As a society, we are fascinated with criminality. This deep-seated preoccupation is why the crime genre continues to soar across various mediums, including film, podcasts and television. In NBC’s new procedural crime drama, “The Hunting Party,” created by JJ Bailey, devious, sadistic and unrelenting serial killers are put front and center. In what feels like a mix between NBC’s “The Blacklist” and CBS’ “Criminal Minds,” the series is disturbing, and a tad predictable — but is an overall engaging watch.
“The Hunting Party” begins with a catastrophic explosion. While disasters that cause major loss of life and destruction are always horrific, this blast has even more profound ramifications. The Pit, a highly classified prison and home of the most violent and dangerous criminals on earth, has been leveled. Even worse, not all of the prisoners are accounted for. Desperate to keep their dirty secret under wraps while rounding up the escaped sociopaths, the government enlists former FBI profiler Bex Henderson (Melissa Roxburgh) and begins building a task force. She’s joined by CIA agent Ryan Hassani (Patrick Sabongui), former Pit guard Shane Florence (Josh McKenzie), Army intel officer Jennifer Morales (Sara Garcia) and Oliver Odell (Nick Wechsler), former warden of The Pit.
Thrilled to be back in action, Bex is off to the races, digging through old files and footage as she, Ryan, and Shane race around the country to capture escapees. Meanwhile, Oliver and Jennifer stay put at headquarters, delivering information and locations to the trio on the ground. While everyone appears to be working toward the same goal, several task force members have secrets and ulterior motives. Ryan isn’t too keen on Bex asking Shane for details about the prison, and a few others remain preoccupied with covering their tracks and keeping other skeletons tucked away in their respective closets. Moreover, since many of The Pit’s criminals were thought to be executed, capturing them without alerting the public is essential.
Episode 2, “Clayton Jessup” (named for the murderer on the loose), is especially revelatory. The deranged man engages in a very particular type of menacing terror. Yet, information about Bex’s last FBI case, which led to her expulsion from the organization, and clues about her childhood offer audiences a window into the layered narrative that the writers are beginning to weave. Additional twists and turns also elevate the show above more mundane TV dramas.
By and large, “The Hunting Party” is a strong procedural. Bex and her team spend each episode tracking down homicidal maniacs. The depravity showcased (network TV friendly, of course) includes everything from a man who enjoys killing and reviving his victims repeatedly to a more surprising predator who uses actual wolves to hunt prey. Since each episode follows the same format, there is some repetition, with Bex constantly exclaiming that a killer has either returned to their old stomping grounds or evolved. Still, plenty of unexpected shockers are sprinkled in to retain viewers.
What’s most interesting about the series is all the unanswered questions. The reasons why The Pit even existed are alarming (and unfortunately, not entirely far-fetched). Moreover, other mysteries, like why Bex was sidelined at the FBI, what exactly Shane experienced while working in The Pit, Oliver’s reemergence and Ryan’s true motives, work as intriguing throughlines throughout this first season.
Despite the odd sepia color tone giving the show an unnecessary gray tinge and a few over-the-top unintentionally hilarious moments, including the barcodes on the bottom of inmates’ feet, several instances of hitchhiking (in 2025) and a cargo container used to house one single prisoner, “The Hunting Party” works well. The show is not breaking the mold, but the cast is engaging, and the cases are distinctive and surprising enough to stand on their own. Though critics were offered just four of the 10-episode first season, the crime drama has the legs to go the distance.
“The Hunting Party” premieres Feb. 3 on NBC, with new episodes dropping weekly on Mondays.
