Kidnapped

Chicago TribuneMaureen Ryan

Thanks to a top-notch cast and unusually intelligent writing, "Kidnapped" is among the more promising of many new shows that pay homage to the granddaddy of the current suspense boom, "24."

Baltimore SunDavid Zurawik

The most tautly written of all the new serialized dramas.

Hollywood ReporterBarry Garron

A superbly constructed and unpredictable tale of intrigue and mystery.

Orlando SentinelHal Boedeker

The opener has been smoothly filmed, but the second episode supplies personal angles that deepen Kidnapped and suggest its potential.

San Francisco ChronicleTim Goodman

Tonight's pilot has a film quality to it and the narrative flow is both intriguing and unexpected.

New York Daily NewsDavid Hinckley

After each of the first two hours of "Kidnapped," you're eager to learn what happens next. In any TV series, that's a good sign. In a serialized drama, it's crucial - and "Kidnapped" makes it look easy.

New York PostLinda Stasi

All in all, it's a good show. The problem, however, is the retreaded storyline.

People WeeklyTom Gliatto

It's a gripper. [25 Sep 2006, p.43]

Detroit Free PressMike Duffy

Darkly gripping.

Kansas City StarAaron Barnhart

Sleek, action-packed and heavy on the acting talent.

Los Angeles TimesPaul Brownfield

"Kidnapped" is stylishly executed TV brain food, a little too moody for its own good but otherwise fine pulp.

Newark Star-LedgerAlan Sepinwall

"Kidnapped" plays out like a point-by-point criticism of everything "Vanished" gets wrong.

NewsdayVerne Gay

Yes, there have been some valid questions about TV's recent embrace of the serial. (Too many? Will people stay tuned?) "Kidnapped" feels so fresh that viewers won't even care.

Philadelphia Daily NewsEllen Gray

An emotionally grounded thriller that might just spirit you away.

Philadelphia InquirerJonathan Storm

Great cast and intriguing storytelling may get viewers, and, more important, network honchos, hooked.

San Jose Mercury NewsCharlie McCollum

The show doesn't look as if it will get too complex for its own good, the mystery has an internal logic that works and, best of all, there are moments... that suggest the creators are constructing some real flesh-and-blood characters.

The New York TimesAlessandra Stanley

“Kidnapped,” which is filmed with a keener intelligence [than "Jericho"] and elegant restraint, focuses on a much smaller catastrophe and finds more to say.

Pittsburgh Post-GazetteRob Owen

In addition to a less convoluted story, "Kidnapped" bests "Vanished" with its high-sheen cast.

Washington PostTom Shales

For what it is, it's an extremely accomplished piece of work -- unsettling in ways that few suspense thrillers manage to be.

Entertainment WeeklyNicholas Fonseca

In a TV landscape bloated with serialized, surprise-a-minute thrillers, it'll take more than a sparkly thespian roster to keep viewers interested. [22 Sep 2006, p.89]

Seattle Post-IntelligencerMelanie McFarland

"Kidnapped," which gives us a frequently riveting story populated by intriguing, complex characters, is regular-grade TV trying too hard to be gourmet.

TimeJames Poniewozik

It's an all-around high-class production. And yet, after watching two episodes, I had much the same thought I did after seeing a few minutes in May: the show basically seems like a stretched-out Law & Order episode.

Boston GlobeMatthew Gilbert

It's good, but not quite inventive or mysterious enough to demand we swallow yet another serving of serial.

Chicago Sun-TimesDoug Elfman

Good cast. Nice narrative flow. But I don't quite care about this drama yet -- villains are too smart and heavyhanded, and tension is slack.

Wall Street JournalDorothy Rabinowitz

For the time being it's a hard slog.

VarietyBrian Lowry

A high-octane cast brings some promise to the show.

USA TodayRobert Bianco

You can easily imagine yourself settling in with Kidnapped for six, eight, maybe even 13 episodes. But 22? Sorry, no.