A largely forgotten prequel toLiam Neeson’s most beloved action franchise is finding success thanks to free streaming. Beginning back in 2017, the first season ofTaken, which follows a younger version of Neeson’s unstoppable ex-Green Beret and CIA agent Bryan Mills, has audiences hooked as they flock to load up the series and delve into the early, but no-less action-packed career of one this fan-favorite action hero.
Exploring the origins of Bryan Mills, withClive Standencast in the Neeson role, theTakenseries was developed by writer, producer, and former soldier Alexander Cary and ran for two seasons before being unceremoniously canceled in 2018. TheTakenprequel series has now fought its way into the top 10 on the streaming platformFreevee, and you’re able to check out the official synopsis below.
Russell Crowe & Liam Neeson’s Criminally Underrated Action Thriller Is Streaming Free
It’s time to break out the 2010 crime thriller and give it another chance.
“Driven by personal tragedy, former Green Beret and CIA operative Bryan Mills specializes in deadly rescue missions – using his “very particular set of skills.” Assisted by Christina Hart, his handler back at headquarters, Mills sets out on assignment, armed with his unique expertise, high-tech capabilities and fearless determination. Whether it’s the life of a loved one, a treasured possession or a dangerous international secret, Mills stops at nothing to get back what has been taken and punish those responsible.”
The ‘Taken’ Prequel Left Critics & Audiences Divided
As was surely expected thanks to the absence of acting powerhouse Liam Neeson, theTakenprequel proved to bedivisive among critics and audiences. Overall, the series holds a score of just 32% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, but a much more solid 64% from audiences on the Popcornmeter. “Taken’scast hits the right notes, but overall, the series fails to deliver a compelling narrative distinguished from its source material,” the critics’ consensus reads.
This divide continues when looking into the specific season scores, with Season 1 landing a rating of 32% from critics and 66% from audiences, while Season 2 escaped critics’ attention entirely, but did achieve a similar score of 61% on the Popcornmeter. However, while the series may have proven divisive,much praise was given to Clive Standenin the lead role. So, if you’re looking for more Bryan Mills-led action,Takenis well-worth checking out.
Released in 2008, the firstTakenintroduced Liam Neesonas ex-Green Beret and CIA officer Bryan Mills as he leaps back into action after his daughter is kidnapped by sex traffickers. The action thriller launched Neeson’s action career, with the actor having since become the #1 fan-favorite aged action hero. The Oscar-nominee returned for two, sadly lesser sequels,Taken 2in 2012 andTaken 3in 2014, with the actor revealing in 2016 that there is unlikely to ever be aTaken 4. “No, there’s not. There’s only so many times your daughter can be taken. Actually if we do have another it will be, ‘Please can you take my daughter’?” Neeson said.
Despite threatening retirement from the action movie genre,Liam Neeson has several explosive projects currently in the pipeline, includingCold Storage, the upcoming sequelThe Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky, andThe Mongoose.The actor will also parody his action movie persona in the upcoming reboot ofThe Naked Gunfrom director Akiva Schaffer and based on an original story written byFamily Guy’sSeth MacFarlane, which is scheduled to be released on July 09, 2025, by Paramount Pictures.
