Hostages

I have to say, i wouldn't normally watch shows like this bur honestly it was straight to the point, anyone can watch it as it is not confusing. Also, its only 15 episodes which is quick. I enjoyed how it was political but there's these big twists. Honestly wish it could move onto another season. Was so upset when it finished. Would definitely recommend. You do not have to be super smart to understand the concept. The characters are all really good and i loved them all. It is not a typical storyline so its not something you have seen before. I am planning to watch it again as i watched it a year ago. Please watch it! You will not regret!

I have seen a couple of episodes and I must say my expectations were high. After Breaking Bad and Southland, a trilling drama is really missing on TV. Jerry Bruckheimer is a great producer. This would have been a great series if... it wouldn't revolve about hostage situation, that is normally a short-lived situation that can cover the length of a movie, but hardly a season. This inevitably leads to a series with excessive prolonging and disappointments. Most importantly, you can't really produce a family-friendly hostage drama. This is as dramatic as kissing through glass is intimate. It's impossible to maintain the thrill factor if no one gets hurt in an extortion drama, even if hostages do not follow orders from their captors. Let's compare it to Breaking Bad - except for a few main characters, everyone could any moment become a collateral there. Here, the characters are treated as "babe" piggy that no one expects to die. I must say though, the character, dialogs and events are interesting, well written, the flick is executed very well and acting is superb.

2013 Hostage Drama (late-nite re-run). Stayed with this long and ridiculous "White House Down-like" fiasco 'cos I wanted to convince myself that there was some purpose to it all, and they hadn't REALLY lost the plot. By Episode 14, however I realized they HAD, when "Actor 1" handed the gun to ".Actor 2". Good job it wasn't me, 'cos I'd have shot him, an' I wasn't even on-Set. The only benefit is that I'll never know - Phew!!

To start on a positive note, the acting in this series is generally good, to the point where it adds a hint of realism to what is an unbelievably ridiculous storyline.

Such is the stupidity of the plot, I feel it would be more appropriate for 'Hostages' to be categorised as a comedy rather than a thriller, and 3 or 4 episodes in I began to treat it as such.

If you are going to create a drama series involving a plot to kill the US President, then surely you need to ensure the storyline and script are as realistic (or simply believable) as possible? Unfortunately, there are so many gaping plot holes and ludicrous plot twists that it's nearly impossible to sit and watch 'Hostages' without thinking about what else you could be doing with your valuable time.

It started of fairly well but then completely veered off compass very fast. The show got over complicated, full of clichés, and one had the feeling that the writers did not know what to invent next in order to keep the show going. A pity, because this could have been much better but should have been much shorter (2-3 episode mini-series maximum), without all the unnecessary subplots and ridiculous twists that they made the show take as it went on.

On a different note, contrary to the above critic, I think that Dylan McDermott was well cast and did quite a good job in his role. Toni Colette on the other hand, wasn't so convincing to me as a successful surgeon... All in all, decent escapist entertainment, nothing more.