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.

The plot and acting is compelling enough, but the whole thing is badly let down by the sound quality. Background noises and music are always twice the volume of the actual voices making it pretty wearing to listen to.

If you can bear the sound the then whole thing is fairly watchable, if a little improbable. Journalist turns police woman in a brooding, slightly gritty drama. Nothing particularly new or novel but okay

It has an 18 rating but I'm not entirely sure why. There aren't really any scenes that are worse than you'd get in a typical fictional TV police series.

In summary an okay watch if you can bear the sound mix.

Overall a great and gripping thriller series which feels like a window into a world of the recent past, but a really disturbing world full of damaged people and institutions. Even though a period piece it felt fresh with some great performances form the lead actors, and some nail biting scenes.

Probably the true story behind this series may never be fully revealed. Let's hope the corruption of the Irish police and state has not continued.

The ending is confusing, like the creators wanted to have every option remaining on the table. Better if they had just chosen an ending and stuck with it. Some of the performances like the lead female were not as believable in the final episode, but that's perhaps because of the lack of believe ability of the scenes she had to perform. Two stars removed from what is otherwise a positive review.

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.

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.