TaryBiggBall It was OK. I don't see why everyone loves it so much. It wasn't very smart or deep or well-directed.

Matho The biggest problem with this movie is it’s a little better than you think it might be, which somehow makes it worse. As in, it takes itself a bit too seriously, which makes most of the movie feel kind of dull.

Geraldine The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

Jenni Devyn Worth seeing just to witness how winsome it is.

areatw 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 an unbelievably ridiculous storyline. Such is the stupidity of the plot, I feel it would be more appropriate 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 attempt to create a drama series involving a plot to kill the 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 without thinking about what else you could be doing with your valuable time. Avoid it like the plague!

John Having seen Hostages billed as 'an edge-of-your-seat conspiracy thriller' I sat down to watch it with my hopes high. Sadly, it was a major disappointment and by the end of the series I was screaming at my television.It's difficult to pinpoint exactly who is to blame. The basic premise is intriguing, if more than a little far-fetched, but the execution is lazy and treats the audience like idiots. Whether it is down to poor writing or bad editing it's hard to say but time and time again we had characters acting in a logic-defying manner purely to get us from one scene to another and constantly (and conveniently) jumping to the right conclusion as and when required. Another huge problem is that there simply isn't enough material to last 15 episodes and so we had what was essentially variations on the same scenes playing out over and over again. Ellen does so many U-turns in the course of the show her head must have been spinning by the end. I know mine was.I'm a fan of Toni Collette but, to be honest, she looked hopelessly out of her depth in this and didn't phone in her performance so much as text it. If ever you need someone who can stare in disbelief for fifteen hours straight, she's your gal. Stick to comedy in future, Toni. Dylan McDermot was equally one-dimensional as the rogue FBI agent - his expressions covering the entire range of emotions from angry to irritated. Again, not his finest hour.There will be many who were able to check their brains at the door and enjoy Hostages for what it is but, having seen what can be achieved in television thanks to shows like The Wire, Deadwood and Breaking Bad, I prefer my television to treat me with a little respect.

Lasher820 While I read negative reviews of this show quite often, I found myself wondering if this show would be worth my time. I mean, from the previews before it started I would ask myself "How can they do this as a series?" A mini-series? Sure, but a TV Series with maybe multiple seasons??? That point aside, I decided to drop my skepticism and give this show a chance, (I mean ANYTHING beats another mind-numbing, brain cell killing, coma inducing Reality Show!!!)It took me a few episodes to realize this isn't just a show about Hostages or Assassinating Presidents; there are serious character layers and sub-plots that got me hooked each week and wondering what the heck might happen next! The actors are pretty stellar, the characters are well thought out and you find yourself flipping your opinions about who they are and what drives them. Sometimes I feel pretty sympathetic to the "Bad Guys" while having no sympathy for the family, others I am torn, sometimes I like them all. The thing that I find more intriguing about this show is the ruthlessness of the "Real" Players (Spoiler) (they aren't the Hostage takers!) So as the show progresses I can see the logic of it being a series. I could actually visualize a 2nd Season; because whether they succeed in the assassination or not, all of their lives will be at stake! Don't underestimate this show. It has some very top notch serial drama going on (Think "Who Shot J.R.?", cliffhangers but every week. I find it's better to DVR it and watch a bunch in one setting because I am impatient and hate to be left hanging. There is only 2 episodes left and it doesn't look like it will be renewed for a second season, so get caught up on the official website before January 6 when the show returns for its last 2 episodes. This is also the best way to get into the show without getting frustrated by the numerous cliffhangers. I want to champion this show, not because it's an underdog...but because it really is good drama, good acting and a dang good show overall!!!!

Mr_Blond23 Unique premise, with extremely poor execution. The show just stumbles along until viewers decide to give up. I rarely stop watching a show before the end of the first season at least, but I just did myself a favor and cancelled future recordings of this on my DVR. I can only hope the crusty network execs at CBS decide to put this show out of its misery but not renewing it...The character set up is all wrong. The writers try to build drama into the home situation that simply is not believable. Worst of all, the show is centered around a totally unsympathetic, unlikeable, and unattractive main character.The only way for it to go is down. I would very much like to meet someone who thinks this is a top notch show, only so I can find out what kind of sweet heart deal they are getting from the network to say it.