Hostage
Suranne Jones stars as UK Prime Minister Abigail Dalton in Netflix miniseries Hostage, created by Bridge of Spies writer Matt Charman. It’s barely a year into her term, and the country is in crisis. A severe drug shortage is causing a public uproar, and tensions are high with the President of France, Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), who wants to send French troops to enforce the UK border to curb immigration. Those issues become the least of the PM’s worries, however, when her husband (Ashley Thomas) is taken hostage by masked soldiers while working overseas. With the French President also being blackmailed by the same group, the politicians must find a way to resolve the situation while holding on to their positions. Jones and Delpy give extraordinary performances in this compelling thriller. However, an uneven pacing and hollow political commentary prevent this miniseries from being truly remarkable.
With so many TV shows padding runtimes with superfluous subplots, it’s admirable that Charman keeps Hostage’s narrative focused throughout its five-episode run. Whether it’s Abigail’s strained relationship with her teenage daughter (Isobel Akuwudike), Vivienne’s turbulent family life, or the growing civil unrest simmering in the background, everything serves a purpose. There’s rarely a dull moment within the opening episodes as events get underway, quickly raising the stakes. The drama continues to move along at a steady clip, with intriguing and unexpected developments taking the narrative in engaging new directions.
This is until the final two episodes, at which point the series hits some speed bumps. There are a handful of plot elements that are resolved abruptly only minutes after they’re introduced, with one crucial detail tied up so fast that it verges on being cartoonish. Similarly, a critical moment included late in the show gives away a huge reveal, which consequently leaves the finale feeling underwhelming. While the script touches on points surrounding immigration and political discourse, it never tackles these themes in a meaningful way.
What keeps Hostage so captivating is its central performances: Jones and Delpy are sensational. They are the driving force behind the series, with most of the drama resting on their shoulders. The supporting cast also give strong turns, with Thomas and James Cosmo being particular standouts.
Although Hostage doesn’t quite stick its landing, its strong premise and riveting performances are enough to make this a notable entry into Netflix’s ever-growing library.
Andrew Murray
Hostage is released on Netflix on 21st August 2025.
Watch the trailer for Hostage here:
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