Page 1 of 3
This hostage crisis TV drama has moments of greatness, but doesn't completely make a case for itself....
Acorn Media / 2011-2012 / 276 Minutes / Unrated / Street Date: October 2, 2012
Kidnap & Ransom is totally intense at times, but as a fully-formed show, it feels slapshot, almost threadbare. It absolutely nails a viable, you-are-there visual presence that infuses its horrific tales of abduction and terror with immediacy, but once the shock of terrible situations wears off, the show disappointingly resorts to run-of-the-mill drama that feels unfortunately familiar and redundant.
The series follows Dominic King (Trevor Eve), a negotiator who's brought in when the you-know-what really hits the fan for international corporations caught in the crosshairs of hostage scenarios. With the help of his right-hand woman (Helen Baxendale), Dominic's team gets thrust right into the heart of things on these episodes - he earns his keep, that's for sure.
But Kidnap & Ransom: Complete Series 1 and 2 simply doesn't connect. Performances are strong, the show's visual style is consistent, and every once in a while suspense bubbles well, but these shows aren't as robust and engaging as they could be. There is sporadic narrative success here, but it's not prevalent enough to make these discs worth watching as a whole.