Hostage review critique

A measured critique of Netflix's Hostage that questions the show's character depth and production constraints.

Hostage review finds talent trapped in a thin script

Hostage is a five part Netflix thriller set in London. It stars Julie Delpy as Vivienne Toussaint, the French president, and Suranne Jones as British prime minister Abigail Dalton. The premise follows a summit crisis and a hostage situation in French Guiana that tests political alliances. The review says the show has a strong premise and two capable leads but the supporting cast is underdeveloped and the production scope feels limited, with minimal sets and a pale sense of danger.

The critic argues the writing relies on roles and status rather than voices, leaving characters as loglines. The ending is described as uninspired and cribbed from other thrillers, which undermines the potential of the setup.

The piece highlights how the show treats female power as a prop rather than a perspective, offering a gendered exploration that never fully engages with the implications of leadership. It also critiques Netflix for greenlighting prestige thrillers that look good on screen but falter in depth, suggesting more development time could turn a concept into meaningful drama. The review notes that while Delpy and Jones bring authority to their roles, the material fails to give them distinct lines of voice beyond the political theater, a common trap for well mounted but undercooked thrillers.

Overall the analysis points to a promising premise that could be sharpened with tighter scripts, deeper character work, and clearer stakes. If future episodes commit to character driven tension rather than plot machinery, Hostage could become a sharper meditation on power and gender in contemporary politics.

Highlights

A sharper follow up could turn this into a real television moment