Image: Netflix
Intense and compelling, Netflix’s newest British drama is Hostage, which follows the Prime Minister of the UK, who’s compelled into the final word dilemma when her husband is captured and held hostage.
Netflix has been on a successful streak to date in 2025 with regards to British dramas. From Poisonous City to the worldwide phenomenon Adolescence, there’ve been many wonderful exhibits. Subsequent up is the 5-part political drama Hostage, starring Suranne Jones as British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton and Julie Delpy as French President Vivienne Toussiant.
Hostage pulls again the curtain on British politics, delivering an immersive, insightful, and moderately believable story of the prime minister, who finds herself able the place her arms are tied. All of it begins in 10 Downing Avenue, the place Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones) meets with French President Vivienne Toussiant (Julie Delpy). Dalton is below immense strain from her friends and the British public for austerity and cuts to the British Nationwide Well being Service (NHS) — which has precipitated many members of most of the people to endure immensely. President Toussiant gives her help to Dalton, and in alternate, the French individuals can be positioned on the English border.
Whereas in a summit to deal with diplomatic considerations, Dalton learns that her husband Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas), who’s on a marketing campaign in French Guiana to offer medical help, has been captured. The perpetrators of his seize use their leverage to try to power Dalton to step down as prime minister; in any other case, they’ll kill him. In the meantime, Toussaint is blackmailed into submission with threats to launch a scandal involving her to the general public.
Hostage feels fully believable. It’s intense, compelling, and makes viewers continually sympathise and criticise its complicated and morally gray characters. I notably beloved the fragile portrayal of Prime Minister Dalton; she’s a strong-willed chief, however a mom and spouse in the beginning. And at instances, she finds herself extra dedicated to her job than to her household. The dynamic between Jones’s Dalton and Delpy’s flawless President Toussaint is great. The 2 actresses construct pressure and bounce off one another. They’re each robust, ardent girls who’re unwavering and steadfast of their rules.
The writing by Matt Sharman is sharp, twisty, and clever, delivering a story that’s compelling. Whether or not it’s blackmail or a uncommon but poignant motion sequence, the pacing by no means permits you to sit again. It focuses totally on psychological pressure, however when the motion strikes, it hits onerous in each emotional top and scale.
Choosing out criticisms is especially tough, which is a testomony to how good this collection is. It continually retains up the suspense, however there’s actually a predictability about how issues will play out. It’s a twisty collection, however so most of the key twists really feel extra inevitable than surprising. Total, nonetheless, Hostage is a collection that Netflix subscribers — particularly British viewers — merely can’t miss. It’s thrilling, scarily believable, all wrapped up in some excellent performances.
Hostage Ending Defined
Warning: The next part accommodates spoilers. Proceed with warning!
At first of Hostage, newly-elected British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton’s husband Alex is kidnapped whereas offering medical help throughout his Medical doctors With out Borders marketing campaign in French Guiana. His captors use Alex as leverage, forcing Abigail into an ethical dilemma: both she steps down as Prime Minister, or they kill him and others they’re holding hostage.
Apparently, the motive behind the kidnapping is not cash, however to see Dalton step down as Prime Minister. When Dalton hears the information, she’s massively shaken, however chooses to not heed the request, lest she allow them to win. The collection drops quite a few hints as to why they need Dalton to step down, comparable to NHS cuts and additional austerity all through the nation. Nevertheless, for the ringleader Shagan, the motive is much more private. A former navy officer stationed in Belize, Shagan held a long-standing grudge in opposition to Abigail after she ordered British troops to withdraw from the nation. Shagan was compelled to withdraw from the nation, abandoning his pregnant fiancée.
Dalton isn’t alone in her pursuit of the perpetrators of the kidnapping. She’s additionally helped out by French President Vivienne Toussiant. After arriving in England for a summit with Dalton during which they work in the direction of a political deal that might see England obtain extra provides, however French troops on the English border, Toussiant turns into tied up within the state of affairs. She makes an attempt to ship navy assist to French Guiana to rescue Alex, however pulls out within the closing moments after receiving blackmail. The abductors are in possession of footage containing intimate moments between herself and her step-son; a scandal large enough to jeopardise her place if made public
Along with her arms tied, Vivienne Dalton goes public with the state of affairs and vows to not stand down within the face of terrorists. Her nationwide handle is met with public outrage, solely exacerbated by Shagan and his group’s violent intervention. Not lengthy after this, she steps down as Prime Minister following a vote of no confidence.
The intricate plan to take away Dalton from her place as Prime Minister not solely takes place in French Guiana, however conspiracies are spun from inside 10 Downing Avenue. There are a number of moles pulling strings, comparable to Saskia — who kills Abigail’s dad in his hospital mattress — and Adrienne, the chief of employees to the French President. As well as, navy Normal Joseph Livingston, who was a commanding officer in Belize, can be one of many masterminds behind the crime. He’s finally arrested for his involvement.
Earlier than lengthy, Alex is saved from his captivity and returns to reunite together with his household in England. Nevertheless, his return doesn’t cease Shagan and the terrorist group from their goal of taking down Dalton. The truth is, they double down on their efforts. The collection reaches a climax when Shagan orchestrates a bomb assault on 10 Downing Avenue. The bomb blows up the residence, killing French President Vivienne Toussaint — however Abigail Dalton survives the blast. Dalton and her household are transported to a protected home within the countryside, however Shagan is one step forward. The collection reaches a head when Abigail’s daughter, Sylvie, kills Shagan in an act of self-defence.
Whereas Dalton is ultimately reinstated as PM, she decides to name a normal election, placing the vote to the individuals to determine her future as prime minister.
Netflix’s Hostage may be very a lot meant to be a restricted, 5-episode collection. It tells a whole story, leaving no main free ends. It was written with the intention of being a one-and-done, so no, there is not going to be one other season. Whereas there have been a number of remoted instances the place restricted collection have been renewed, that is extremely unlikely to be considered one of them.
Watch Hostage on Netflix in case you take pleasure in:
- The Seize
- Luther
- The Evening Agent
- Treason
Hostage is now streaming on Netflix.
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