How can you choose between the fate of your family and the fate of your entire country?
That’s the question Suranne Jones’ character, Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, must answer in Hostage, a new political thriller series on Netflix.
This five-episode series combines high-stakes political drama with complex family dynamics and shocking action sequences.
Watch With Us is recommending you check out Hostage, which also stars Julie Delpy and Corey Mylchreest, this weekend — find out why we loved the series now.
The Premise Feels Terrifyingly Real — Even If You’ve Never Held Office
British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton faces an impossible situation in Hostage — her husband, Dr. Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas), is kidnapped while doing medical aid work in French Guiana and held hostage. The kidnapper’s (Corey Mylchreest) demand? Abigail’s immediate resignation from her post as Prime Minister.
While this situation is incredibly unique and specific, it dramatizes a feeling that many viewers will understand — the need to choose between work and family. So many of us make sacrifices for our careers, but how many sacrifices are too many? And is it wrong to care passionately about what we do for a living, even if it comes at a cost to our personal lives?
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Luckily, most of us don’t face life-or-death consequences in our career decisions — but seeing them played out in such a dramatic way makes for extremely gripping television.
The Relationship Between Female Politicians Plays a Central Role
Prime Minister Dalton’s main foil in Hostage is French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy), a far-right leader who has little interest in playing nice with her British counterpart. But before long, she realizes that the kidnappers may be a threat to her position as well.
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The aforementioned pressures about career and family are even more intense when applied to women, and seeing two women in rare positions of immense political power deal with the public scrutiny around their every move is fascinating. Delpy and Jones play off each other brilliantly, each displaying complexity and emotional depth that bubbles just below the surface of the stoic facades they must show the world.
Both women, despite being on opposite sides of the political spectrum, are subject to intense judgment and misogyny from the public, and they handle it in very different ways — and as the circumstances of the show draw them closer together, each learns from the other.
It’s a Tense Political Thriller That Offers Countless Twists
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Putting aside the bigger philosophical questions raised by Hostage, it’s also just a well-paced political thriller that will keep you glued to the screen. Great action sequences, strong performances and truly surprising storytelling make it a perfect weekend binge (only five 1-hour episodes) and a worthy addition to Netflix’s library of political and crime thrillers like The Diplomat with Keri Russell or Borgen.
Watch Hostage on Netflix.
