Hostage (2025)

The critic praises the series as a rollicking, propulsive and compulsive yarn that gives strong parts to two women of a certain age and feels refreshing in its portrayal of female leaders. They single out the globetrotting fun, strong performances especially from Suranne Jones, and the intelligent handling of political and moral questions.

The critic calls it a sharp, twisty and engrossingly topical thriller with pace and strong performances from Jones and Delpy. They single out the powerhouse main performances and the compelling mirroring of contemporary politics for praise while noting occasional pulp excesses.

The critic finds the series a lean, entertaining but shallow and vacuous political thriller that avoids Netflix bloat. Jones and Delpy's performances and the propulsive pace are singled out for praise amid the silliness.

The critic calls it a fast-paced, jaw-dropping thriller with strong turns from Jones and Delpy that explores power and misogyny, but notes its soapy quality and far-fetched plot points. Overall, it is deemed worth the ride.

The series is a pleasant enough thriller with fine performances and some surprises that fits the binge-watch model perfectly. It is ultimately forgettable and does not take any big swings or linger after viewing.

The series is a shallow political thriller that feels like a lighter version of The Diplomat and will likely be forgotten quickly. It centers on world leaders facing crises including a drug shortage and a kidnapping but lacks depth or satisfying payoff.

The critic wanted to love the female-led thriller with Jones and Delpy but finds the storyline wonky and implausible, missing deeper exploration of its themes. They single out the chic leads and refreshing female power dynamics for praise while complaining about plot contrivances.

The critic finds the thriller hapless and overstuffed with too many storylines, though Jones performs well amid the crises. They single out the lack of plausibility and the sense that less would have been more.

The critic argues the series leans too far into soap opera tropes that undermine the suspense, despite Suranne Jones shining in the lead role. They single out the character-driven elements being overshadowed by clichés.

The critic deems the series entirely forgettable and generic, criticizing its flimsy characterizations, illogical plot and silly ending despite the solid cast. The leads deserve better material.

The critic calls it a gripping Netflix limited series and perfect replacement for The Diplomat, praising the strong onscreen partnership between Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy as the political leaders who evolve from enemies to allies. She singles out the tight pacing maintained through shocking twists and the binge-worthy five-episode structure.