The series opens in Beijing with Dr. Matthew Nolan (Richard Armitage) fleeing for his life. Although he narrowly escapes to his vehicle, it’s pouring rain, he appears to be wounded, and his vision becomes blurry. The combination leads to him colliding with a barricade, totaling his vehicle. Despite being further dazed by the collision and airbag impact, he manages to get out of the vehicle and escape.

The story continues 15 hours later with Matthew arriving in London where he quickly becomes under the suspicion of Officer Miller (Ken Bradshaw). Despite his protests of innocence, he’s taken to another holding room and interrogated further. He’s put through the standard Q&A until another of the officer’s colleagues taps on the viewing glass. Matthew is soon whisked into another room where he is searched more thoroughly. As he is striped searched, it becomes clear to him that he is being suspected of smuggling drugs. Much to his surprise, he’s about to learn that he’s actually being held for the murder of Shen Zhao (Elaine Tan), whose body was discovered in his wrecked vehicle.

MI5 Director General, Madeline Delaney (Lesley Sharp) is shown going through her morning exercise routine while listening to the latest energy reports, presented by an ITV News Reporter (Lucreza Millarini). The reporter continues on throughout the background as Madeline goes about her routines and kisses her bedbound husband, Len Delaney (Kevan MacKenzie) goodbye.

After a few words with her driver, Philip, she is driven to MI5 Headquarters. Along the way, she reads what appears to be Matthew Nolan’s dossier. Her brief video conference with Minister Tang (David KS Tse) reveals that China is desperate to have Matthew back in its custody as quickly as possible. Being that murder charges don’t normally fall under the purview of Thames House, Madeline is stunned by the Minister’s request. She soon learns why Tang has contacted her with the request when he threatens to pull out of the Nuclear Deal. Madeline later discusses this with England’s Prime Minister, who claims John Tennant (Jonathan Aris) warned this would happen. His suggestion is to send Matthew back.

DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi) is shown sharpening her firearm skills at the department’s indoor range before she meets with Superintendent Simon King (Robert Gilbert) to learn that she is being tasked with overseeing Dr. Matthew’s return to Beijing. When he attempts to turn down the assignment, he not so subtly reminds her that she needs the win and asks if her hesitation has anything to do with her mother. Sometime later Hana attends her father’s birthday party, which turns out to be a huge event with a clash of American and Chinese cultures. Although she is welcomed graciously by Rachel Li (Cate Hammer) and Tin Lok Li (Dave Wong), it immediately becomes clear that he is estranged from the family.

Matthew is now being interrogated by Jenkins (Chris Anderson) but continues to proclaim his innocence. Matthew is now becoming frustrated and quick to use his British citizenship to his advantage. Much to his surprise, Jenkins tells him that he’s not officially considered to be on British soil until he passes through immigration, which he has yet to do. Seemingly many hours later Matthew finds himself being questioned yet again by Miller. This interrogation suggests that authorities might be trying to force him into a confession of guilt. Matthew is continually denied a phone call and asked to write down the names of everyone he interacted with when he was in Beijing.

When North China Air Flight touches down in London, the Co-Pilot Wu (Aidan Cheng) comes on the PA system and requests Dr. Chris Peele (Rick Warden), Dr. Kate Ward (Lucianne McEvoy), Dr. Amber Hurst (Zoe Telford), and Dr. Steven Hurst (Oliver Maltman) remain seated.

By the time Hana shows up to collect Matthew at the airport, he’s belligerent upon just learning that he’s being extradited to China. Hana appears unknowingly and is taken by complete surprise by Matthew’s charges. The more she learns, the more questioning she becomes. The ultimate shock is that Matthew would have gotten away with his crime had it not been that Shen was the daughter of a general.

Captain Chen (Thomas Chaanhing) and the Foreign Office Official (Euan MacNaughton) are assigned the task of convincing Matthew’s associates to return to China to give testimony about the night Shen was murdered. Although they only share the scantest of details, it doesn’t take Kate long to suspect they are talking about Matthew. Despite the offers of compensation and the best accommodations, Chris Peele is the first to leave. A phone call and ensuing kidnapping suggest that Dr. Peele’s choosing to not return to China has more to do with Matthew’s situation than he’s letting on.

