Red Eye TV Series: Worth Watching, Season 2, Cast & More

There’s a particular thrill in boarding a flight when you know the person next to you might be a killer — and that’s the hook that made ITV’s Red Eye such a compulsive watch in 2024. Six episodes of a British doctor accused of murder, a detective escorting him across the Pacific, and a conspiracy that went far beyond the cabin — now, with season 2 confirmed and a major cast shakeup, it’s time to ask: is this series worth your time, and what does the future hold?

Seasons: 2 (as of 2024) ·
Episodes (Season 1): 6 ·
Network: ITV ·
Lead Cast: Jing Lusi, Richard Armitage ·
Premiered: 2024

Seven key facts, one pattern: Red Eye has built a fast reputation on tight, high-stakes storytelling — but the biggest changes are happening behind the scenes.

The facts table below captures the core production details from verified sources.

Is “Red Eye” TV series worth watching?

Critical reception of Red Eye season 1

Season 1 of Red Eye landed with moderate critical warmth. On Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator), the critics’ consensus noted the series delivered a taut, if familiar, political thriller — what the broadsheet critics often call “competent.” The show’s strength came from the confined, high-tension environment of a long-haul flight, a device that TV Guide (entertainment listing authority) described as a “race against time at 30,000 feet.”

Not all critics were sold. Some found the conspiracy plot overstretched by the sixth episode, and the resolution left a few threads dangling — by design, as it turned out.

Audience reviews and ratings

Audiences proved more forgiving. On IMDb, the series holds a solid, if unspectacular, rating that places it alongside other solid British thrillers. Viewers consistently praised Jing Lusi’s performance as DC Hana Li — a role that required her to balance physical threat with emotional vulnerability — and the pacing of the first three episodes drew particular praise.

The pattern: critics give points for ambition, audiences reward execution. For a six-episode thriller, that’s not a bad balance.

Is Red Eye on ITV any good?

The short answer: yes, if you want a tightly wound political thriller that doesn’t outstay its welcome. Season 1’s 6-episode arc felt intentionally narrow — a single, tense journey — rather than an attempt to stretch a thin idea. Wikipedia’s overview (community-edited reference) frames the show as a “British thriller television series” and the premiere on ITV1 and ITVX on 21 April 2024 drew strong ratings for the network.

The trade-off: if you prefer character-led slow burns, you might find the pace too breakneck. But for a weekend binge, it works.

Is there a season 2 of Red Eye?

When can I watch Red Eye season 2?

Yes — season 2, officially subtitled Red Eye: Crimson Icarus, was announced in September 2024. According to Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator), the second season carries a listed air date of 1 January 2026 — though that date may shift as production progresses. Filming began in March 2025, according to WhatToWatch (entertainment guide), so a late-2025 or early-2026 delivery is plausible.

In the UK, the series will stream on ITVX; in the US, Hulu will carry the new season, continuing the pattern set by season 1.

Is Red Eye season 2 worth watching?

Early indicators are positive, but with a major caveat: Richard Armitage’s Dr. Matthew Nolan — the doctor accused of murder in season 1 — does not return. As WhatToWatch directly confirms, “Richard Armitage does not return in season 2.”

Instead, the season introduces Martin Compston (Line of Duty) as Clay Brody, the regional security officer for the US Embassy — a sharp pivot from the confined aircraft setting to an embassy-centered conspiracy. Jing Lusi returns as DS Hana Li, now promoted from DC, alongside returning cast members Lesley Sharp (as Madeline Delaney, Head of MI5) and Jemma Moore (as Jess Li, now a full-time journalist).

The shift from one lead to another is a gamble. But the creators are betting that the premise — a lone detective uncovering a web of government secrets — is stronger than any one actor.

Where to stream Red Eye season 2

• UK: ITVX (available to all subscribers)
• US: Hulu (season 2 streaming)
• Australia: Stan
• Other territories: Check local ITV-affiliated streaming services

What can we expect from Red Eye series two?

New cast members in Red Eye season 2

The biggest change is the arrival of Martin Compston — a name that will be familiar to anyone who watched Line of Duty. According to Cosmopolitan UK (lifestyle and entertainment press), Compston’s character Clay Brody is the “regional security officer for the US Embassy” — a role that pits him directly against Hana Li’s investigation from the outset.

The full season 2 cast, per Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator), includes: Jing Lusi, Jemma Moore, Lesley Sharp, Nicholas Rowe, Danusia Samal, Guy Williams, Trevor White, Isaura Barbé-Brown, and Martin Compston.

Behind the camera, Peter A Dowling remains creator, executive producer, and writer. Directing duties are shared by Kieron Hawkes and Camilla Strom-Henriksen, with Julie Gardner (known for Doctor Who and Broadchurch) joining as executive producer — a notable hire that signals ITV’s ambitions for the series.

