ITV's gripping conspiracy thriller Red Eye has returned for a second series this January, introducing Line of Duty star Martin Compston to the high-stakes drama. The new season, available to stream on ITVX, shifts the action from a tense flight to a locked-down US Embassy in London.
A New Dynamic Takes Flight
While the first series followed Dr Matthew Nolan, played by Richard Armitage, fighting to prove his innocence on a red-eye to Beijing, the new story sees Detective Hana Li, portrayed by Jing Lusi, thrust into a fresh nightmare. The drama begins with a threat to blow a British government plane out of the sky, triggering a lockdown at the US Embassy during an ambassador's celebration.
Inside, a series of murders begins, forcing Hana into a complex political investigation. Her reluctant partner is the new Head of Embassy Security, Agent Clay Brody, played by Martin Compston. Brody is a former colleague from Hana's police training days, and their history is far from friendly.
'A Professional Dislike': Compston on the Complex Relationship
Speaking about joining the cast, Martin Compston had high praise for his co-star Jing Lusi. He detailed the unique dynamic between Hana and Brody, which avoids a predictable romantic past. "They really don't like each other, but they just need to go on, and they need each other," Compston explained. "It's nice to actually have a past which wasn't romantic. It was the fact that it was a very professional dislike."
He revealed that a specific incident caused their lives to diverge dramatically, leading to a deep-seated distrust. "They really still don't trust each other, but they trust everybody else less," he added, calling the dynamic "great fun to play."
Compston was effusive in his admiration for Lusi's performance, particularly her handling of intricate forensic scenes. "Jing is so protective of the show, and she plays that character so well. She's a veteran of detective shows... she's wonderful," he said. "She makes them so interesting and it pulls you in as an actor and as a viewer." This expertise, he notes, highlights the contrast between Hana's methodical skill and Brody's more "brute-force" approach.
A Personal Stake Raises the Stakes
The synopsis for the new series raises the personal stakes for Hana Li. The plane threatened with destruction is a government jet carrying Director General Madeline Delaney. Compelled to collaborate with the man who once "screwed her over," Hana must navigate her distrust of Brody to solve the case before time runs out.
As the pair are forced to acknowledge each other's strengths, Compston hints that nothing is straightforward, teasing that "all is not as it seems." The second series of Red Eye promises to deliver the same twists and tense atmosphere that hooked viewers last year, now with a compelling new partnership at its core.
Red Eye series 2 is available to watch now on ITVX.
