Hunted (2012 TV series)

{{Short description|2012 British television drama series}} {{About|the drama series|the reality series|Hunted (2015 TV series)|the American reality series|Hunted (2017 TV series)|the Australian reality series|Hunted (Australian TV series)}} {{Use British English|date=March 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox television | image = Hunted (TV series) titlecard.jpg | alt = Series title over shattered glass from an hourglass | genre = [[Action fiction|Action]] [[Television drama|Drama]] [[Spy fiction]] | runtime = 60 minutes | company = [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] and Big Light Productions | creator = [[Frank Spotnitz]] | producer = Eliza Mellor | executive_producer = Frank Spotnitz Jane Featherstone Stephen Garrett Alison Jackson Christopher Aird | cinematography = Balazs Bolygo Stephan Pehrsson | starring = [[Melissa George]] [[Adam Rayner]] [[Stephen Dillane]] [[Stephen Campbell Moore]] [[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje]] [[Morven Christie]] [[Lex Shrapnel]] Dhafer L'Abidine [[Dermot Crowley]] [[Oscar Kennedy]] [[Indira Varma]] [[Patrick Malahide]] | composer = Ruth Barrett | country = United Kingdom | language = English | network = [[BBC One]] (UK) [[Cinemax]] (US) | first_aired = {{Start date|2012|10|4|df=yes}} | last_aired = {{End date|2012|11|22|df=y}} | num_series = 1 | num_episodes = 8 | list_episodes = #Episode list }} '''''Hunted''''' is a 2012 [[British television]] [[drama]] series created and written by [[Frank Spotnitz]] and produced by [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] and Big Light Productions for British broadcaster [[BBC]], for its main channel [[BBC One]] and American [[premium cable]] broadcaster [[Cinemax]]. The series premiered on Thursday 4 October 2012 on BBC One<ref name=tvwise1>{{cite web|title=BBC One Sets UK Premiere Date For 'Hunted'|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/09/bbc-one-sets-premiere-date-for-hunted/|first=Patrick|last=Munn|work=TVWise|date=19 September 2012|access-date=25 September 2012|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202107/https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/09/bbc-one-sets-premiere-date-for-hunted/|url-status=live}}</ref> and on Friday 19 October 2012<ref name=tvwise2>{{cite web|title=Update: Cinemax's New Drama Series 'Hunted' To Premiere October 19th|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/06/cinemaxs-new-drama-series-hunted-to-premiere-october-26th/|first=Patrick|last=Munn|work=TVWise|date=5 June 2012|access-date=22 June 2012|archive-date=21 June 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621145711/http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/06/cinemaxs-new-drama-series-hunted-to-premiere-october-26th/|url-status=live}}</ref> on Cinemax.

==Overview== Samantha ([[Melissa George]]) is an espionage operative for "Byzantium",<ref name="BBC One suspense thriller Nemesis">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/latestnews/hunted.html|title=Media Centre – Melissa George stars in Frank Spotnitz's new BBC One suspense thriller Hunted |publisher=BBC |date=23 November 2011 |access-date=18 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.beyondhollywood.com/first-look-at-melissa-george-in-hunted/ |title=First Look at Melissa George in Hunted |publisher=BeyondHollywood.com |date=8 April 2012 |access-date=28 August 2012 |archive-date=15 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141215020802/http://www.beyondhollywood.com/first-look-at-melissa-george-in-hunted/ |url-status=live }}</ref> a private intelligence agency. She survives an attempt on her life, which she strongly suspects was orchestrated by members of the company she works for. After recovering and returning to active duty, she goes back to work undercover as a nanny, not knowing who tried to kill her or whom to trust.<ref name="thefutoncritic1">{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/interviews/2011/08/12/interview-strike-back-co-executive-producer-frank-spotnitz-507102/20110812_strikeback/ |title=Interview: "Strike Back" Co-Executive Producer Frank Spotnitz |publisher=TheFutonCritic.com |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=8 December 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121208221915/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/interviews/2011/08/12/interview-strike-back-co-executive-producer-frank-spotnitz-507102/20110812_strikeback/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="hollywoodreporter">{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/miptv-hunted-frank-spotnitz-melissa-george-306911/ |title=MIPTV 2012: Frank Spotnitz and Melissa George Take a Shot at the Spy Drama in 'Hunted' |publisher=TheHollywoodreporter.com |date=2 April 2012 |access-date=3 April 2012 |first=Rebecca |last=Leffler |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202124/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/miptv-hunted-frank-spotnitz-melissa-george-306911 |url-status=live }}</ref> It becomes evident that the attempt on her life is tied into a horrific event from her childhood.<ref name="worldscreen.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.worldscreen.com/articles/display/2012-5-10-video-interview-frank-spotnitz-x-files-hunted |title=Archives |publisher=WorldScreen.com |date=6 August 2012 |access-date=28 August 2012}}</ref>

