Newly elected British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) faces a national crisis and tense diplomatic ties with France. When Dalton’s husband gets abducted, during a critical summit with French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), the two leaders navigate a web of political and personal stakes.
Written and created by Matt Charman, ‘Hostage’ is a political-thriller miniseries that also serves as a poignant glimpse into the vulnerabilities and insecurities of world leaders. It’s a brave attempt to move beyond depicting mere geopolitical stakes and negotiation tactics, instead choosing to humanise politicians irrespective of their high-profile jobs. Does the Netflix show succeed in striking a fine balance between geopolitical intrigue and raw human drama?
Cliched Tropes
A well-intended story about political leaders, security agencies, the humanitarian crisis and global diplomacy tries to avoid melodramatic and stereotypical narratives. Jones does a commendable job as Britain’s Prime Minister, navigating her political career, national crisis and family responsibility. Her soulful performance is the backbone of the series, as it retains the engagement quotient.
Delpy as the strategic, complex yet vulnerable and impulsive French President is convincing throughout the series. Her on-screen camaraderie with Jones keeps the viewers thoroughly engaged throughout the show. However, can the acting prowess of a talented cast save the day if the plot leans too much towards the emotional dynamics? In spite of an interesting premise, ‘Hostage’ somehow gets stuck in cliches, which doesn’t reflect the soul of the story.
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Soap Opera Excess
Charman dilutes the political intrigue in ‘Hostage’ with an unnecessary sex scandal and overwrought melodrama. As a creator, his vision complies more with a daily soap, rather than a miniseries aiming for gravitas. It pulls away the focus from the core diplomatic conflict. The show gets repetitive with overfamiliar tropes of betrayal and personal vengeance recycled from countless thrillers.
When it comes to a thriller about hostages, one expects a deep-dive into the complexities of political decision-making or cross-border tensions. However, the show gets sidetracked by emotional histrionics, failing to fully explore its geopolitical promise. ‘Hostage’ had all the ingredients for a gripping political thriller: a timely crisis, a powerhouse cast, and the backing of a reputed streaming platform. Yet, by prioritising sensational subplots over substantive political storytelling, it becomes a missed opportunity. The series is watchable, even engaging at times, but it leaves you wishing it had avoided its soap opera theatrics.
The initial episodes of ‘Hostage’ are a testament to a nuanced exploration of leadership and loyalty. The diplomatic crisis between Britain and France has been well-executed, till the show deviated towards cliches. Lucian Msamati, Jehnny Beth, Corey Mylchreest, Isobel Akuwudike, James Cosmo, Martin McCann, Mark Lewis Jones, Pip Carter also add depth with their soulful performances.
‘Hostage’ loses its way in a tangle of cliches and overblown drama, in spite of the acting brilliance of its stellar cast. The show, unfortunately, ends up being more soap than substance.
‘Hostage’ premiered on Netflix on August 21, 2025.
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