Vanished, Fox Pilot, SPOILERS POSSIBLE

This is very good in my opinion. It is very fast-paced and very 24-like.
Unlike NBC's Kidnapped, this one gets down to business right away and keeps
hammering and expanding the plotline. There's no rest for the weary in this

jayembee...

I agree, with one caveat: I thought KIDNAPPED got "down to business
right away", too. The problem with KIDNAPPED is that it doesn't
have much going for it other than a (very) strong cast. Everything
else is pretty much by the numbers. It's just a relatively simple
kidnapping-for-money scheme with no real surprises.

VANISHED, on the other hand, while not having nearly as strong a
cast, has a few neat little twists and turns, and open questions
that make you want to come back for more:

(1) Who is behind the kidnapping?
(2) Who else is involved?
(3) Why did they kidnap Sara Collins?
(4) What is behind Sara's call to her parents?
(5) What's the deal about Sara having previously gone missing?
(6) What's the deal with the revelation by that guy in the bar?
(7) What's the deal with "the returnee"?

I'm definitely looking forward to VANISHED. Not so much with
KIDNAPPED, other than watching a solid cast at work.

And is it just me, or does the actress playing Sara look like she
could be Morena Baccarin's sister?

one. If you like 24, you'll probably enjoy this one.

Casey McDonald's Guidance Counsellor, Ian J. Ball...

The problem I have is the purported weird "conspiracy" involved in this
one (I think someone described it as "24" crossed with "The Da Vinci
Code").

That's a turn-off to me.