Virgin Media’s new thriller, The Vanishing Triangle, reeks of sensationalism and it attempts to justify this right from the beginning. Stating, “inspired by true events but is a work of fiction”, the opening disclaimer sets the tone, making it clear that it does not aim to depict actual events or genuine individuals accurately. It airs at 9 pm on Mondays on Virgin Media One.
The real incidents mentioned are the disappearances of several young women in Leinster during the 1990s. The show is not strictly based on any specific missing person case, however, it unabashedly repurposes those horrifying events into a flashy murder mystery that is remarkably dull, absurd, and vulgar at the same time.
The story is set in 1995 and this timeline is suggested by The Cranberries, who can be heard on the soundtrack. A character named Amy Reynolds, played by Gráinne Good, finds herself stranded when she misses her last bus from Dublin. As the story unfolds, she accepts a ride and is left near an isolated public telephone booth. She disappears after catching a ride in a car that pulls up while she’s stuck in the rain, trying to call home.
This show was broadcasted in the US on the SundanceNow streaming platform last year. From an American audience’s perspective, it might be a melodramatic indulgence, which they could possibly compare to a lower-budget True Detective. However, for viewers in Ireland, it’s quite challenging to separate the actual agonising experiences that the script draws from so openly.
The plot has its hits and misses. When Amy vanishes on the eve of starting a new job, the response from authorities is initially indifferent. The script also contains rather insensitive dialogue; for instance, a garda character asks Amy’s sister, played by Logan Sweeny, whether Amy is attractive, suggesting that she might be frolicking somewhere. Connections to an older murder case are also conveniently overlooked.
The protagonist of the preceding crime was Lisa Wallace’s mother, portrayed by India Mullen, renowned for her role in Normal People. Lisa illustrates an intrepid reporter striving to shed light on the sufferings of abused women through a story in a Dublin newspaper. However, her brusque editor consents only when she agrees to intertwine her own distressful family history in the article.
When Amy Reynolds mysteriously vanishes, a spark ignites within Wallace as she draws connections between this disappearance and the demise of her own mother. The grim reaper of her mother visits her mail box with a sardonic note and enclosed photographs of a restrained woman, bearing a striking similarity to the missing Reynolds.
Certain of the link between the two events, she brings this potential clue to detective David Buckley, the officer steering the latest investigation, impressively portrayed by Allen Leech of Downton Abbey fame. While empathetic towards her and the sister of the missing Reynolds (played by Laoise Sweeney), the higher powers in play would rather bypass the rigmarole of reopening preceding investigations.
On its own, The Vanishing Triangle could be disregarded as just another part of Ireland’s selection of low-rated crime dramas. Notwithstanding some subtle period nuances, persistent reminders of the impending 1995 divorce referendum become grating. While it serves as a novelty to witness relatively fresh Irish history in motion, one may question the lack of a showcasing of the Celtic Tiger’s tragicomedy (which really should have been created by now).
The issue remains, however, that the storyline unashamedly retraces real-life disappearances of women from the 90s. This isn’t denying such incidents their place in theatrical adaptation, but it does necessitate a diplomatic approach. A precedent was set by ITV’s The Long Shadow in 2023, which honourably featured the trials of the Yorkshire Ripper’s victims. The Vanishing Triangle, regrettably, fails in demonstrating such sensitivity. It is shaky, insensitive and vulgar, serving as a regrettable tumble for Virgin Media.