Someone is Always Watching: Girl Taken

Trust is one of the most important yet dangerous trait one could ever possess. It’s giving in blindly without having second thoughts about the person or even their behavior. Every action and decision one makes is driven by it, not knowing that there might be an entity who is closely watching and waiting to act in accordance to this emotion and the vulnerability of the individual possessing it.

When “trusting” someone is an issue, “not” trusting them is another, especially when it’s at the odds and mercy of being in a safe haven of an academic institution where the young are trained to trust and build long-term connections through it. But that’s not the case in the latest production in the entertainment industry. Girl Taken is a new TV Show that is based on a story of twin sisters Abby and Lilly, and their journey of sisterhood which is set on love, jealousy, anger and regret. The 6 episode show is an all-night watch, each episode has a twist and clarity of what’s really happening and what to expect next without raising additional questions.

Lily and Abby are two different types of heroes, Lily likes to party while Abby enjoys her quiet time of solitude with books. But their differences are not only set on their hobbies, its engulfs their romantic flames and interest too.  Lily is into guys her age, while innocent Abby is into guys who are older, and thats the first glimpse of trust audiences members had of their beloved Rick Hansen, or Mr. Handsome as he is known in school. Mr. Hansen is Abby and Lilly’s English teacher who is smart enough to act on his egoistic fantasies of targeting young girls which one of the twins will be a victim of.

Throughout the development of the plot, it turns out that Mr.Handsome is nothing like the name he’s given. Not only does he abducts  Lily and captivates her for his own erotic and psycho fantasies, but he also turns her into the obedient slave and girl that his behavior was set on from the first time he came across the twins. But Lily’s abduction was not the  final straw of the story, it was just the beginning of a journey that allocates the bond between sisters and how one event can turn feelings and emotions into a reality of love despite their relationship.

The story is a balance between living the fear of being groomed in a very young age from someone who’s considered as a mentor and a trusting companion in an institution that is internationally recognized as an educational safe space for everyone, and the darkness of the life in captivity. The details were painful to watch in every episode, form the chains, the abuse, the disoriented nature of the characters’ clothing that all resembled the hardships of being physically abused while being held against their well. Every detail was presented with precise instructions and knowledge of how it will affect the audience and engage them in the plot from behind the screen.

Not only that, but the change of colors in every scene, from natural lights and bright colors that shine in hope in one’s heart, all the way to the darker shots where  green, red, brown and black cover the screen and create a sad ambiance that is filled with confusion and anger of what is really happening, they all added precision and emotional details into the storyline. The playfulness of the colors from the production team was smartly created, especially when the transition of scenes based on color theme was strongly set to tell the story without having the actors to say a word.

And for audience members who love  the detective part of every missing persons story through entertainment productions, it’s a delight to know that Mr. Handsom has been the smart guy who got involved with the police to erase any kind of mystery and suspicion against him. And every episode gave the audience what they love in those kind of interactions. It’s a great way of having a glimpse of both sides, the side of the captivity and the positive outcome of solving it all along.

But the show did not leave audiences members with a missing piece of what will happen like other mystery and thriller productions where people assume and start guessing of how the characters will act and how will they be able to fit in again after their traumatizing experience. This show gives in everything,  it leaves one with no further questions and requests for a follow up episode. From a day before captivity, through the captivity and till the end of it, and her survival journey, the production team and writers delivered the answers in a timely and meaningful manner. Not to forget the magicians behind it all, the actors who  continue to be praised for their realistic performance that made the delivery seem more like a documentary and not a horror/thriller film to raise chills on one’s arms.

It’s not a common thing to have a show showcase the challenges a survivor would go through, maybe a glimpse of it will be given for the audience, but not the whole story of it. But in Girl Taken, details are provided, especially the journey of dealing with personal changes that are linked to the external changes of the environment as one was held against their well in the darkness of it all. The journey is a painful yet hopeful one, it makes one believe that trust is not an all-encompassing emotion that is needed for survival and building connections. It’s more of being cautious and choosing who to let in your circle, wisely.

As the show is based on a situation that people around the world go through everyday, its important to be cautious and warn those who will be in attendance while the show is playing, for there are disturbing scenes that might trigger some painful memories for survivors and their loved ones too.

Enjoy the show as it’s a meaningful experience of being careful and not just riding along the waves without knowing where the current is taking you, and who the captain of the ship is.