‘Gripping’ crime thriller better than Ransom ‘will keep you up at night’

An “exceptional” new political thriller is now free to stream on Channel 4

Ultimatum is now streaming for free (Image: Channel 4)

A new political thriller has landed on Channel 4, and viewers will be gripped. Ultimatum is a beloved Slovak-Czech series that has recently been added to the Walter Presents collection, which features a selection of award-winning world dramas.

The series was first released back in 2022, and centres around a kidnapper with a personal and political demand who takes control of a hospital floor, as the “stakes keep getting higher”.

The eight-part drama, which viewers have compared to CBS series Ransom, follows a grieving former soldier as he storms a cardiac ward and “takes staff and patients hostage, demanding the truth about a military plane crash that killed his son”.

The official synopsis adds: “Police negotiator Daniel Andrik is drawn into the crisis while his pregnant partner is trapped inside. As doctors fight to save a powerful minister and a summit of European leaders unfolds nearby, Daniel begins to uncover signs that the official investigation into the crash may have been covered up.

The series centres around a kidnapper (Image: Channel 4)

“With political pressure mounting and lives at risk, the siege becomes a desperate race to expose the truth before more people die.”

Ultimatum stars Ján Koleník, Milan Bahúl, Ester Geislerová, Matyáš Valenta and Alena Mihulová, and was written by Michal Kollár, Juraj Raýman and Zuzana Križková.

Viewers have left their honest opinions of the drama, with one person writing online: “By Czech and Slovak standards, Ultimatum is something exceptional.”

Another added: “A thrilling political thriller comparable to advanced Western productions and unfortunately realistically spiced with dirty political behind-the-scenes work at the higest levels, where rich corporations pull the strings. Just like Western productions, it works with huge exaggeration in the actions of the characters and with a lot of barely believable action scenes and surprising twists.”

A third said: “I haven’t seen a more tense series on Czech (Slovak) screens for long time,” with another viewer similarly sharing: “This will keep you up at night. Truly unforgettable.”

Viewers will be gripped by the high-stakes drama (Image: Channel 4)

A fifth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “Ultimatum is set to captivate audiences with its blend of suspense and character depth. The new 8-part thriller is generating buzz for its dynamic storytelling and gripping plot. This series could redefine the thriller genre.”