Netflix has a strong track record with political dramas, and its latest entry, "Hostage," fits right in.
The series stars Suranne Jones as the British prime minister and Julie Delpy as the president of France, both of whom find their power and prestige shaken when a scandal erupts at an international summit. The prime minister’s husband goes missing under suspicious circumstances, while the French president faces crises of her own.
Since its August 21 release, "Hostages" has already climbed to No. 1 on Netflix’s top 10 shows list, but if you've finished it already we’ve rounded up five shows like "Hostages" to keep the intrigue going.
'A Very English Scandal'
Based on the real-life trial that saw rising Liberal Party star Jeremy Thorpe (Hugh Grant) on trial for attempted murder against his ex-lover Norman Josiffe (Ben Whishaw), "A Very English Scandal" puts hypocritical politicians under a very uncomfortable spotlight.
Whishaw is in fine form as the wronged party who nevertheless gets rather attached to life in the spotlight, while Grant puts in a career-best performance as an outwardly affable, charismatic leader with a heart of stone.
The first of three anthology series (the second starred Claire Foy as a socialite whose divorce trial became the stuff of legends, while the third featured Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview about his involvement with Jeffrey Epstein), "A Very English Scandal" is the best of the bunch.
Watch on Prime Video
'Bodyguard'
![Bodyguard | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix - YouTube](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tLfLU6-9lxY/maxresdefault.jpg)
Political intrigue can be scintillating, but it’s rarely as steamy as it is in "Bodyguard." Richard Madden plays David Budd, a war veteran who has been assigned to protect Home Secretary Julia Montague (Keeley Hawes). Although they may not see eye to eye when it comes to politics, it’s difficult to deny the spark of chemistry that flares up between the two, even in spite of the volatile situation evolving around them.
Although the show only ran for one season on Netflix, it received widespread critical acclaim, especially for the strength of its two leading performances.
Watch on Netflix
'The Diplomat'
While "The Diplomat" focuses on political operatives who are a little further down the ladder than the prime minister or president, it nonetheless still features the trials and tribulations of being a woman in politics whose every move is scrutinized. When Kate Wyler (Keri Russell) reluctantly takes on the post of U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, she expects it to be a walk in the park compared to her work in the Middle East.
But almost as soon as she moves in, she is faced with an international crisis that will test her considerable diplomatic skills. With two seasons available on Netflix and a third due to be released in October 2025, "The Diplomat" received praise and award nominations for its intelligent writing and realistic depiction of life in the diplomatic sphere.
Watch on Netflix
'Anatomy of a Scandal'
Based on a novel by Sarah Vaughan, "Anatomy of the Scandal" (as you may be able to tell from the name) luxuriates in a hotbed of controversy within the world of British politics. James Whitehouse is a prominent politician, working as the British Home Secretary, when his affair with and alleged sexual assault of his much younger aide ends up in the news, imploding the world of both him and his devoted family.
With a top-notch English cast that includes Sienna Miller, Michelle Dockery, Rupert Friend, Hannah Dodd, and Naomi Scott, this six-episode Netflix streamer is a classic political potboiler.
Watch on Netflix
'Borgen'
At this point, we’ve lost track of how many Scandinavian shows have been remade for English-speaking audiences. "Borgen" is so good, it deserves to be watched in its original form with subtitles.
Set in the heart of Christiansborg Palace — also known as the castle, or borgen in Danish — this political drama charts the unlikely rise of Birgitte Nyborg Christensen (Sidse Babett Knudsen) to become the first female prime minister of Denmark.
Unlike many other political figures on television who seem as though they have to sell their soul to amass power, Christensen has an authenticity and sense of idealism that stops just short of earnestness. She sometimes makes unpopular decisions that weigh on her conscience, but she owns those choices and generally tries to do her best, a refreshing change of pace for the genre.
Watch on Netflix
More from Tom's Guide
- 8 best shows like "The Diplomat"
- 5 best political thriller movies to stream on Netflix
- 50 best Netflix shows to stream right now
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