost the opportunity to create a franchise along the terms of CSI or Law & Order. It was that good. And they blew it. -
freelancefred17 July 2010Given NBC's history of bad TV lately, the fact that they canceled this gem is especially tragic. The worst I can say about it is that there might have been some stray loose ends, but the the cast and acting, production values, music, writing and pacing were all top-notch. The characters were strong, well defined and very well portrayed, and the storyline revealed just enough at just the right times to keep the viewer locked in.
This show deserved better, but we will look for those involved to lend their considerable talents in other projects. What a shame to see quality work punished, especially since we could see so many possibilities for how it could evolve season to season. -
danar22027 June 2012I really enjoyed watching this series. This show would do excellent if it were airing now. I unfortunately never heard of the show prior to this week but what an excellent show. The cast members in the show couldn't have been any better. The acting was great. The story line was awesome. I was hooked after watching every episode. Man I wish they would bring this show back to life I wouldn't miss an episode. It's worth viewing and I want more!! There is a lot of action in this show. All the actors in the show have done a really great job keeping on the edge of your seat. It was very suspenseful and entertaining the whole way through. The show may have been a little before it's time but if it placed back on the network and was aired now I could almost guarantee the success of the show would surpass it's previous record. I hope the creators of the show actually view this and take what myself and others have said. For those of you who haven't seen the show please watch it you won't be disappointed. I would love to see this show with the same cast members brought back..