==Main cast== *[[Melissa George]] as Samantha "Sam" Hunter/Alex Kent *[[Adam Rayner]] as Aidan Marsh *[[Stephen Dillane]] as Rupert Keel *[[Stephen Campbell Moore]] as Stephen Turner *[[Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje]] as Deacon Crane *[[Morven Christie]] as Zoe Morgan *[[Lex Shrapnel]] as Ian Fowkes *[[Dhaffer L'Abidine]] as Bernard Faroux *[[Dermot Crowley]] as George Ballard *[[Oscar Kennedy]] as Edward Turner *[[Indira Varma]] as Natalie Thorpe *[[Patrick Malahide]] as Jack Turner *[[Doc Brown (rapper)|Doc Brown]] as Tyrone *[[Richard Lintern]] as Hector Stokes *Scott Handy as Blank-Faced Man *Uriel Emil Pollack as Hasan Moussa *Maddy Griffiths as Young Sam *Jane Riley as Katherine Morton, Sam's Mother

==Production== The series was created by [[Frank Spotnitz]] (best known as executive producer and head writer for ''[[The X-Files]]''), who will write the majority of the episodes of series 1. Spotnitz is executive producing with Kudos' Stephen Garrett (executive producer of ''[[Law & Order: UK]]'', ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks/MI5]]''), Jane Featherstone (producer behind ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks/MI5]]'', ''[[The Hour (2011 TV series)|The Hour]]'', ''[[Life on Mars (British TV series)|Life on Mars]]''), Alison Jackson (''[[Ashes to Ashes (British TV series)|Ashes to Ashes]]'', ''[[Eternal Law]]''), and BBC's Christopher Aird (''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'', ''[[The Inspector Lynley Mysteries]]'').

After Spotnitz had wrapped up ''[[The X-Files]]'' he met Stephen Garrett and Jane Featherstone of [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos Film and Television]]. They asked him to come to the UK and work with British television. Spotnitz had lived in Europe before and was interested in returning. He claims the idea was appealing but it simply never happened. The years passed and Spotnitz was talking to ''The X-Files'' star [[Gillian Anderson]], who was visiting Los Angeles from London where she lives, and she asked, "Would you ever consider doing a show (in Britain)?". Spotnitz started talking to her about doing a spy series and then the first call he made was to Stephen Garrett since the two lost touch. "You know the idea of doing a show in England? I think I may finally have it".<ref name="thefutoncritic1"/>

On 13 January 2011, the BBC announced the show – then called ''Morton''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/13/drama.shtml |title=Press Office – Danny Cohen announces new drama commissions for BBC One |publisher=BBC |date=13 January 2011 |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202128/http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2011/01_january/13/drama.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Gillian Anderson]] was no longer attached to the show; it took Spotnitz and [[Kudos (production company)|Kudos]] longer than estimated to get the green light from the BBC and by then, Anderson was too busy with other projects.<ref name="thefutoncritic1"/>

Spotnitz relocated to London with his family.<ref name="thefutoncritic1"/> While trying to get ''Hunted'' off the ground, he served as co-producer and head writer for ''[[Strike Back: Project Dawn]]'' (or just ''Strike Back'' in the United States), which was also produced by [[HBO]] for Cinemax, but co-produced with another British broadcaster, [[BSkyB]] (for [[Sky1]]), not the BBC.

On 22 September 2011, reports confirmed that HBO/Cinemax would come on board as co-producers and that the name ''Morton'' had been scrapped and the new name was ''Nemesis''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2011/09/action-drama-from-frank-spotnitz-is-a-go-at-cinemax-melissa-george-to-star-174649/ |title=Action Drama From Frank Spotnitz Is A Go at Cinemax, Melissa George To Star – |date=22 September 2011 |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=25 September 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202128/https://deadline.com/2011/09/action-drama-from-frank-spotnitz-is-a-go-at-cinemax-melissa-george-to-star-174649/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On 6 March 2012, Spotnitz announced on his homepage that the show's title had been changed again to ''Hunted''.<ref>{{cite web |first=Frank |last=Spotnitz |url=http://biglight.com/blog/its-official-3/ |title=I'm Delighted to Announce… « Big Light |publisher=Big Light |date=6 March 2012 |access-date=18 March 2012 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424010524/http://biglight.com/blog/its-official-3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Spotnitz spent a lot of time researching private spy agencies. He told [[Screen International]]: "It's not an area I was very aware of until I went looking for it. Most [[Private military company|private contractors]] don't want to be noticed. Their websites are dry and boring and they don't want the wrong kind of attention. I talked to people who run these companies in the [[United States|US]], United Kingdom and [[Switzerland]] and then I researched the type of personality working at them".<ref name="screendaily.com">{{cite web |last=Wiseman |first=Andreas |url=http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/x-files-writer-frank-spotnitz-talks-new-spy-series-hunted-working-in-the-uk-and-a-feature-sequel-to-x-files/5040192.article?blocktitle=Latest-distribution-news&contentID=252 |title=The X-Files writer Frank Spotnitz talks new UK spy series Hunted, working in the UK and a feature sequel to The X-Files | News | Screen |publisher=Screendaily.com |access-date=28 August 2012 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043529/http://www.screendaily.com/news/production/x-files-writer-frank-spotnitz-talks-new-spy-series-hunted-working-in-the-uk-and-a-feature-sequel-to-x-files/5040192.article?blocktitle=Latest-distribution-news&contentID=252 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Filming started on location in Wales,<ref name="screendaily.com"/> Scotland, London and [[Morocco]].<ref name="BBC One suspense thriller Nemesis"/><ref>{{cite web|last=Marnell |first=Blair |url=http://www.craveonline.com/tv/articles/174824-melissa-george-is-cinemaxs-nemesis |title=Melissa George Is Cinemax's 'Nemesis' |publisher=CraveOnline |access-date=25 September 2011}}</ref> In early March, scenes were filmed in [[East Linton]], Scotland at a local Deli Shop.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eastlothiannews.co.uk/community/village-shop-at-centre-of-bbc-tv-spy-drama-1-2144919 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120724185759/http://www.eastlothiannews.co.uk/community/village-shop-at-centre-of-bbc-tv-spy-drama-1-2144919 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 July 2012 |title=Village shop at centre of BBC TV spy drama – Community |publisher=East Lothian News |date=7 March 2012 |access-date=18 March 2012 }}</ref> "There are no [[sound stage]]s. It's all location filming. It’s really expensive and difficult to do, but it looks so much better and has a real feel of authenticity", Spotnitz told ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]''. "It's international and it looks international".<ref name="hollywoodreporter"/>

During the series, Sam has childhood memories of an [[oast house]] and in episode 5 she finds the Oast House. This is the oast house at Little Scotney Farm, [[Lamberhurst]], [[Kent]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Kent Film Office|url=http://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/2012/10/hunted-2012/|title=Kent Film Office Hunted Article|date=2 October 2012 |access-date=20 August 2015|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202123/https://kentfilmoffice.co.uk/filmed-in-kent/2012/10/hunted-2012/|url-status=live}}</ref> It is still a working oast house owned by the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]], producing hops to make "Scotney Ale".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1515908 |title=Oast House at Little Scotney Farm, Lamberhurst, Kent:: OS grid TQ6936 :: Geograph Britain and Ireland – photograph every grid square! |publisher=Geograph.org.uk |date=2009-10-01 |access-date=2014-02-02 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202120/https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1515908 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The first series takes place mainly in London. Had the show been commissioned for a second series, each series would have taken place in a different European city.<ref name="worldscreen.com"/> George, who is based in New York, would have lived in London for six months to film each series.<ref>{{cite web |last=Parri |first=Linda |url=http://www.perthnow.com.au/melissa-georges-big-secret-to-find-wa-roots/story-fn6mhd09-1226155118251 |title=Melissa George's big secret to find WA roots |publisher=Perth Now |date=1 October 2011 |access-date=16 October 2011 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202142/https://www.perthnow.com.au/entertainment/confidential/melissa-georges-big-secret-to-find-wa-roots-ng-613a350afa04d6a267f41a65c70653e6 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===''Sam Hunter'' spinoff=== On 25 September 2012, it was reported that British screenwriter Ben Harris had joined the writing team in preparation for a second series pickup from [[BBC One]] and [[Cinemax]].<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC One/Cinemax Eyeing Second Series Order For 'Hunted', Adds Ben Harris To Writing Team|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/09/hunted-series-2-ben-harris/|first=Patrick|last=Munn|work=TVWise|date=25 September 2012|access-date=25 September 2012}}{{Dead link|date=April 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

