Typically any suspense/action thriller coming from Israel will involve a Palestinian sub-plot of someone trying to blow something up. Hostages is a breath of fresh air and a masterpiece of intricate plot twists mixed with suspense and action. There were a few holes and issues with predictability (I guessed the major "twist" in the first episode after the character set-ups), but for the most part it is very well-acted and gives the viewer insight into the lives of various segments of Israeli society. In fact, the underlining theme seemed to be that if you take away the "other" (i.e. the Palestinians...never so much as mentioned once here) in the surreal, dehumanizing and ultra-militarized society that is Israel, the citizens themselves will eventually turn on each other for whatever reason. In the end of season one, you find yourself asking if there really are any heroes or "good guys" to be found at all in this series. That being said, I'd say just watch Season 1, as the 2nd seems to have jumped the shark.
Review of Bnei Aruba
