--- title: "Hostage: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/hostage/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/hostage" critics_score: 58 critics_reviews: 11 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Hostage (2025): what the critics said Critics' score 58 from 11 reviews: 5 positive, 3 mixed, 3 negative. Most critics agree on the performances and on little else. The reviews split almost evenly on the series itself, but nearly every one of them, warm or cold, praises Suranne Jones and Julie Delpy, and several find something refreshing in a political thriller built around two women in charge. The admirers call it fast, twisty and topical: a five-episode thriller that gets on with it and does not outstay its welcome. The reservations cluster on the plot. Even the warmer reviews concede the storyline is far-fetched and the tone drifts towards soap; the cooler ones say the contrivances sink it. The Telegraph finds it overstuffed with too many crises, and The Times argues the soap-opera tropes undermine the suspense. The Hollywood Reporter dismisses it as generic and thinks the leads deserve better material. The spread is wide, from Collider’s enthusiasm to that dismissal, with a cluster in the middle calling it pleasant and forgettable: watched in a weekend, then not thought about again. ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/aug/21/hostage-review-suranne-jones-prime-minister-netflix-drama) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/hostage-netflix-review-suranne-jones-b1243716.html) ## Empire — David Opie Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/hostage/) ## Variety — Aramide Tinubu Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/hostage-netflix-review-1236494176/) ## Radio Times Rating 3/5. 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/hostage-netflix-review/) ## The AV Club — Brian Tallerico Rating C-. 20 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/hostage-review-netflix-tv-miniseries) ## The Independent — Helen Coffey Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 20 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/hostage-review-netflix-suranne-jones-thriller-b2810895.html) ## The Telegraph Rating 2/5. 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/hostage-netflix-review-suranne-jones/) ## The Times — Martin Samuel Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 22 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/hostage-netflix-review-suranne-jones-9lbtcgn6g) ## The Hollywood Reporter Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/hostage-review-julie-delpy-suranne-jones-netflix-1236349191/) ## Collider — Isabella Soares Rating 8/10. 21 August 2025. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/hostage-netflix-review/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/hostage.md