BRITISH CRIME THRILLERS: “Hostage.” / “Code of Silence.” / “Missing You.”

“Hostage” (Netflix) British political thriller miniseries. Premise: An international summit between the French and British leaders goes awry when the husband of the British Prime Minister is kidnapped and the French president is blackmailed. Truly an edge-of-your seat thriller, anchored on the magnetic synergy of Suranne Jones (as the British PM) and Julie Delpy (as the French President).

       Good that the series is compressed into just 5 episodes, so we don’t get to bear with melodramatic interludes and stereotypical dialogues–without losing the compelling intrigue of the political power play between two traditional European rivals and on/off friends. It’s all business, done. No qualms, no chasers, no blah in between. 

       But a few scripting flaws in the last two episodes, such as why would a trained professional soldier who's part of a conspiracy leave her laptop as she fled? And why does the leader of the bad guys use a knife in holding off his “captives” in the end? Where is his gun?

       Maybe I was the only killjoy who saw those goofs but still, overall, a fine direction by Isabelle Sieb and Amy Neil from an otherwise tight script by Matt Charman. 🎥👍📽

“Code of Silence” (Britbox) British crime drama. Rose Ayling-Ellis is a deaf civilian who volunteered to help police with her lip reading skills. Definitely, a new and enlightening police procedural tool; very interesting, indeed. 

       Ms Ayling-Ellis, in real life, has been deaf since birth; a user of British Sign Language. Her Alison Brooks character is very real: Vulnerable, persistent, but brave. She can be gullible and easily smitten but very creative and defiant. 

       This very enchanting series had been renewed for Season 2. 🎥💻📽

“Missing You” (Netflix) crime drama, adapted from the novel of the same name by Harlan Coben. Detective Kat Donovan discovers her "missing" fiancé on a dating app, over a decade since his disappearance.

       I think I watched most Harlan Coben thrillers (or all that I knew) that are available on streaming, mostly British-produced. Probably my grading score is 50/50. I am sometimes confused or get lost in a circuitous web (sic) of subplots and backstories, interspersed with a slew of characters. 

       But “Missing You” isn't one of those although it is still crowded with many characters. I navigated this series just fine. Credit to the carefully woven script by Victoria Asare-Archer and the non-fussy, non-soapy direction by Nimer Rashed and Isher Sahota. Aesthetically structured without losing the dramatic edge. Just what I want for my police procedural fare.

       And, yes, don't forget the performance of Rosalind Eleazar as Detective Inspector Kat Donovan. The tension, defiance, grit, doubt etcetera are all quietly but powerfully projected in those charming eyes. 🎥💻📽