[[Melissa George]] has reported that the second series of ''Hunted'' would be set in [[Berlin]]. The Australian star previously said that her ''Hunted'' role "could potentially be long-term", adding that she may be playing Sam "for the next five years".<ref>{{cite news |author=22 October 2012, 10:58am EDT |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a432502/melissa-george-talks-hunted-series-two-plans-its-set-in-berlin.html |title=Melissa George talks 'Hunted' series two plans: 'It's set in Berlin' – TV News |publisher=Digital Spy |date=18 October 2012 |access-date=25 October 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202136/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a432502/melissa-george-talks-hunted-series-two-plans-its-set-in-berlin/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 3 November 2012, it was reported that British screenwriter Claire Wilson had joined the writing team in preparation for a second series pickup from BBC One and Cinemax.<ref>{{cite web|title=BBC One/Cinemax Series 'Hunted' Adds Claire Wilson To Writing Staff, Renewal Discussions In "Early Stages"|url=http://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/11/hunted-writing-staff-claire-wilson/|first=Patrick|last=Munn|work=TVWise|date=3 November 2012|access-date=3 November 2012|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202201/https://www.tvwise.co.uk/2012/11/hunted-writing-staff-claire-wilson/|url-status=live}}</ref>

However, on 14 November 2012, ''[[The Guardian]]'' reported that BBC One had decided not to commission a second series of ''Hunted'', citing ratings declines as the primary reason.<ref name="BBC Axes Hunted">{{cite news|title=BBC1's Hunted laid to rest|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/nov/14/bbc1-hunted-laid-to-rest#start-of-comments|first=Maggie|last=Brown|work=The Guardian|date=14 November 2012|access-date=14 November 2012|location=London|archive-date=19 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219175158/http://www.theguardian.com/media/2012/nov/14/bbc1-hunted-laid-to-rest#start-of-comments|url-status=live}}</ref> It was reported the following day that Cinemax was looking into making a second series without the partnership with the BBC.<ref>{{cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|title=Cinemax Eyes New Incarnation Of 'Hunted' With Frank Spotnitz And Melissa George|date=15 November 2012|url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/cinemax-eyes-new-incarnation-of-hunted-with-frank-spotnitz-and-melissa-george-372016/|publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=25 November 2012|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202124/https://deadline.com/2012/11/cinemax-eyes-new-incarnation-of-hunted-with-frank-spotnitz-and-melissa-george-372016/|url-status=live}}</ref> Cinemax has since announced that it is working with Frank Spotnitz to reboot the show, describing the current incarnation as "too expensive" to continue without BBC support.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2012/11/cinemax-eyes-new-incarnation-of-hunted-with-frank-spotnitz-and-melissa-george-372016/|title=Cinemax Eyes New Incarnation of 'Hunted' With Frank Spotnitz and Melissa George|first=Nellie|last=Andreeva|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=15 November 2012|access-date=15 November 2012|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202133/https://deadline.com/2012/11/cinemax-eyes-new-incarnation-of-hunted-with-frank-spotnitz-and-melissa-george-372016/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Spotnitz has revealed that the original plans for ''Hunted'' series two – which would have followed Sam Hunter to Germany – have been abandoned in the wake of the series shake-up. "It's going to change – that [Berlin plot] was when we still had the [[BBC]] as a partner", he explained. "Now it's one of those funny things where it's the same character, but it's a different series." Spotnitz added that he "would very much expect" future episodes to air in the UK, adding that he has considered other British networks as potential partners.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.com/british-tv/news/a439629/hunted-creator-frank-spotnitz-on-series-two-its-sort-of-a-spinoff.html |title='Hunted' creator Frank Spotnitz on series two: It's sort of a spinoff – TV News |publisher=Digital Spy |date=2012-11-22 |access-date=2014-02-02 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202207/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/a439629/hunted-creator-frank-spotnitz-on-series-two-its-sort-of-a-spinoff/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In June 2013 it was announced that the second series would become a four-hour miniseries called ''Sam Hunter'', airing in 2014.<ref name=spinoff>{{cite web|title='Hunted' spinoff 'Sam Hunter' starring Melissa George in development|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a492345/hunted-spinoff-sam-hunter-starring-melissa-george-in-development.html|first=Greg|last=Laing|work=Digital Spy|date=21 June 2013|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202132/https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a492345/hunted-spinoff-sam-hunter-starring-melissa-george-in-development/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=sights>{{cite web|title=Cinemax Sights Hunted Spin-Off Miniseries|url=http://tvline.com/2013/06/21/hunted-spin-off-sam-hunter-cinemax/|first=Kimberly|last=Roots|work=TVLine|date=21 June 2013|access-date=3 September 2013|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202141/https://tvline.com/2013/06/21/hunted-spin-off-sam-hunter-cinemax/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |url=https://deadline.com/2013/06/hunted-spinoff-sam-hunter-cinemax-melissa-george-frank-spotnitz-526993/ |title=Cinemax & Frank Spotnitz Developing 'Hunted' Spinoff Starring Melissa George |date=21 June 2013 |publisher=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |access-date=2014-02-02 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202135/https://deadline.com/2013/06/hunted-spinoff-sam-hunter-cinemax-melissa-george-frank-spotnitz-526993/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In early 2015, Frank Spotnitz stated that the series–and spinoff–had been officially cancelled by Cinemax, though he and George were open to continuing the project if it were to be picked up by another network.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://seriable.com/sam-hunter-dead-at-cinemax-frank-spotnitz/ |title=Sam Hunter Dead At Cinemax, But Creator Frank Spotnitz Still Wants Continuation |date=4 February 2015 |access-date=2 July 2016 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202141/http://seriable.com/sam-hunter-dead-at-cinemax-frank-spotnitz/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Episode list== {{Episode table|caption=Hunted 2012 series 1|background=#bfe0bf|overall=5|title=15|director=15|writer=15|airdate=15|altdate=15|viewers=10|aux4=10|country=U.K.