The internet has a funny way of making us feel like we’re missing out on a massive cultural moment. If you’ve been scrolling through your feeds lately and seeing frantic talk about a flight from London to Beijing that goes horribly wrong, you aren’t alone. You're likely seeing the ripple effect of the red eye television show.
It’s one of those rare series that actually makes you put your phone down. No second-screening. No casual scrolling. Just pure, unadulterated "what happens next?" energy.
What is Red Eye actually about?
Basically, it’s a high-stakes conspiracy thriller. We start with Dr. Matthew Nolan (played by the reliably intense Richard Armitage). He’s a surgeon who attended a conference in Beijing. Sounds boring, right? Wrong. He barely escapes a car crash, flies back to London, and gets arrested at the airport the second he lands.
Why? Because the Chinese government claims there was a dead woman in his car.
Enter DC Hana Li (Jing Lusi). She’s the no-nonsense London cop tasked with escorting him back to Beijing to face those charges. She’s annoyed, he’s terrified, and the flight—the titular "red eye"—is anything but a routine extradition. Once that plane is in the air, people start dying. And not "natural causes" dying. We’re talking "someone is clearly cleaning house" dying.
Why the 2024 premiere was just the beginning
When it first hit ITV1 and ITVX in April 2024, it became a massive sleeper hit. Over 8 million people tuned in. That’s huge for a UK drama. It eventually found a home on Hulu for US audiences, and now, in early 2026, we’re knee-deep in the hype for Series 2, Crimson Icarus.
Honestly, the show works because it feels claustrophobic. You’re trapped at 30,000 feet with a potential murderer and a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of MI5.
The Cast: Why you recognize everyone
You can't talk about the red eye television show without mentioning the cast. They carry the weight of the slightly "out there" plot points perfectly.
- Richard Armitage: You know him from The Hobbit or maybe those Harlan Coben Netflix thrillers. He plays "vulnerable but suspicious" better than anyone else in the business.
- Jing Lusi: She’s the heart of the show as Hana Li. She’s skeptical of Nolan’s innocence for a long time, which creates this delicious friction.
- Lesley Sharp: She plays Madeline Delaney, the Director-General of MI5. While things are exploding on the plane, she’s back in London playing a dangerous game of political chess.
- Jemma Moore: Playing Jess Li, Hana’s sister and a journalist. She provides the boots-on-the-ground perspective that connects the flight drama to a much larger global conspiracy.
The chemistry between Hana and Nolan is what keeps the engine humming. They don’t trust each other, but they have to rely on each other to survive. It’s a classic trope, sure, but it’s done with enough grit to feel fresh.
Fact check: Is it related to the Fox News show?
Let’s clear up a common confusion. If you search for "Red Eye," you might find old clips of a satirical late-night talk show that aired on Fox News from 2007 to 2017. That was Greg Gutfeld’s project. It was about politics and pop culture.
This red eye television show is a completely different beast. It’s a British scripted drama. One involves dry political wit; the other involves poisoned meals on a North China Air flight. Don't go looking for Richard Armitage and end up with political commentary from 2012.
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Series 2 and the Martin Compston factor
If you thought the first season was intense, the second series—which premiered New Year's Day 2026—upped the ante. They brought in Martin Compston. You probably know him as Steve Arnott from Line of Duty. He plays Clay Brody, the Head of Embassy Security, and let's just say his arrival doesn't exactly calm things down.
Series 2 moves the action away from being just on a plane, which was a risky move. Does it work? Sorta. Some fans miss the "locked room" mystery of the flight, but the expansion into a broader national security threat keeps the stakes high.
What makes this show stand out from other thrillers?
It doesn't try to be "prestige TV" that takes itself too seriously. It knows it’s a popcorn thriller. It embraces the twists.
You’ve got a surgeon extracting a nano SIM card from his own torso wound. It’s wild. It’s a bit ridiculous. But it’s incredibly fun to watch. Unlike shows that try to be overly gritty and slow-paced, Red Eye moves at a breakneck speed.
The global conspiracy element
The show isn't just about a murder. It’s about a Sino-British nuclear power deal. It’s about MI5 vs. the CIA. It’s about how individuals become pawns in a much larger game between superpowers.
Director-General Madeline Delaney is the standout here. She has to navigate the Home Office’s demands while trying to figure out if she’s being fed lies by her own allies. It adds a layer of intellectual depth to the "people are dying on a plane" premise.
Is it worth the watch?
If you like Hijack (the Idris Elba series) or The Night Agent, then yes. Absolutely.
It’s the kind of show where you say, "just one more episode," and suddenly it’s 3:00 a.m. and you’re wondering why you didn't just go to bed. The pacing is designed to hook you. Each episode ends on a cliffhanger that feels earned, even if the logic is a little bit "TV logic" at times.
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Actionable ways to enjoy Red Eye
- Binge the first series first: Don't skip straight to the 2026 episodes. The character development between the Li sisters is actually important for the emotional payoff later.
- Watch for the details: Keep an eye on the flight crew. The show does a great job of making everyone look guilty at least once.
- Check your local streamer: It’s on ITVX in the UK and Hulu/Disney+ in many other regions.
- Prepare for the "disbelief" factor: Go in knowing that some plot points require you to just roll with it. Don't overthink the logistics of an international flight—just enjoy the ride.
The red eye television show has managed to do something difficult: it turned a simple "wrong man" story into a multi-season franchise that people actually care about. Whether you're in it for the political intrigue or just to see Richard Armitage look worried in a suit, it delivers exactly what it promises.
Grab some snacks, find a comfortable spot, and start with episode one. Just don't expect to get much sleep once the first body drops.