Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Hostage, which just dropped on Netflix and is already being praised as one of the most gripping political thrillers of 2025.
Hostage premiered on Netflix on August 21, 2025, with 5 episodes of approximately 42-45 minutes each. Written by Matt Charman and directed by Isabelle Sieb and Amy Nail, starring Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy as the fictional British prime minister and French president respectively, this Netflix original miniseries throws viewers into the high-stakes world of international politics where personal and professional crises collide.
The series presents an impossible scenario: when the PM’s husband is kidnapped and the visiting French President is blackmailed, the two political leaders face unimaginable choices. Hostage doesn’t just focus on the political machinations but dives deep into how personal relationships become weapons in the hands of those seeking power. This isn’t your typical political drama – it’s a psychological thriller that explores what happens when world leaders are pushed beyond their breaking points.
When Personal Terror Becomes Political Warfare
Hostage centers around British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton, whose world turns upside down when her husband is kidnapped during a crucial state visit from the French President. The series tells the fictional story of British prime minister Abigail Dalton, whose husband ends up being kidnapped, forcing her to navigate an impossible situation where every decision could cost lives or destroy her career.
The show brilliantly uses the hostage situation as a catalyst to explore deeper themes of power, vulnerability, and the price of leadership. Each episode reveals new layers of conspiracy, showing how personal attacks on political figures can destabilize entire governments and international relationships.
Prime Minister Abigail Dalton: Leadership Under Extreme Pressure
Suranne Jones stars as executive producer in this new series, delivering a powerhouse performance as PM Abigail Dalton. Known for her work in Gentleman Jack and Doctor Foster, Jones brings incredible depth to a character who must balance being a grieving wife with being a decisive leader. Her portrayal shows a woman who refuses to be broken by terror, even as she faces the most personal attack imaginable.
Jones captures the complexity of modern female leadership, showing how Dalton must navigate not only the crisis itself but also the political sharks who see her vulnerability as an opportunity. Her performance demonstrates the impossible burden placed on leaders who must remain strong while their world crumbles around them.
French President and International Alliance Under Fire
Julie Delpy plays world leaders forced to work together as the French President who becomes entangled in the crisis. Forced into a fierce rivalry, can they work together to overcome the threats against them? Delpy’s character adds international complexity to the story, showing how personal attacks on one leader can create ripple effects across allied nations.
The dynamic between the British PM and French President creates some of the series’ most compelling moments, as both women must set aside diplomatic protocol and personal mistrust to survive an orchestrated attack on their authority.
The Ultimate Test of Political Survival
The most intense moments in Hostage occur when Dalton realizes that saving her husband might require compromising her country’s security, while protecting her nation could mean sacrificing the man she loves. The series doesn’t offer easy solutions, instead presenting the brutal reality that political leadership often demands impossible choices between personal happiness and public duty.
These climactic scenes reveal how Hostage uses its thriller format to explore deeper questions about the cost of power and the vulnerability of even the most powerful people when their loved ones become targets.
Success on Netflix
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 82% approval rating based on 33 critic reviews, with critics praising the intense performances and tight writing. The series comprises five episodes in all, with a runtime of approximately 42 minutes each. It has been well received by critics, making it perfect for binge-watching over a single evening. Hostage has been written by Matt Charman – co-writer of the Oscar-winning Bridge of Spies – and Suranne Jones (Vigil) is on board as executive producer. The show has been described as suspenseful by Netflix, delivering on the promise of a gripping political thriller that keeps viewers on edge.
A Masterclass in Political Tension and Personal Stakes
If you love political thrillers that blur the line between personal and professional crisis, Hostage is the perfect series to binge on Netflix. This isn’t just another government conspiracy show; it’s an intense exploration of how terror tactics target the human side of political power.
Why This Political Crisis Drama Commands Your Attention
Positive Aspects:
- Exceptional performances from Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy that bring authenticity to complex political characters
- Tight writing from Oscar winner Matt Charman that maintains tension throughout all five episodes
- Realistic portrayal of how personal attacks on leaders can destabilize international relationships
- Perfect episode length and count for binge-watching without feeling rushed or padded
- Explores the psychological toll of leadership during crisis situations with nuance and depth
Areas for Improvement:
- Intense subject matter involving kidnapping and political terrorism may be disturbing for sensitive viewers
- Complex political maneuvering might be difficult to follow for casual viewers unfamiliar with British politics
- Limited character development for supporting cast members outside the main political figures
- Some plot developments rely heavily on convenient coincidences that strain believability
- The five-episode format leaves little time for deeper exploration of the conspiracy’s origins
Hostage proves that the best political thrillers are the ones that remember politicians are human beings with vulnerabilities that can be exploited, making it essential viewing for fans of intelligent, character-driven suspense.
Series Details
- Number of Episodes: 5 episodes (Complete limited series)
- Platform: Netflix
- Release Year: 2025
- IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
- Genre: Political Thriller Drama
- Production Type: British Drama Series
- Status: Complete limited series, currently available
- Protagonists: Suranne Jones (PM Abigail Dalton), Julie Delpy (French President)
- Antagonist: Unknown conspiracy targeting international political leaders