|airdateT=U.K. air date|altdateT=U.S. air date|aux4T=U.S. viewers (millions)|airdateR=<ref name=ratings>{{cite web|url=http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |publisher=[[BARB]] |title=Weekly Viewing Summary (see relevant week) |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070418100604/http://www.barb.co.uk/viewingsummary/weekreports.cfm?report=weeklyterrestrial&requesttimeout=500 |archive-date=18 April 2007 }}</ref>|episodes= {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 1 |Title= Mort |DirectedBy= [[S.J. Clarkson|S J Clarkson]] |WrittenBy=[[Frank Spotnitz]] |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|10|19|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|10|4|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.245<ref name="eps1and7"/> |Viewers= 5.69 |ShortSummary=In Tangiers, Sam Hunter sleeps with Bernard Faroux, but then fakes her own death to release Dr. Arthur Hill who Faroux was holding prisoner. She asks her boyfriend, fellow spy Aidan Marsh, to meet her in a cafe, so she can tell him she is pregnant, but while she is waiting, gun men come in, and shoot her in the stomach. A year later, she returns to Byzantium, the spy agency she worked for. Aidan denies hiring the gun men, but he is the only one who knew she was there. Sam and her team fake the kidnapping of young Edward Turner, so that Sam can pretend to save him, and gain the trust of the Turners. She becomes Edward's live-in tutor, allowing her to spy on Jack Turner, a former criminal who is bidding for the Upper Khyber dam in Pakistan. Her boss Keel tells her there is a mole in the team. A mystery man kills Dr. Horst Goebel, and assumes his identity. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 2 |Title= LB |DirectedBy= S J Clarkson |WrittenBy= Frank Spotnitz |OriginalAirDate={{start date|2012|10|26|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|10|11|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.166<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/30/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-wwe-smackdown-say-yes-to-the-dress-for-better-or-worse-more/155015/ |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night, 'Jungle Gold', 'Duck Dynasty', 'WWE Smackdown', 'Say Yes to the Dress', 'For Better or Worse' & More |last=Bibel |first=Sara |work=TV by the Numbers |date=30 October 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104130704/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/10/30/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-wwe-smackdown-say-yes-to-the-dress-for-better-or-worse-more/155015/ |archive-date=4 November 2012 }}</ref> |Viewers= 4.50 |ShortSummary=Someone has reported that Byzantium team member, Hasan Moussa, is the would-be kidnapper. Jack Turner's men have captured him, and brought him to the mansion for questioning. Sam is ordered to kill Hasan to keep him from revealing the operation. The mystery man who is pretending to be Goebel's arrives for an appointment at the Turner's. Sam sneaks in to kill Hasan, but he claims to have information on who hired the gun men in Tangiers. A man identifying himself as an army colonel arrives at the flat of Sam's army friend, and kills her. When Sam goes to investigate, the colonel follows her. They fight, but the colonel gets away. She returns to the Turner house planning to free Hasan, but he Attacks hert, and she is forced to kill him. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 3 |Title= Hourglass |DirectedBy= [[James Strong (director)|James Strong]] |WrittenBy= Simon Allen |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|11|2|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|10|18|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.181<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2012/11/05/fridays-cable-ratings-gold-rush-holds-off-nba-surge-on-espn-750411/cable_20121102/|title=Friday's Cable Ratings: "Gold Rush" Holds Off NBA Surge on ESPN|work=The Futon Critic|date=5 November 2012|access-date=30 May 2015|archive-date=11 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130111105929/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/ratings/2012/11/05/fridays-cable-ratings-gold-rush-holds-off-nba-surge-on-espn-750411/cable_20121102/|url-status=live}}</ref> |Viewers= 4.53 |ShortSummary=Sam is ordered to find out how much Turner is planning to bid for the Upper Khyber Dam. At the hotel, Sam runs into Bernard Faroux, the man she tricked in Tangiers. She knocks out his guards, but he pulls a gun on her, and demands she find out how much Turner is planning to bid. Aidan is sleeping with MI-6 liaison officer Natalie Thorpe, feeding her intelligence. Sam kills Faroux, but before he dies he whispers "Hourglass," an operation later discovered to be run by MI-6. Turner needs £30 million more to reach the one billion pound bid to win the auction for the dam . |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 4 |Title= Kismet |DirectedBy= James Strong |WrittenBy= Smita Bhide |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|11|9|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|10|25|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.183<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/12/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-wwe-smackdown-haven-jessie-ghost-adventures-more/157040/comment-page-2/ |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night, 'Jungle Gold', 'WWE Smackdown', 'Haven', 'Jessie' 'Ghost Adventures', & More |last=Bibel |first=Sara |work=TV by the Numbers |date=12 November 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117033823/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/12/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-wwe-smackdown-haven-jessie-ghost-adventures-more/157040/comment-page-2/ |archive-date=17 November 2012 }}</ref> |Viewers= 4.35 |ShortSummary=Sam slips out of the house to spy on Jack Turner, who murders the man who developed the software that made him rich. Lewis Conroy, a friend of Stephen's is there for the murder, and they all see a woman flee the scene. The next day Lewis visits the Turner home, and invites Sam for drinks at his place. He confronts her, but she convinces him that it wasn't her. She seduces him into thinking she is going to sleep with him, and then drugs him. It is discovered that Jack Turner has been engineering massive accidents, and profiteering from the aftermath. Aidan is sent to stop the next accident from happening. Sam is overpowered by the mystery man impersonating Dr Goebel, and sedated. