Same hero, new hijack — weaker impact
After a three-year gap, Hijack is back with Season 2, once again putting Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson in the middle of another life-or-death crisis. This time, the danger shifts from the skies to the underground metro system of Berlin. While the change in setting sounds promising on paper, the execution proves far less gripping than the show’s tense first season.
Now streaming on Apple TV+, Season 2 struggles to sustain momentum, despite a committed lead performance and a familiar high-stakes setup.
Story & Setup: Bigger scale, weaker tension
Created by George Kay and Jim Field Smith, the new season finds Sam Nelson pulled into yet another hijack — this time involving hundreds of civilians trapped underground in Berlin.
Sam, once hailed as the hero of Flight KA29, is no longer in a stable place personally or professionally. The crisis gives him a deeply personal reason to get involved, but the show takes too long to establish emotional stakes. Instead, it relies heavily on twists that reset themselves episode after episode, draining tension rather than building it.
Writing & Direction: Too many threads, not enough payoff
The biggest issue with Hijack Season 2 is fragmentation. The story feels like four different shows stitched together:
- A local detective track led by Dejan Bucin
- An MI5 angle featuring Toby Jones as secretive intelligence official Peter Faber
- A British embassy subplot with Clare-Hope Ashitey
- The human stories of hostages trapped in the metro
While each thread is individually serviceable, they rarely converge in a satisfying way. Director Jim Field Smith plays things safe with red herrings and misdirection, but the central mystery never lands with the urgency the show keeps promising.
Visually, the underground setting works against the show. The metro tunnels are harshly lit and claustrophobic, but not in a thrilling way. Even scenes set above ground feel cold and flat, robbing the series of visual contrast.
Performances: Idris Elba still carries the weight
If Hijack Season 2 remains watchable, it’s largely because of Idris Elba. He continues to bring credibility and intensity to Sam Nelson, portraying him as a weary but determined man who refuses to walk away from injustice.
The show comes alive most when Sam is forced to interact with others, rather than operating alone. Supporting performances add texture, particularly:
- Christian Näthe as the visibly rattled train driver Otto
- Lisa Vicari as Clara, a nervous but capable control-room operator
- Toby Jones, reliably compelling as a morally opaque intelligence figure
Returning faces from Season 1, including Archie Panjabi and Max Beesley, are expected later — one of the few reasons viewers may stick around.
What works and what doesn’t
What works:
- Idris Elba’s grounded, committed performance
- Claustrophobic concept on paper
- Strong supporting actors in isolated scenes
What doesn’t:
- Overstuffed narrative with too many subplots
- Predictable twists that reset tension
- Underground setting that feels visually dull
- A mystery that lacks emotional punch
Final Verdict
Hijack Season 2 feels like a sequel made because the first season worked — not because the story demanded it. The shift from airplane to underground metro never reaches the same level of urgency, and the narrative overload wears viewers down instead of pulling them in.
That said, Idris Elba’s star power and sincerity keep the show bingeable, if not memorable. It’s a clear step down from Season 1, but fans of the series — and Elba completists — may still find enough here to stay aboard.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (2.5/5)
New episodes stream every Wednesday on Apple TV+ until March 4.
