IR TV Review: AMERICAN HOSTAGE - EPISODE 4 (“A Taste Of Indianapolis”) [MGM+]

As the hostage situation goes on, in Episode 4 of "American Hostage", what is interesting is the slight change in tact in storytelling which is strangely enough pushed by the forensic profiler who comes into the scene and helps Fred (Jon Hamm). It changes the relationship to the subject. Fred's second sees this and it blurs the line between editorial and objectivity which can always be a tricky balance in any situation. In terms of Tony (Giovanni Ribisi), he understands the pressure he is in and under. Before a change in editorial control in a way happens, Fred is pushed to allow Tony to take callers live on air. What Hamm does well here is show Fred’s frustration since he can’t guide the conversation anymore. Then Tony’s brother, who is running for sheriff, comes down to Tony's door with a honesty but also an ulterior motive hidden. Tony wants to believe but his brother understands him even as he partially tries to subvert him.

But Ribisi plays it right both understanding his brother’s concern but also the structure they are in. This leads to the best scene so far in the series but it requires the two other scenes to work just right to set it up. It involves a simple phone conversation between Fred and Tony. This normally would be a bit lazy but both actors are exceptionally strong because they are playing against type within the characters. Hamm fares slightly better but his character is doing the most unloading per se. It is part performance, part exposition and part plot progression but it plays out incredibly effectively here…and shows that the show can build to those great moments after the slightly shoddy beginning which might have been because it was true to more real events than anything else. It is hard to see if that kind of revelation will be topped but that scene gives the series its strongest episode so far. 90%/A-

By Tim Wassberg