High-Stakes Crime Drama With Room to Grow

Read Time:4 Minute, 30 Second

TV SERIES REVIEW
The Hunting Party
TV-14 –

Genre: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller
Year Released: 2025
Runtime: 10 x 45m episodes (screened first four episodes for review)
Creator(s): JJ Bailey
Cast: Melissa Roxburgh, Patrick Sabongui, Sara Garcia, Josh McKenzie, Nick Wechsler
Where To Watch: premieres Monday, February 3, 2025

RAVING REVIEW: There’s something inherently gripping about the setup of THE HUNTING PARTY. The concept of a secretive prison conducting shadowy experiments on dangerous criminals offers a tantalizing blend of moral complexity and suspense. The story revolves around Rebecca “Bex” Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh,) a former FBI profiler thrust back into the field to track down the escaped inmates of The Pit, a supermax facility shrouded in secrecy. On the surface, it seems like a recipe for edge-of-your-seat drama. However, while the series flirts with deeper themes, it gets sidetracked by a formulaic approach to its episodic storytelling early on.

The Pit is more than just a “jail;” it symbolizes the ethical quandaries at the show's heart. The prison’s dubious experiments suggest a system willing to cross lines for control under the guise of justice. Unfortunately, the series often ignores these elements, focusing instead on a new fugitive each week. While these case-of-the-week episodes are fun, they dilute the overarching mystery surrounding The Pit and its true purpose.

Henderson’s character is familiar in crime dramas—the sharp but damaged investigator. Her profiling abilities and unrelenting drive are apparent. Much of what we learn about her comes through interactions with others. Roxburgh delivers a solid performance, imbuing Bex with determination and vulnerability.

The supporting characters add intrigue but are unevenly developed. Jacob Hassani, played by Patrick Sabongui, is the rigid CIA agent whose adherence to rules frequently clashes with Bex’s instincts. Josh McKenzie’s Shane Florence, a former guard at The Pit, offers more nuance, grappling with the ethical weight of his past choices. His chemistry with Bex provides some of the show’s more decisive moments. Meanwhile, Sara Garcia’s Jennifer Morales, the rookie on the team, struggles to stand out, her character feeling more like a placeholder than a fully realized character.

The escaped prisoners, marketed as society’s worst offenders, offer a mixed experience. While the idea that The Pit’s experiments shape their backstories is compelling, this concept is rarely explored. Instead, the fugitives tend to assume stereotypical roles as dangerous criminals with exaggerated quirks and predictable motives. This approach limits their potential as reflections of The Pit’s systemic failures and reduces them to episodic antagonists rather than meaningful pieces of the larger narrative.

Action sequences featuring high-tech gadgets and elaborate standoffs sometimes stretch believability, while overly dramatic exchanges overshadow slower, introspective scenes that could add depth. These tonal inconsistencies make it hard for the series to maintain its momentum. Visually, THE HUNTING PARTY leans into a dark, moody aesthetic. The shadow-heavy lighting and desaturated color palette create an oppressive atmosphere, reinforcing the show’s themes.

The Pit's overarching mystery can potentially elevate the series but remains frustratingly vague. The show teases elements of corruption and unethical experimentation without fully exploring them, leaving viewers with more questions than answers. This lack of clarity weakens the stakes, as the narrative feels more focused on withholding information than building tension through meaningful revelations.

That said, the series does have its moments. The relationship between Bex and Shane provides a compelling exploration of trust and moral ambiguity, giving the story a much-needed emotional anchor. Their shared struggle adds to the journey, offering a glimpse of what they may achieve.

Ultimately, THE HUNTING PARTY struggles to fully deliver on its ambitious premise. But I only had the first four episodes to screen, so who knows where it will go? The potential alone makes the ride worth it!

To succeed, the series must embrace its darker premise and more complex elements. A greater focus on character development and a willingness to explore The Pit’s ethical and moral dilemmas could transform it into something memorable. For now, THE HUNTING PARTY remains a mix of intriguing ideas and procedural familiarity, with just enough moments of engagement to keep viewers curious.

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[photo courtesy of UNIVERSAL TELEVISION]

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