Taken 2

Taken 2 is currently streaming in Australia on Disney Plus, and in the US on YouTube TV, and its case-by-case structure never gets in the way of the bigger story. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. 7,160 viewers have already rated it on TMDB — the kind of consensus that does not happen by accident. Liam Neeson sets the tone, and the ensemble matches it scene for scene. Available now on Disney Plus — press play and find out why people keep recommending it.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Taken 2 is worth clearing space for. The plotting gives Taken 2 its backbone, but it is the characters you come back for. In Istanbul, retired CIA operative Bryan Mills and his wife are taken hostage by the father of a kidnapper Mills killed while rescuing his daughter. The writing gets a boost from Liam Neeson and Maggie Grace, who sell every scene they're in. It was released in 2012. What makes Taken 2 hold up is that the resolution matters less than how the characters get there. There is real craft here, even in the moments that do not fully land.

Crime and mystery fans will find exactly what they are after in Taken 2. It rewards viewers regardless of what else is in their watch history. It is a manageable watch, easy to fit into a single evening. Liam Neeson anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.