Watch tonight! Martin Compston’s seething tension powers Red Eye’s thrills, starting 2026 with a bang

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If Red Eye was aiming to make a strong statement about what’s coming in season two, they’ve done it with the addition of Martin Compston – and he makes an immediate impact from the very beginning.

RSO Brody, the American embassy’s head of security and someone with a history with DS Hana Li, is a complex character. He projects an air of authority, but also keeps people guessing, which instantly creates problems.

The first season built tension by trapping everyone on a flight to Beijing, creating an atmosphere of suspicion. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, and it was hard to know who to trust. The central mystery was a classic ‘whodunnit’ – someone was murdering passengers, and figuring out how they did it on a plane became the driving force. Think of it as an Agatha Christie-style mystery set on a long-haul flight to Beijing.

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The second season expands its focus, and Martin Compston’s character plays a crucial role in this change. His character is close enough to those in charge to be a threat, but distanced enough to convincingly claim innocence if a situation goes wrong.

Compston’s performance is particularly strong because he subverts how audiences typically see him. While he’s usually known for playing likeable characters, Brody is much more troubled and intense. We learn that Brody was dismissed from police training after a violent outburst towards an instructor – a past connected to his former partner, Hana.

He suddenly cut off all contact with her. As the situation develops, it’s difficult to tell if he’s a source of stability amidst the chaos, or if he’s just good at concealing his true feelings and intentions.

Predictably, this chaotic situation is exactly what Detective Superintendent Hana, the determined and intuitive investigator from season one, thrives on. The new season begins with her back at Heathrow Airport, this time investigating the murder of a diplomatic courier returning from the United States.

Things quickly become complicated when a bomb is discovered on the private jet carrying Lesley Sharp’s MI5 chief back from the United States, along with the Defence Secretary. Strangely, the bomb threat was reported from the office of the US ambassador.

The cleaning staff member who filmed the area near where the courier died has now also been killed. Meanwhile, a large diplomatic reception is being held at the embassy, and Brody is anxious to ensure everything runs smoothly.

When Hana arrives at the embassy, a thief is already inside using stolen access, creating immediate tension. Hana views Brody as just a security guard, and he sees her as a local police officer. However, as the situation worsens, they both realize they need to rely on each other’s skills to solve the problem.

The first episode really emphasizes the central conflict by showing snippets of conversations, meaningful silences, and scenes that cut off right when you expect an explanation. Even when Brody does answer, his responses raise even more questions – like, how did a man with a Scottish accent become head of security at the American embassy? He quickly replies, “Dual citizenship,” but that just leads to more speculation: was it through marriage, his parents, or is he concealing something?

The first episode of the new season feels different from the original Red Eye. While still suspenseful, it’s a bit more chilling and focuses less on instant threats and more on the lasting effects of events. The episode begins with Russia being accused of shooting down a cargo plane over the Atlantic. The assassin says he’s Russian, but as we learned in the first season, appearances can be deceiving.

Compston’s character represents a turning point: he doesn’t contribute to the disorder—he steps in to control it, steer it in a different direction, or subtly use it to his advantage.

Jemma Moore returns as Jess Li, Hana’s sister and a journalist, but she won’t appear until later in the story.

After watching the episode, viewers might still be unsure about the exact role Martin Compston plays, but one thing will be clear: he’s not just there to fill space. His character’s appearance suggests this season will focus more on displays of power rather than immediate crisis, and on the creeping feeling that the most dangerous individuals are often the quietest ones.

If you were planning a quiet New Year’s Day with classic shows and game show repeats, the movie Red Eye is about to give your plans a jolt – it’s a thrilling and action-packed alternative.

Red Eye is on ITV on New Year’s Day at 9pm and on ITVX

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2026-01-01 10:20