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 5 |Title= Ambassadors |DirectedBy= Alrick Riley |WrittenBy= Frank Spotnitz |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|11|16|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|11|1|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/19/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-nba-basketball-friday-night-smackdown-more/158251/comment-page-2/ |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night + 'Jungle Gold', 'Duck Dynasty', NBA Basketball, Friday Night SmackDown, & More |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |work=TV by the Numbers |date=19 November 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130073228/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/19/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-nba-basketball-friday-night-smackdown-more/158251/comment-page-2/ |archive-date=30 November 2012 }}</ref> |Viewers= 4.19 |ShortSummary=Sam wakes in hospital and is visited by the bogus Doctor Goebel who tells Sam that he is trying to protect her from 'Hourglass'. Aiden is exposed as the mole but escapes from Byzantium and meets Sam. A meeting is arranged for Sam to meet Ballard at the National Portrait Gallery at a cryptic painting called [[The Ambassadors (Holbein)|'The Ambassadors']]. Ballard reveals Hourglass is a conspiracy orchestrated by five multinational corporations. Three of the seven members of the Byzantium board are CEOs of Hourglass corporations. Ballard is killed on leaving the gallery. Sam's investigation of the conspirators takes her and Aidan to a country estate. Sam recognises that this is the place where she was taken as a child after her mother Katherine was murdered and she was kidnapped. Byzantium, to protect Sam's cover, set up two innocent people. Jack Turner orders three more murders. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 6 |Title= Polyhedrus |RTitle= |DirectedBy= Alrick Riley |WrittenBy= Christian Spurrier |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|11|23|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|11|8|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.110<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/27/friday-cable-ratingsgold-rush-wins-night-icarlygoodbye-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-wwe-smackfown-more/158869/comment-page-2/ |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night, 'iCarly:Goodbye', 'Jungle Gold', 'Duck Dynasty', 'WWE Smackdown' & More |last=Bibel |first=Sara |work=TV by the Numbers |date=27 November 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017225927/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/27/friday-cable-ratingsgold-rush-wins-night-icarlygoodbye-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-wwe-smackfown-more/158869/comment-page-2/ |archive-date=17 October 2013 }}</ref> |Viewers= 3.87 |ShortSummary=Sam sleeps with Stephen Turner. She finds a pamphlet on Polyhedrus the company that built the Khyber dam with Hill and Goebel's names in it. Byzantium surmises that Jack Turner intends to assassinate Fatima Zahir, a Pakistani presidential candidate opposed to the sale of the dam. She has a secret meeting with the doctor. Fowkes, one of Byzantium's team has infiltrated Turner's gang and unkowingly is part of the assassination plot, not realizing he will be set up to appear to be the perpetrator.. Stephen Turner realizes how ruthless his father is, and seeking information from a corrupt policeman, receives a file revealing Sam's true identity. Keel is suffering from a terminal brain tumour. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 7 |Title= Khyber |RTitle= |DirectedBy= [[Daniel Percival (director)|Daniel Percival]] |WrittenBy= Frank Spotnitz & Amira El Nemr |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|11|30|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|11|15|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.229<ref name="eps1and7">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/03/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-friday-night-smackdown-nba-basketball-more/160129/ |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night + 'Jungle Gold', 'Duck Dynasty', 'Friday Night SmackDown', NBA Basketball & More |last=Kondolojy |first=Amanda |work=TV by the Numbers |date=3 December 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121206055324/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/03/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-duck-dynasty-friday-night-smackdown-nba-basketball-more/160129/ |archive-date=6 December 2012 }}</ref> |Viewers= 3.71 |ShortSummary=Jack Turner is furious that his bid has been turned down in favour of the Chinese. Byzantium discover their client, which Keel knew, is Polyhedrus fronted by the Chinese. Polyhedrus built the dam but killed nearly 600 villagers that stood in their way, using poison gas. Evidence is in soil samples that Jack Turner has and which Byzantium have been unable to locate for Polyhedrus. Sam discovers it is Polyhedrus that want her dead and the CEO is a director of Byzantium. Keel knows all this and tells Sam he knows what happened when she received treatment in an Istanbul hospital after being shot. Stephen Turner is being turned from Sam by his father. |LineColor=bfe0bf}} {{Episode list |EpisodeNumber = 8 |Title= Snow Maiden |DirectedBy=Daniel Percival |WrittenBy= Frank Spotnitz |OriginalAirDate= {{start date|2012|12|7|df=yes}} |Aux3={{start date|2012|11|22|df=yes}} |Aux4=0.143<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/10/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-austin-jessie-ally-all-star-new-year-wwe-smackdown-ultimate-fighter-more/160923/comment-page-2 |title=Friday Cable Ratings: 'Gold Rush' Wins Night, 'Jungle Gold', 'Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year', 'WWE Smackdown', 'Ultimate Fighter' & More |last=Bibel |first=Sara |work=TV by the Numbers |date=10 December 2012 |access-date=30 May 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121214235454/http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/12/10/friday-cable-ratings-gold-rush-wins-night-jungle-gold-austin-jessie-ally-all-star-new-year-wwe-smackdown-ultimate-fighter-more/160923/comment-page-2 |archive-date=14 December 2012 }}</ref> |Viewers= 3.89 |ShortSummary=Byzantium plants a bomb under Jack Turner's car, but Jack asks his grandson Edward to ride with him, so Sam intervenes to save Edward, making it obvious that she knew about the bomb. Jack surrenders his evidence for testing, but it has been replaced by the mystery man. Jack loses the dam to Polyhedrus. Jack tries to kill the unconscious Sam by drowning her, but she survives, and kills him instead. Polyhedrus, having won the dam intend to kill Sam, so Byzantium fake her death. Sam returns to her mother's home in Scotland, where it is revealed she did not lose her baby which has been looked after by her mother. |LineColor=bfe0bf }} }}

