Hostages

TV shows are like boxing matches, you have the main events like Breaking Bad, Boardwalk, Game of Thrones. Then you have the undercard or as I say fillers, and this is definitely on the filler list.

I'm watching this in the UK and like this show while there's basically naff all on currently. I'm really not sure the reviewer's have been watching the same show but it's all about opinions and there's counts just like mine does I hope.

It may well be a one season wonder in the end, but currently there's a lot going on like political gamesmanship, murder, blackmail and a reasonable storyline to keep me interested. As said I do class this as an undercard type show, but it's watchable and doesn't deserve the reviews it's been getting.

Personally a lot of shows that I've watched in this class have been canned by the TV powers that be. Which begs the question, do my great American cousins actually know what there watching sometimes, when shows like Grey's (bailed after Season 5, The Mentalist bailed and a few more I dare not mention) are still out there going strong.

I love the US drama, best TV on the planet. They're very few UK shows of equal and we have a tradition in the UK of only having 6 episode seasons, less if you think of Luther.

This is a new golden age with so many great US shows, 3 I've already mentioned, alas BB is no more (nothing touches that). I'm enjoying Hostages, just like The Blacklist, Revolution, Under The Dome and Continuum. All enjoyable filler shows to watch while the main events are on break.

If you've given up on this, I'd encourage you to go back to it while there's nothing on.

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!

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.

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.