Shocking Netflix “Hostage” Plot Twist Revealed After Deep Investigation!

Should we believe everything we see in TV shows? In the gripping political thriller “Hostage,” now streaming on Netflix, Alex Dalton (played by Ashley Thomas), the spouse of British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (Suranne Jones), is a doctor. Shortly after his wife takes office at Downing Street, he heads to French Guiana on a humanitarian mission with Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF). It is during this mission that he is kidnapped, setting off the series’ central plot, created by Matt Charman.

However, this geographical detail in “Hostage” made us raise an eyebrow. Does MSF actually operate within French territory? French Guiana, though remote, is a French overseas department with a public health system. So, is this mission realistic or just dramatic license?

MSF Clarifies

We reached out directly to Doctors Without Borders. Their response was straightforward: “MSF has never worked in French Guiana,” a spokesperson for the NGO confirmed. “We operate in over 75 countries impacted by epidemics, conflicts, natural disasters,” but not on French mainland or overseas territories.

The organization also noted that there were “exchanges between Netflix and MSF” during the production, but “MSF was not involved in the development of the series.” This consultation, therefore, did not lead to a change in this plot element.

A Deliberate Fiction

For MSF, this geographic inaccuracy is “not a problem since it is a work of fiction.” The NGO also mentioned that “a disclaimer should appear at the beginning of the series to clarify this.” This conversation with MSF occurred a few days before the series aired. Now that it is online, we can see that the message appears at the very end of the fifth and final episode.

This slight deviation from reality is part of a comprehensible dramatic logic. For the writers of “Hostage,” placing Alex Dalton in French Guiana offers several advantages: a territory remote enough to justify the character’s isolation, and being French territory is quite convenient when the president plays a significant role in the series.

“This program is a work of pure fiction. All descriptions of people and organizations are fictitious and created for entertainment purposes.“

The Art of Narrative Shortcut

Such liberties with reality are common in fictional works. Series creators often take shortcuts with real-life procedures, protocols of existing organizations, or geography to serve their narrative. In the end, this minor inaccuracy does not detract from the quality of Matt Charman’s thriller. “Hostage” remains an excellent entertainer, though you’re unlikely to encounter MSF on your next trip to French Guiana!