==DVD release== On 30 July 2013 [[HBO Home Entertainment]] released the complete series on DVD in Region 1 via the [[Warner Archive Collection]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Hunted-DVDs-Announced/18656 |title=The 'Cinemax Original Series' is Back on the DVD Schedule |publisher=Tvshowsondvd.com |access-date=2014-02-02 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219052735/http://tvshowsondvd.com/news/Hunted-DVDs-Announced/18656 |archive-date=19 February 2014}}</ref> This is a manufacture-on-demand (MOD) release, available via WBShop.com and Amazon.com. The series is also available on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.

==Web campaign== ''Hunted'' was accompanied by an Internet campaign carrying content developed during the filming of the series. Known for a psychologically stimulating internet campaign where one would guess what dongle went to various computers. It all turned out to be a honeypot.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/francesca-gardiner//works/ |title=Francesca Gardiner works |publisher=Curtis Brown |access-date=18 March 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202213/https://www.curtisbrown.co.uk/francesca-gardiner/works/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Reception== On review aggregation website [[Rotten Tomatoes]] ''Hunted'' holds an approval rating of 76% based on 17 reviews. The critics' consensus reads, "A brisk, exciting spy thriller, ''Hunted'' sometimes feels familiar, but it's redeemed by smart, twisty plotting and an assured lead performance from Melissa George."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunted Season 1 {{!}} Rotten Tomatoes |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/hunted/s01 |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=www.rottentomatoes.com |language=en}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]] the series has a weighted average score of 70 out of 100, based on 14 critics, indicating "generally favorable" reviews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hunted season 1 |url=https://www.metacritic.com/tv/hunted/season-1/ |access-date=2024-02-10 |website=www.metacritic.com |language=en}}</ref>

