The Hunting Party // Saison 1. Episode 1. Richard Harris.
Procedural series have occupied a special place in the television landscape for decades. They often act as refuges for the viewer, structured stories where heroes come to restore order in temporary chaos. However, not all of them manage to transcend their premises to offer an engaging experience. The first episode of The Hunting Party illustrates this problem well, with a start which, far from being daring, turns out to be conventional and sometimes clumsy. The Hunting Party is based on an idea that, on paper, could work: an ultra-secret prison, “the Pit”, where the most dangerous criminals are locked up, serves as a catalyst for a series of escapes.
A small team of investigators come together to track down and capture the most dangerous killers in existence, all of whom have just escaped from a top secret prison that isn’t supposed to exist.
Bex Henderson (played by Melissa Roxburgh), a veteran FBI profiler, is recruited to track down these killers on the run. The concept is reminiscent of productions like The Blacklist or Prison Breakwho were able to captivate thanks to a combination of mysterious elements and memorable characters. Unfortunately, The Hunting Party does not seem to have learned the lessons of his predecessors. From the first minutes, the scene is set: an unexplained explosion triggers a series of escapes within an underground prison establishment. If this introduction seeks to generate tension, it sorely lacks subtlety and relies on hackneyed clichés.
A mysterious prison, a panopticon vaguely evoked without real research, and criminals who one would think came straight out of a stereotypical gallery: this is the base on which this episode rests. The potential of a series like The Hunting Party lies largely in its characters. However, here, the protagonists seem trapped in mechanical and uninspired writing. Bex Henderson, supposed to be the cornerstone of the plot, is portrayed as a talented investigator, but her actions betray a glaring lack of consistency. One of the most frustrating moments of this episode comes when she enters a veterinary clinic alone, with no backup or apparent plan.
An inexplicable decision for a character supposed to embody rigor and strategy. Another example: the clues left by the killer. While exploring a victim’s home, the team misses omnipresent decorations, yet characteristic of the criminal’s obsessions. This kind of narrative misstep undermines the credibility of the story and suggests that the screenwriters favor the convenience of the scenario over internal logic. Procedural series that succeed in making an impression, such as Criminal Minds or The Blacklistknow how to juggle between the predictable “case of the week” formula and more ambitious narrative arcs. They rely on charismatic antagonists, well-crafted mysteries and captivating group dynamics.
In comparison, The Hunting Party struggles to justify its existence. The idea of a secret prison and elusive criminals could have given rise to a rich and innovative plot. Instead, the series is content with a superficial treatment without depth. This first impression is accentuated by the production itself, which seems to have been modeled on dated standards. The settings are generic, the dialogues too explanatory, and the whole thing is sorely lacking in style. We have the impression that the series is desperately seeking to reproduce the codes that have made other shows successful, without ever trying to free itself from them.
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This first episode also lacks an essential element: the hook. A series that aspires to retain its audience must be able to capture attention from its first minutes. Here, nothing seems designed to leave a lasting impression on the viewer’s mind. The subplots are non-existent, the secondary characters barely sketched, and the issues are resolved in such a predictable way that it becomes difficult to become emotionally invested. Another problem is the pacing. Rather than building progressive tension, the episode connects the sequences in a mechanical manner, without ever creating a real dramatic crescendo. Moments that are supposed to be crucial fall flat, due to lack of preparation or subtlety.
And The Hunting Party illustrates one thing, it is the risk of becoming bored with a genre which, poorly exploited, becomes redundant. Series centered on elusive criminals and teams of unusual investigators have dominated programming schedules for years. However, to remain relevant, they must know how to reinvent themselves. Here, no risk-taking is attempted. Everything seems formatted to please the viewer who watches absentmindedly, smartphone in hand. This is not necessarily wrong, but it condemns the series to functional mediocrity, incapable of surprising or innovating. Ultimately, this first episode of The Hunting Party leaves a mixed impression, not to say disappointing.
If the initial idea was intriguing, its implementation sorely lacks depth, originality and conviction. The characters fail to overcome their archetypes, the plot unfolds without surprises, and the production struggles to instill a semblance of visual or narrative identity. For now, it seems unlikely that this series will succeed in standing out in an already saturated genre. Of course, it’s always possible that subsequent episodes will make improvements and further develop the story arcs and characters. But as it stands, The Hunting Party is likely to join the long list of procedural series forgotten almost immediately after their broadcast.
Note : 4/10. In short, a disappointing entry for a worn-out concept. For those looking for a gripping plot and well-written characters, it’s probably best to turn to tried-and-tested classics of the genre.
Coming soon in France
