Hunted - Series 1

This is a good spy drama and improved throughout the series.

Having been created by the same people behind Spooks, comparisons might be made and although it does have all the elements of a spy drama, it feels different. I felt this was because the series is more centred around one character, Samantha 'Sam' Hunter , and her journey to find the person who betrayed her. The character's tragedy backstory adds a contrast and a connection for the audience in face of the strong and cold exterior that Sam portrays.

The series also focuses around the work of the private security services, in the form of the company Byzantium and the team's mission that is controlled by their client. This allows for an interesting exploration, as moral issues emerge, along with the fact that the team members can't know who the client is or why they have employed them, but still have to complete the orders. Furthermore, this came forth with the team having to 'terminate' one of their group who had been captured.

The sub-plots of the conspiracy to kill Sam, Sam's mission to integrate herself into the Jack Turner household and the elements of the mission that emerge with each episode, work well to create tension and suspense. They also work to create twists and turn that are able to keep the story fresh and moving in a fast pace over the 8 episode run. I think this series worked well to maintain the story arc and concluded in a very dramatic and clever way.

Melissa George gives a superb performance as Sam, giving a very layered portrayal. Other members of the cast including Stephen Campbell Moore, Patrick Malahide, Adam Rayner and Indira Varma, all give good performance, making their characters stand out.