Let’s be frank, climbing up the charts on Netflix just isn’t all the time an indication of high quality. Whereas the current Netflix Unique collection Hostage has climbed the charts, drawing in audiences with its fast-paced method to political intrigue, when you begin to dig a bit deeper, the collection is way too foolish to take critically. Whereas some have been having fun with the present, as mirrored within the numbers, a big portion of followers have been fast to take to social media to debate all of the methods the collection falls quick, a sentiment with which we agree.
From a flawed setup that plagues your entire manufacturing to the movie’s try and elicit an emotional response from viewers with out giving them a cause to care, the political thriller Hostage stands out as the silliest Netflix collection to development in a while.
‘Hostage’ Cannot Be Saved by Its Solid and Crew
For many who have but to take a look at the collection but for themselves, Hostage follows British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones), who, in the course of dealing with scrutiny from the opposing celebration over merging well being and immigration crises, is compromised when her companion, Dr. Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas) is captured whereas on a Physician’s with out borders mission in New Guinea. The terrorists demand the resignation of Abigail Dalton in return for the security of the hostages, giving her a restricted window to reply earlier than they begin executing others. Abigail Dalton should then navigate international politics, assaults from the opposing celebration, all whereas making an attempt to deliver her husband residence protected.
The expertise behind Hostage makes the end result barely baffling. Matt Charman, an Academy Award nominee for his writing on the acclaimed Bridge of Spies (2015), created the collection, his second after 2022’s Treason. Solid-wise, you have got the outstanding Suranne Jones, who has grow to be a staple of British tv by way of the cultural landmark that’s Coronation Avenue and polished collection like Scott & Bailey and Physician Foster. The supporting forged contains different stand-outs like Julie Delpy, Ashley Thomas, Martin McCann, and Lucian Msamati. But a robust forged and expertise cannot avoid wasting actually poor decisions, beginning with the very premise of a hostage scenario that kicks off the five-episode mini-series.
‘Hostage’ Begins on a Foolish Premise
There must be a sure diploma of believability for a collection premise to work. Sure, there are occasions after we can droop our disbelief for the sake of leisure, however the setup of Hostage is a head-scratcher. Within the UK, the prime minister is taken into account a “protected particular person” and falls below the supervision of the House Secretary, who directs the Metropolitan Police and the Specialist Safety (RaSP) unit. Outdoors the nation, there are different businesses and joint ventures throughout the visiting nation that work with world leaders to supply safety. Like all nation, its leaders are topic to strict safety protocols.
Hostage sees the PM’s companion being captured in one of many best operations ever executed by a terrorist group. Whereas there are not any absolute phrases relating to the safety of the spouses and households of world leaders, related safety particulars are supplied as a result of cases, similar to being kidnapped, create a major battle and may place a world chief in a compromising place. The terrorists try and make the Prime Minister resign by kidnapping her companion, but, in actuality, she would possible have to resign for such a painful oversight of sending her companion right into a hostile territory with no army safety, putting your entire nation in danger. That is additionally simply considered one of a number of obvious safety points that occur all through the mini-series.
To place it from an American perspective. Image Melania Trump heading out to purchase a brand new hat, and being allowed to take action as if she have been an everyday particular person, solely to be kidnapped and used as leverage in opposition to the present sitting President. The mere oversight would mark an unfathomable embarrassment to nationwide safety, no matter political leanings. But, Hostage asks the viewers to purchase into that degree of stupidity from the beginning.
The Method to Political Thriller Kills Funding in ‘Hostage’
Taking a step again from its horrible setup, Hostage turns into too foolish to be taken critically in execution alone. Notably, making an attempt to method the political thriller in a fast-paced method usually overlooks the mandatory human element. Funding in PM Abigail Dalton and her relationship with Dr. Alex Anderson is non-existent, and the viewers is requested to care about their relationship just because they’re a pair. The dearth of character improvement impacts the characters launched, making these massive, sweeping statements really feel underwhelming when there isn’t any cause to care about anybody concerned.
On the similar time, the collection panders with some heavy-handed political messaging that leaves zero room for nuance. Portraying France as a villain for not wanting immigrants of their nation makes them cartoonishly Machiavellian, particularly contemplating a few of the later revelations. Right here, with such a hot-button matter, Hostage may have executed significantly better than a base enchantment to sympathy; it’s a shallow illustration of present international points that will not sway anybody. Hostage’s surface-level political intrigue, unbelievable setup, and lack of emotional poignancy fail to interact the viewers, leading to a ridiculous collection that’s arduous to take critically.
Hostage seems like a flavor-of-the-month Netflix launch, sure to please some audiences, however it would by no means be thought of among the many finest political thrillers. In fact, what’s foolish for some will work for others, and viewers are definitely welcome to take a look at the present for themselves as Hostage is at present streaming on Netflix.