UK media reviews of the first episode were mixed. While he liked the plot, Michael Hogan of ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' was critical of the dialogue and acting: "The protagonist pouts constantly and came across more sulky teenager than troubled soul. When you're performing this hokum, you need a heavyweight cast to give it credibility. ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' had Matthew MacFadyen and Peter Firth, ''[[24 (TV series)|24]]'' had Kiefer Sutherland, ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'' has Damian Lewis and Claire Danes. ''Hunted'''s assorted pretty young things are nowhere near that league. They gazed moodily out of windows but rather than looking haunted by the terrible things they’d seen, they looked like they were waiting for a minicab".<ref>{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Hogan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9587882/Hunted-BBC-One-review.html |title=Hunted, BBC One, review |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |date=5 October 2012 |access-date=11 October 2012 |location=London |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202140/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/9587882/Hunted-BBC-One-review.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[The Observer]]''{{'}}s Andrew Anthony compared the series unfavourably with the U.S. television series ''[[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]]'': "Both have high production values, both are capable of creating fiendishly clever plots, but whereas ''Homeland'' seeks to foreground character, ''Hunted'' relies on shorthand caricature. Thus the three villains on display last week were a macho Arab, an inscrutable psychopath and a cockney gangster-turned-businessman, holding their faces in such ways as to convey, respectively, machismo, psychopathy, and tasty geezerness".<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Anthony |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/oct/07/hunted-bbc1-review-monroe-itv1?newsfeed=true |title=Rewind TV: Hunted; Monroe; Arena: The Beatles' Magical Mystery Tour; Best Possible Taste: the Kenny Everett Story; Exposure: the Other Side of Jimmy Savile; Welcome to India |publisher=Guardian Media Group |newspaper=The Observer |date=7 October 2012 |access-date=11 October 2012 |location=London |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202143/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/oct/07/hunted-bbc1-review-monroe-itv1?newsfeed=true |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Jim Shelley (TV critic)|Jim Shelley]] of the ''[[Daily Mirror]]'' was also critical, writing that ''Hunted'' "relied more on old-fashioned ''[[Spooks (TV series)|Spooks]]'' cliches. Locations like Istanbul were viewed as dangerous – ie, full of foreigners, particularly handsome Arabs in suits driving around as if they were in a BMW ad".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/jim-shelley-on-homeland-hunted-hotel-1366362 |title=JCliched spy show Hunted is too Spooky for me |first=Jim |last=Shelley |newspaper=[[Daily Mirror]] |date=8 October 2012 |access-date=11 October 2012 |archive-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202141/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-reviews/jim-shelley-on-homeland-hunted-hotel-1366362 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On a more positive note, Ken Tucker of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', said the U.S. [[premiere|première]] had "lots of slick suspense, well-turned violence, and a delightful air of menace hanging over everything Sam does".<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Stack|first=Tim|url=https://ew.com/article/2012/10/19/hunted-melissa-george-strike-back/|title='Hunted' premiere review: Bone-crunching fights, soul-crushing lies, lip-pouting action|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=19 October 2012|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202141/https://ew.com/article/2012/10/19/hunted-melissa-george-strike-back/|url-status=live}}</ref> Maureen Ryan of ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' also had a favorable review of the U.S. premiere saying "To its credit, 'Hunted' doesn't take its profoundly disconnected characters and slap them into a slick, glitzy story about heroism in the face of greed. It marries the doubt, regret and longing they feel into a chugging, twisty spy story about the cost of selling your soul one piece at a time".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hunted-review_b_1981501|title=Maureen Ryan: 'Hunted' Review: An Entertaining Thriller For Fans Of 'Alias' And 'X-Files'|work=[[HuffPost]]|date=18 October 2012|access-date=28 February 2020|archive-date=15 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201115202149/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hunted-review_b_1981501|url-status=live}}</ref>

== See also == * ''[[The East (2013 film)|The East]]''—a film about an undercover operative for a private intelligence company

== References == {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{BBC programme|id=p00vndpl}} * [http://www.cinemax.com/hunted/ ''Hunted''] at [[Cinemax]] * {{IMDb title|id=2069449|title=Hunted}}

[[Category:2012 British television series debuts]] [[Category:2010s British drama television series]] [[Category:2012 British television series endings]] [[Category:British action television series]] [[Category:BBC television dramas]] [[Category:Cinemax original programming]] [[Category:Television shows set in London]] [[Category:Television series by Banijay]] [[Category:English-language British television shows]] [[Category:British spy television series]] [[Category:Television series created by Frank Spotnitz]]