We live in an era in which the boundaries of political enmity have blurred. Rivals do not necessarily have to be clearly opposing states, but rather depend on opportunistic alliances that transform according to economic, energy, or technological interests. Large corporations, terrorist or paramilitary groups, radicalized activists, global criminal networks, and digital actors can become threatening factors capable of overthrowing a government or unleashing an international conflict.
Earlier this week, we saw in the news the meeting in Paris between French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to co-chair a summit to work, with Zelensky, on security guarantees for Ukraine in the event of a peace agreement. This approach could be the beginning of a thriller a fast-paced politician who revealed the secrets of geopolitics to us. Curiously, Netflix has just released a series with similar protagonists. Hostage (Hostage) delves into the relationship between the United Kingdom and France to negotiate matters related to the urgent migration and health policies of both countries. The action begins at 10 Downing Street, where everything is ready for the British Prime Minister to receive the French President. What was supposed to be a tense and complex negotiation turns into an extreme struggle for survival. During the visit, the Prime Minister's husband will be kidnapped in French Guiana, where he works as a doctor for an NGO. Collaboration with France on the rescue plan will prove impossible because the French President will fall victim to a blackmail scheme that could end her political career. Although both leaders need to collaborate, the extortion they face pulls them in opposite directions.
Hostage is one thriller A highly entertaining five-episode series. In some cases, it's too predictable and has gaps that force the viewer to be forgiving when it comes to resolving obstacles and plot twists, especially at the end, when the plot gets a bit out of control. There's an effort to transform roles and incorporate a certain gender perspective into high politics by opting for female protagonists. This will mean, however, that the characters' dilemmas will have to do with family issues. Right at the beginning, the British Prime Minister's husband tells his wife: "If you never have to choose between family and office, I have no doubt you'll make the right decision." This sentence anticipates what will happen minutes later. Hostage, on the other hand, better portrays the challenges of current politics and the loss of democratic values, undermined by the creation of fake videos that manipulate and radicalize opinion, news blackouts, and the declaration of states of emergency intended to control citizens. Understanding the workings of all these dynamics is another incentive to watch the series.
