Thirteen Series Review: Come For Jodie Comer, Stay For A Compelling Abduction Case

"Thirteen" just popped up on my NetFlix cue. Since it stars Jodie Comer (of "Killing Eve" fame), I'm all in. It's nice to see her in different shows where she can exercise her considerable acting chops. And with only five episodes total, it's a super fast watch. The show was written by Marnie Dickens and aired in 2016 on BBC Three-- and later in the US on BBC America.

The show is titled "Thirteen" because its the age at which a girl (Ivy Moxam) was kidnapped. It's also the number of years she was held captive before escaping. Now 26 years old, how can Ivy make up for all the missing years?

Information about Ivy's abduction is gradually revealed. The kidnapper (Mark White, played by Peter MacDonald) takes another young girl (Phoebe) and the police press Ivy for help. We're never quite sure if Ivy is a victim or was working with her capture. It's all very ambiguous. Does Ivy have Stockholm Syndrome? Does she have PTSD.

We learn Mark used to work at Ivy's school. Did they have a previous relationship? Ivy's family and friends also have their own secrets. Her father is having an affair. Turns out her mother had one as well. Ivy's first love Tim is married to someone else but doesn't tell Ivy so as not to affect her delicate mental health.

Even the police are not sure of Ivy's status. DS Lisa Merchant plays the bad cop and DS Elliott Carne plays the good cop with Ivy. The kidnapper arranges to meet Ivy in a public place in exchange for the girl. The police get Phoebe but Ivy is again taken. That's just incompetent people! How horrible is much be to lose your daughter for a second time and no be able to help her in any way.

The scenes between Ivy and Mark in the finale episode are the best of the series. Great acting! We watch as she tries to placate him while desperately searches for a way out. That guy is cuckoo and cringe inducing. He tells her he wants them to try starting a family again. Apparently she had a child earlier who died. I'm not sure of the specifics. We also learn that Mark killed his half brother Dylan. Ivy makes several unsuccessful escape attempts. Mark eventually says he wants them all to be reunited in Heaven and so sets the first floor on fire. Oh dear. Ivy almost loses her life but manages to escape-- just before the house explodes. After all this, I dont think the poor girl is ever going to have a normal life.

Grade: 4 Monsters (out of 5). With just five episodes, this UK crime drama is a super fast watch. I tuned in for Jodie Comer and am glad I did. That woman has some serious acting chops. The show reminded me somewhat of "Room" (which has a similar story about a young woman being held against her will for years). Brie Larson won an Oscar in 2016 for it. Also, congrats to Jodie for her Oscar nomination this week for "Killing Eve". Well deserved!

While I wish "Thirteen" had gone more into the effects being isolated for all those years, I still enjoyed the rest of the story. Per creator Marie Dickens, there will not be a season 2 so this is "one and done".