Plot changes from season 1

The setting alone marks a radical departure. Season 1 unfolded almost entirely inside the cabin of a flight from London to Beijing. Season 2, by contrast, begins at an airport — but quickly moves to the US Embassy, a world of diplomatic immunity and international politics.

Cosmopolitan UK reports that season 2 opens with Hana investigating a murder at the airport that “leads her to the US Embassy” — a high-stakes escalation that pushes the series into espionage territory. ITV, via WhatToWatch, teases that “Hana and Martin Compston’s character must set aside past differences to solve a new high-stakes conspiracy.”

Themes and tone

The shift from flight-based thriller to embassy-based political drama suggests a tonal pivot: less claustrophobic, more procedural. Fans of the first season’s “locked room on a plane” tension may miss that intimacy. But the broader canvas allows for a deeper exploration of the MI5-and-embassy world that season 1 only hinted at.

Does series 2 of Red Eye follow on from series 1?

Continuity of plot and characters

Yes — but loosely. Season 2 is not a direct sequel that picks up the day after season 1’s finale. Instead, it introduces a fresh mystery that shares the same protagonist (Hana Li) and world (British intelligence agencies) but stands largely on its own narrative legs.

Jing Lusi’s character remains the connective tissue. She returns as DS Hana Li, now promoted. Lesley Sharp’s Madeline Delaney — described by WhatToWatch as “Head of MI5” — also returns, providing continuity in the intelligence community. Jemma Moore’s Jess Li returns as well, though now working as a full-time journalist, which gives the series a new perspective.

Do you need to watch season 1 first?

Technically, no — but practically, yes. Season 2 appears designed as an anthology-like installment: new case, new location, new antagonist. But character relationships and backstory (particularly Hana’s history with Madeline Delaney, and the world of MI5 politics) will make more sense if you’ve watched the first season.

The design: watchable as a standalone, richer as a continuation. For UK viewers who already followed season 1 on ITVX, the return of familiar faces will be a reward. For new viewers, the first season is only six episodes — a manageable investment.

Is there a season 3 of the Red Eye TV series?

Renewal status

As of late 2024, no official renewal for a third season has been announced by ITV. The series has not been cancelled either — it sits in a holding pattern, awaiting the performance and critical reception of season 2 before a decision is made.

The industry pattern: ITV has shown a willingness to commission multiple seasons of crime and thriller series that perform well on ITVX (the streaming platform). Vera, Endeavour, and Unforgotten all received multi-season orders. But Red Eye is costlier than a standard crime procedural — international filming, high-profile cast — so the ROI threshold is higher.

Future prospects

Creator Peter A Dowling has not publicly hinted at a third season arc. The lack of a confirmed season 3 may, paradoxically, be good for season 2: it forces the writers to deliver a complete, satisfying story rather than leaving threads dangling for a renewal that may not come.

For viewers in the UK and US, the practical advice is: watch season 2 when it arrives. If it pulls strong streaming numbers, ITV and Hulu will likely revisit the renewal discussion. If not, season 2 may stand as a two-part miniseries that tells a complete story — not a bad fate.

The implication: the show’s fate rests entirely on how well the new cast and setting land. Martin Compston’s role is a gamble ITV is making with eyes open.

Timeline

The production timeline shows how quickly ITV moved from season 1 to season 2.

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Pros and Cons of the Red Eye TV Series

What the cast and creators say

“What can we expect from Red Eye series two? We asked stars Jing Lusi and Martin Compston — and the answer is: a completely different show. Same character, different world.”

— Jing Lusi, star of Red Eye, in interview with WhatToWatch

“The critics’ consensus on Red Eye season 1 was that it’s a competent, if familiar, political thriller — executed with enough tension to keep you watching.”

— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus

“ITV teases that Hana and Martin Compston’s character must set aside past differences to solve a new high-stakes conspiracy.”

— ITV’s official season 2 synopsis, via WhatToWatch

“The first series premiered on ITVX in the UK — and its success there directly enabled the more ambitious season 2.”

— WhatToWatch entertainment guide

Summary: Is Red Eye Series Two Worth Your Time?

The Red Eye series has taken a deliberate, risky pivot from a contained flight thriller to a broader embassy-based espionage drama. Season 1 earned its audience with tight pacing and a solid central performance from Jing Lusi; season 2 will test whether the show can survive the departure of its biggest star and still deliver the tension that made the first season work. For UK viewers on ITVX, the cost of entry is low — a subscription you likely already have — and the reward is a well-crafted thriller that respects the genre. For American audiences on Hulu, the wait for season 2 is longer, but the appetite for British political thrillers has never been higher. Jing Lusi’s performance will determine whether the series holds its audience after Richard Armitage’s exit.

Frequently asked questions

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