Matthew is much calmer when he’s finally introduced to Hana, but still adamantly claims he’s being wrongfully accused. At one point, he pleads with her to call Sir George Chapman (Peter Guinness) on his behalf. She doesn’t acknowledge the request and proceeds with escorting him to the flight. Officer Miller volunteers to join them. In an attempt to avoid a situation, Matthew is not cuffed, which is revealed to be a bad decision. While Hana checks them in, Matthew manages to escape for several minutes. He eventually gives himself over, but not before causing a huge scene in what appears to be a crowded food court area. He addresses the crowd and tells them to film him that he is being wrongfully held and extradited to China for a crime he didn’t commit.

Jess Li (Jemma Moore) is shown watching a clip of Matthew’s video before arriving at her parent’s house. Her ensuing encounter with her mother and father not only suggests that she is Hana’s sister but that they also have a strained relationship.

Now cuffed and under close watch, Matthew is taken by complete surprise when he is taken to the same plane where his associates are being held. Although they immediately ask what he’s gotten them into, all he can offer is that he is innocent. Once they are settled on the flight, a young male attendant, Ren Yunxi (Tai Yin Chan) takes Hana and Matthew’s orders for food and drink. Much to Matthew’s surprise, he’s allowed a Gin and Tonic.

A female flight attendant, Tiffany Songyun (Xiangyi Tan), picks up a piece of luggage in the airport’s bathroom and plants it on Matthew’s flight while the Pilot and Co-Pilot Wu run through their pre-flight check. When passengers begin to file in on Hana and Matthew’s flight, special emphasis is placed on Toni Zhang (Dan Li) who appears to be carrying a gun.

As the China flight begins its nearly 12-hour journey, Ruth Banks (Cash Holland) relays the news and passenger manifest to General Delaney at Thames House. After dismissing Ruth, Delaney places a call to Len’s nurse, Ayesha (Natasha Patel) to ask if she is free to spend the night. After confirming that she is, Delany receives a visit from CIA Agent Mike Maxwell (Mido Hamada).

A mysterious man in a hoodie appears to be sneaking around the China flight while the attendants pass out the meals. By now Matthew has had several drinks and attempts small talk with Hana who refuses. When Daniel Lomax (Ryan Cloud) requests to have his meal switched to vegan, Matthew doesn’t have a problem offering his, given that he’s more interested in drinking. Matthew continues his attempts at small talk with Hana until he flat-out insults him and calls him privileged.

While playing a Scrabble/Domino-like game with her parents, Jess becomes urgent and disturbed after learning of Hana’s trip to Beijing. She rushes from the room, claiming to need to make a quick text for work. On the flight, the passenger who took Matthew’s meal appears to be coming down with some illness. He rushes to the bathroom where he spends so much time that Hana has the attendant check on him. He’s only gotten worse and despite, Matthew’s best efforts the man strangely dies of cardiac arrest. Not happy with the outcome and after learning he was traveling alone, Matthew insists on searching Daniel’s belongings. Although nothing incriminating is discovered, Matthew and Hana realize that it was his meal that caused the sudden illness.

 

Red Eye Review

I honestly don’t know what to say about the series thus far. I certainly can say that I wasn’t blown away, but I was intrigued enough to watch the next episode, if barely. I do enjoy an espionage thriller as much as the next person, but at times, I felt discombobulated. Maybe it was my lack of understanding of British terminology and international regulations, maybe it was the ping-ponging back and forth between scenes, or maybe it was the sometimes incredibly atrocious dialogue, but this production felt drug out and boring.

Maybe I was hoping it to be too much like Hijack, although that wasn’t the best thing either. All that said, I can’t say that it was so horribly bad that I wouldn’t be interested in watching another episode just to give it a chance. The opening episode earned its 4 out of 10.

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