Hostage Netflix ending explained from Dalton's fate to kidnappers' real identities

WARNING: This article contains major spoilers from Hostage on Netflix

The political action-thriller Hostage, which only landed on Netflix yesterday (August 21), has already been devoured by some keen viewers. The gripping series is led by Suranne Jones, who made a surprising revelation about her role, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Hostage centres around the embattled British Prime Minister Abigail Dalton (portrayed by Jones), who is attempting to negotiate a deal with visiting French President Vivienne Toussaint (Julie Delpy). However, things take a turn when her husband Dr Alex Anderson (Ashley Thomas) is abducted and the ransom demanded is her resignation.

Simultaneously, Toussaint finds herself being blackmailed, adding another twist to the tale.

Despite their differing political objectives and their struggle to maintain their political careers, Dalton and Toussaint are forced to team up and uncover what's transpired and attempt to rescue her husband before it's too late.

Here's a summary of the key plot points in the finale of the five-part series.

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Hostage on Netflix ending explained Dalton's flashback

The finale kicks off with a crucial flashback to Dalton's time as a junior minister when she was compelled to make a difficult decision regarding the evacuation of British troops from Belize following an onslaught by Guatemalan forces.

Dalton was tasked with giving the order to allow the troops to evacuate via aeroplanes, thereby saving their lives.

However, there wasn't sufficient time to rescue the Belize locals who had aided the British Army and would face execution as collaborators if abandoned.

Dalton was compelled to make a snap decision about who to rescue, effectively sealing the Belizeans' fate by ordering the aircrafts to take off and leave them behind.

Who masterminded the abduction?

The chief kidnapper was ex-British soldier Michael John Shagan (Martin McCann), who snatched Dr Alex and the other Médecins Sans Frontières medics during their mission in French Guiana.

He was in cahoots with General Livingston (Mark Lewis Jones) and another former soldier, Saskia Morgan (Sophie Robertson).

Saskia had initiated a relationship with Matheo Lewis (Corey Mylchreest) to get close to both his stepmother Toussaint and Dalton.

What was the reason for the plot against Dalton?

The motives behind the plot were dual. Firstly, Shagan, Saskia and Livingston were disgruntled Army personnel affected by Dalton's drastic cuts to the army.

Saskia had lost her job in the army, leaving her struggling in life and seeking revenge against the person she saw as responsible.

The trio collaborated to create a state of emergency in Britain, forcing the army to essentially take over and highlight the need for a larger military force.

This would then prompt interim prime minister Dan Ogilvy (Pip Carter) to essentially reverse all of Dalton's army cuts and reinstate the soldiers who had lost their jobs.

Livingston firmly believed Britain needed a larger army to fight any future wars, which was his primary motivation for the elaborate scheme.

For Shagan, the abduction and conspiracy against Dalton was far more personal, as suggested when he revealed to Dr Alex that he "had a daughter too".

Shagan had been amongst the soldiers evacuated from Belize following Dalton's commands.

Nevertheless, his Belizean interpreter fiancée, who was six-months pregnant with their daughter, was abandoned on the tarmac and subsequently gunned down.

Shagan was plunged into a downward spiral of depression and blamed Dalton, which explains why he abducted Dr Alex and later attempted to menace and murder her family once more when they were concealed outside of London.

Who died in Hostage?

Shagan was gunned down by Dalton's teenage daughter Sylvie Anderson (Isobel Akuwudike) after she found herself caught in a tense confrontation with him as he menaced her parents.

The teenager was aiming a weapon at the soldier as he goaded her to squeeze the trigger.

Dalton attempted to prevent Sylvie, informing her the police were close by but ultimately the teenager fatally shot Shagan. She was subsequently detained as Shagan perished.

There were additional fatalities earlier in the programme, most significantly Dalton's father Max Dalton (James Cosmo), who was killed in his hospital bed by Saskia and Toussaint after she was positioned in front of the exploded laptop in Downing Street.

The closing scene

Hostage resumed three months following the dramatic confrontation.

Dalton was restored as British prime minister with Ogilvy handing back authority to her.

There was a portrait of Toussaint in the corridor as a touching homage to the deceased French leader. Following the tumultuous events, Dalton emerged from 10 Downing Street and announced a general election.

Hostage is streaming on Netflix now