‘Hostage’ series review: Suranne Jones, Julie Delpy anchor twisty political thriller

With 5 episodes properly beneath an hour’s size every, filled with jaw-dropping twists, Bridge of Spies’ Matt Charman has created a enjoyable watch in Hostage. After a montage displaying Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones), energy by means of MP to Prime Minister of the UK, we come to the current day with Dalton making ready for talks with the French President, Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy).

The Nationwide Well being Service is in disaster with many life-saving medication briefly provide. Dalton desires to chop protection spending to revitalise well being care. Toussaint, who’s right-leaning, is prepared to produce the medication to Britain on the situation that French troops man the border crossing to France in Britain. The British are naturally in opposition to having a overseas energy on their sovereign soil.

Dalton’s husband, Alex, (Ashley Thomas) is a physician working with the Docs With out Borders on an task in French Guiana. Throughout these essential talks, Alex and his colleagues are taken hostage with the abductors demanding Dalton step down in 24 hours as the worth of his launch. Being in French Guiana, Dalton asks Toussaint for assist, which places the French President able to drive a tough discount.  

As soon as the compound the place the docs are being held is recognized by secret service agent Thomas Mercer, (Gerald Kyd) and Toussaint is nearly to offer the order to the French International Legion to storm the constructing, she will get a cellphone name, which adjustments the whole lot.

A nonetheless from ‘Hostage’
| Picture Credit score:
Netflix

Toussaint is married to a media mogul, Elias Vernier (Vincent Perez), who many consider was liable for getting her the presidency. Vernier’s son, Matheo (Corey Mylchreest), is a political activist in London who speaks up in opposition to Toussaint’s insurance policies at each probability. His assembly together with his stepmother at a London gala dinner is awkward, particularly for the grilling Toussaint offers his girlfriend, Saskia (Sophie Robertson).

Dalton’s father, Max (James Cosmo) is terminally unwell, whereas her teenage daughter, Sylvie (Isobel Akuwudike), hopes her mom will do what it takes to carry her father residence. Dalton is going through strain from the Parliament and her cupboard, together with from the Defence Secretary, Dan Ogilvy (Pip Carter).

The Chief of the Defence Employees, Basic Joseph Livingston (Mark Lewis Jones) is hard as they arrive. Shagan (Martin McCann), a former soldier, appears concerned as is a call Dalton made when she was a junior overseas minister.

In a political thriller like this, everybody has secrets and techniques and far to lose if the unsavoury tales had been to come back to gentle. Quickly each the leaders realise there’s a mole amongst them leaking info to the abductors who’re revealed to be British.

A nonetheless from ‘Hostage’
| Picture Credit score:
Netflix

As Ayesha (Hiftu Quasem), a political staffer, investigates the mole, the needle of suspicion swings from Kofi Adomako, (Lucian Msamati), the Downing Road Chief of Employees, to Adrienne Pelletier, (Jehnny Beth) the Secretary-Basic of the President’s Workplace.

Charman, who has additionally written Hostage, has created sufficient twists and turns to maintain the viewer engaged by means of the present’s succinct run time. With the posited risks not being too wild, there’s a sense of believability, whereas the threats aren’t too near actuality as to be unsettling.

The position of the media is reassuringly important (social media feeds are necessary, however not all-important) with journalists hanging concerning the well-known 10 Downing Road doorway for info.

Jones and Delpy lend their appreciable charisma to anchor the handsomely mounted present that chugs by easily on neatly-coiffed hair, well-cut pant fits, and clacking stilettos giving approach to sneakers or ought to we are saying trainers?

Hostage presently streams on Netflix

Revealed – August 25, 2025 08:53 pm IST