Forgotten ‘Taken’ Prequel Finds Surprise Success on Free Streaming

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As a diehard movie buff, I’m thrilled to share that an often overlooked prequel to Liam Neeson’s iconic action saga is experiencing a resurgence, thanks to the convenience of free streaming. This series, known as “Taken,” which introduces a youthful iteration of Neeson’s indomitable ex-Green Beret and CIA agent, Bryan Mills, has been captivating audiences since its debut in 2017. Fans, including myself, are eagerly jumping on the bandwagon to catch up with this gripping series, delving into the early, high-octane exploits of our beloved action hero, whose career was no less exhilarating in its infancy.

Exploring the origins of Bryan Mills, with
cast in the Neeson role, the Taken series was developed by writer, producer, and former soldier Alexander Cary and ran for two seasons before being unceremoniously canceled in 2018. The Taken prequel series has now fought its way into the top 10 on the streaming platform Freevee, and you can check out the official synopsis below.

“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, the Taken prequel proved to be divisive 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’s cast 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 Standen in the lead role. So, if you’re looking for more Bryan Mills-led action, Taken is well-worth checking out.

Released in 2008, the first Taken introduced Liam Neeson as 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 2 in 2012 and Taken 3 in 2014, with the actor revealing in 2016 that there is unlikely to ever be a Taken 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, including Cold Storage, the upcoming sequel The Ice Road 2: Road to the Sky, and The Mongoose. The actor will also parody his action movie persona in the upcoming reboot of The Naked Gun from director Akiva Schaffer and based on an original story written by Family Guy’s Seth MacFarlane, which is scheduled to be released on August 1, 2025, by Paramount Pictures.

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2025-03-17 18:24