SPOILER ALERT: The following contains spoilers for American Hostage Season 1, Episode 3.
Episode 3 of American Hostage successfully settles the MGM+ show into its groove. After a frenetic series premiere, the audience knows that the story has to slow down. “Magic Ticket” is the part where things have to get worse before they get better.
It could also be the part where it gets boring. The danger of every TV show, movie or even book is the middle—after the usually fast-paced beginning and hopefully building to an equally fast-paced ending. But the middle is the heart of the matter. Either it comes together or it wanders off and the audience wanders off with it. And especially with this premise, and the pacing of the series, American Hostage has to hit the brakes. It has to be a lot of people talking. And while “Magic Ticket” definitely is that, it still finds ways to keep viewers’ attention.
The biggest hook is the introduction of two new characters: Line of Fire star Kat Cunning plays Dick Hall’s wife Ibby, and Kingdom star Jonathan Tucker is FBI agent Cormac McNally. Tucker couldn’t be further away from the role he played in the MMA drama, and he’s basically there to chew the scenery, at least for now. McNally feels like he’s built up his own character he plays; the way he talks about being a profiler is unintentionally hilarious. Anyone who watched Mindhunter will be rolling their eyes at this version of a 1970s FBI agent. But there’s no doubt that Tucker is entertaining.
It’s also very cool that Ibby is actually the far more interesting character, even though she’s more tangential to the story. A subplot in “Magic Ticket” is that Tony Kiritsis allows Dick to speak to his wife, so Barbara Heckman (a splendid Mireille Enos) is sent to convince Ibby to make the call. The two women barely know each other, and they don’t know each other much better by the end of Episode 3. But Cunning—so different from her sassy role as another FBI agent in the NBC drama—develops an awkwardly engaging dynamic with Enos. Barbara wants to help, and Ibby wants to avoid, with a very heavy hint that not all is well in the Hall household. The plot works not only for the acting but also as a reminder that American Hostage is not a procedural; it recognizes everyone affected by Tony’s actions.
Ultimately, though, American Hostage still belongs to Jon Hamm, Giovanni Ribisi and Kristoffer Polaha. Hamm’s Fred Heckman is now labeled as “the conduit” between Tony and the outside world, and everyone starts to look at him accordingly. Yet it’s clear how vulnerable Fred is, particularly when he sides with McNally and kills an exclusive with Tony’s sister out of concern that it might upset Tony enough to shoot Dick. He gets grief from his team about that, but he’s absolutely right—a story isn’t worth someone’s life. And while Ribisi is still going full bore, Polaha has a fantastic scene with Cunning in which nothing gets said. When Dick gets the chance to speak with his wife, what could have been a dramatic high point is stunningly quiet, as he can’t find the words. Of course it becomes clear on Ibby’s side why that is, but it’s still stunning and heartbreaking to watch. The audience is practically pleading with Dick to say something while he still has time.
“Magic Ticket” isn’t as funny or as impressively chaotic as the two episodes that preceded it. Thus it feels as if less is happening in Episode 3. But while there may be less action, the audience gets to see the actors settling into their performances and meets new characters who add more color to the world. The story of Tony Kiritsis, Dick Hall and Fred Heckman needs that additional context.
If American Hostage Episode 3 has any glaring flaw, it’s that it proves how valuable Hamm, Ribisi and Polaha are in their roles—so can anyone really follow them if MGM+ does proceed with a second season? These three actors are so dialed into the very different notes that each of them has to hit, that they feel irreplaceable. And with Enos getting more to do, plus the additions of Cunning and Tucker, Episode 3 builds up the ensemble around them just in time to pull everyone (including the fans) in deeper.
American Hostage airs Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on MGM+. Photo Credit: Courtesy of MGM+.
Article content is (c)2020-2026 Brittany Frederick and may not be excerpted or reproduced without express written permission by the author. Follow me on Twitter at @BFTVTwtr and on Instagram at @BFTVGram. For story pitches, contact me at tvbrittanyf@yahoo.com.
