As the opening episode of Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story begins, we see news reports about Chloe Ayling (Nadia Parkes) and her kidnapping. Chloe speaks to the media about returning home from Italy. Adrian Sington (Nigel Lindsay) checks on her as she prepares for a television interview. Adrian tells her this is her opportunity to set the story straight. She is interviewed by Piers Morgan (Robert Glenister) and Susanna Reid (Louise Delamere). Chloe says she was booked for a shoot in Paris in April. The shoot got aborted because the studio had been burgled and the camera equipment was stolen. Chloe was rebooked for Milan through her agent. She was attacked by two masked men.

Bea (Christine Tremarco) watches the interview from home. Amber (Olive Gray) and Cynthia (Alexandra Monaghan) watch as well. Piers asks about the tracksuit and shoes she was wearing when she finally got out. Cynthia questions whether Chloe made it up. Amber says Chloe is one of her best friends so she believes her. Chloe tells Piers she brushed it off and didn’t lie. She reminds him that he wasn’t in her situation at the time. They argue about whether people are entitled to ask such questions. Piers thinks so since she’s making money from the incident. In the bathroom, Chloe checks social media and finds people calling her a liar. Later, Phil (Adrian Edmondson) takes her measurements. They talk about the Milan job. Phil thinks it’s great they’ve rescheduled after the Parish cancelation.

Chloe is thrilled to get to see the world with help from Uncle Phil. Before the shoot, Amber helps Chloe with her lashes. After the shoot, Chloe goes to the bar to party. A man wants to hang out with her but Chloe refuses. When Chloe returns home, she finds Bea sleeping on the couch. In the morning, she tells her mom she’s paid the rent but she doesn’t have much money left for the food shop. She’ll give her mom more after the shoot. During Chloe’s trip, she is stopped by a man who offers her a nightcap. She refuses and leaves. The man curses her as she goes. She speaks to someone on the phone in the morning before taking a taxi to the shoot location. No one answers the door. Chloe tries to call Andre but gets his assistant Daniel. He tells her she’s at the wrong door.

Chloe follows his directions and goes inside the building. Once she sees the door with a studio sign, he is grabbed by two masked men from behind. One manages to shoot drugs in the vein in her wrist. Chloe passes out. Chloe’s mom tries to call her, but she doesn’t have access to her phone. Chloe wakes up and finds herself in the boot of a vehicle. The men stop to check on her. One man climbs into the back with her and asks her to be quiet. Before long, they take Chloe to a house far away from town. Lukasz (Julian Swiezewski) and Michal Herba (Jaroslaw Ciepichal) take her inside and lead her upstairs. They agree to let Chloe use the bathroom. Then, she is placed on the floor and cuffed to a dresser. Michael tells her that his boss is coming.

Chloe hears a car approaching outside before a door slams shut. Then, she hears angry shouting. Chloe is given food seconds later. A man sits nearby and asks Chloe if she recognizes him. He claims he’s Andre. Chloe remembers there was a break-in at his studio, but Andre or Lukasz reveals there was no studio and no photoshoot. He asks her to call him MD. His men were supposed to take her then so she could be sold. MD says she belongs to Black Death now and they’re like the mafia. When he saw on Instagram that she had a son, he asked them not to take her. MD says her name should’ve been removed from the list and her abduction was a mistake. Chloe asks to go home. MD admits it’s complicated because they’re in the middle of nowhere. He’ll see if the situation can be resolved.

Later, Chloe says she doesn’t feel well. MD blames the Ketamine she was given at the studio. He says she’ll be put up for auction in five days. His boss has offered her a chance to pay for her freedom but he wants 300,000 euros. Chloe can’t pay that. MD refuses to call her mom and tell her she’s okay. Chloe will try to think of some friends. MD says she’s lucky that his friends sent him the advert. Chloe is shown her auction listing from the Black Death Group. In the present, Chloe watches her interview with Piers Morgan. She calls her mom and tells her not to worry. Chloe asks her not to look online. Adrian talks to her about Piers who he describes as rough. A guy stops Chloe for a selfie. Chloe tells Adrian they should up her fee and let everyone waste their money trying to break her.

She’ll be rich and the trial will prove she’s not a liar. Chloe steps outside where lots of journalists are waiting for her.

 

Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story

The opening episode of Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story was mostly well done with a few hiccups scattered throughout. It’s great that the series isn’t going to drag on since the episodes are only thirty minutes or so. The performances are strong enough to add authenticity to the story although certain casting choices are iffy.

There is something serious wrong with the person who cast Robert Glenister as Piers Morgan because the two look nothing alike. Glenister is a great actor, but the casting department should’ve done more to choose someone who actually looks like the person they’re portraying.

At some points, the camera work was nauseatingly shaky. It’s okay to use some shakiness when Chloe is being kidnapped, but it was overused to the point of being overwhelming. Some aspects of the story and their portrayal were iffy, especially the way the drugs were haphazardly injected into Chloe’s wrist.

Despite these issues, the opening episode was a good starting point. It was a pleasant watch that has the potential to become an emotional roller coaster as the story unfolds. The opening episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Kidnapped: The Chloe Ayling Story can be found on Reel Mockery here.

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