Nicole Rivelli/CBSReal talk: Dylan McDermott can hold us hostage anytime.
Now that we got that out of our system, we can continue with our review of CBS' new drama Hostages, one of our favorite new shows of the fall. Emmy-winner Toni Collette plays a prominent surgeon who is in charge of operating on the President of the United States (James Naughton). Well, someone wants him dead and in order to make that happen, her family is taken hostage in their own home. And that's just what goes down in the first 20 minutes.
Hostages (CBS)
Premieres: Monday, Sept. 23, 10 p.m.
Time-Slot Competition: Castle (ABC), The Blacklist (NBC)
Cast: Toni Collette, Dylan McDermott, Tate Donovan, James Naughton, Sandrine Holt and Billy Brown
Status: We've seen the pilot episode
Pulse-Pounding Premise: McDermott plays Duncan Carlisle, an FBI agent who is so badass he could pull off the whole walking-away-from-an-explosion-without-looking-back thing. (Hostages is from Jerry Bruckheimer, so we might actually see that happening). Anyway, Duncan, for reasons that are for the moment unclear, wants the President dead, so he sets his sights on the woman who is in charge of operating on him: Dr. Ellen Sanders (Collette). She's married with a family, so Duncan takes them all hostage and threatens to kill them all unless she ensures that the President dies during surgery. He has a plan, he has his reasons and he has a team. Duncan promises Ellen that he's thought of everything, but by the end of the episode, it's clear that he has underestimated the woman he's holding prisoner.
Secrets, Secrets, Secrets: The entire family, and the team holding them hostage, all have secrets. The daughter, the husband (Donovan) and even Duncan himself. That's what makes the premise go from pretty interesting to must-see TV. There are so many points of leverage and unanswered questions that keep unfolding before you, and the 42 minutes fly by quickly. The chemistry between Ellen and Duncan is undeniable, and we definitely anticipate a Stockholm Syndrome situation happening in this season. And what's better, you want to see those two give in to their obviously mounting tension.
Dream Team: Collette and McDermott are at the top of their game, and the supporting cast only bolsters everyone's performances throughout the pilot. McDermott will definitely be everyone's favorite anti-hero for the new fall season.
Our Review in GIF Form:
Verdict: Watch. There are only 15 episodes and they are all airing without repeats or interruption. Don't miss a minute!
Take our poll below and tell us if you'll be watching, DVR-ing or passing on Hostages.