The film's director, John Woo, also deserves credit for his masterful handling of the action sequences. Woo's kinetic style and attention to detail make the film's set pieces feel both intense and well-choreographed. From the opening scene, it's clear that "Under Siege" is a film that's not afraid to push the boundaries of action movie entertainment.

The first episode introduces us to Barcelona on —just three months after a failed coup d'état attempt in Spain. The story begins when 11 hooded men, armed with rifles, storm the Central Bank of Barcelona. They take over 200 hostages and demand the release of Antonio Tejero, the general who led the recent failed coup. Key plot points from the episode include: