Idris Elba looking intense in a train car in Hijack Season 2Image via Kevin Baker /©Apple TV+ /Courtesy Everett Collection
By
Michael Block
Published Feb 28, 2026, 7:18 PM EST
Michael Block is a 14 time GLAM Award nominated writer, producer, and host of the podcast Block Talk. Throughout his time in the entertainment industry, he has worked on and off Broadway as a stage manager, written several produced plays, critiqued hundreds of theatrical performances, drag and cabaret shows, and has produced events randing from drag competitoons to variety concerts!
On Block Talk, he interviews nightlife personalities, covers the wide world of entertainment through features, ranking episodes, and recaps ALL of Drag Race, as well as Dragula and Survivor. He has interviewed hundreds of RuGirls that span the globe at DragCon NYC, DragCon LA, and DragCon UK.
In his free time, he makes one-of-a-kind jewelry and gift baskets with his mom. He is a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community.
Sign in to your Collider account
Add Us On
Summary
Generate a summary of this story
follow
Follow
followed
Followed
Like
Like
Thread
Log in
Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents:
Try something different:
Show me the facts
Explain it like I’m 5
Give me a lighthearted recap
Sometimes the old phrase, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," isn't right for every situation. After the success of Hijack’s first season on Apple TV, the streamer naturally tried to replicate that same white-knuckle, high-stakes adventure for a Season 2. Unfortunately, Hjack sacrifices dramatic storytelling for action.
The Idris Elba-led drama had a unique Season 1, depicting a hijacking high in the sky, essentially giving an hour-by-hour adrenaline rush as help from the ground and Sam Nelson in the sky try to save the lives of everyone on board and in London. It worked as a novel idea at first, but then transporting the action below ground on a vehicle that has the ability to stop and start, and using Sam as part of the plot, simply didn't work. Hijack simply didn't need a Season 2.
Apple TV's Thriller 'Hijack' Relied Too Much on Its Title for Season 2
The anticipation of a follow-up season was understandable, as the question of how one man could find himself in yet another hijacking was intriguing. Then, the big twist came at the top of the season, revealing that Sam Nelson was hijacking the U-Bahn train in Germany. As Season 2 trudged along, it became clear that it was much more complicated than that. It was just a facade. The reason? It was part of an act of revenge.
Because the premise of Hijack is about a hijacking, rather than making the series a brilliant one-off, Hijack returned with the hopes that a second hijacking experience would be equally gripping. With this plot for Season 2, the series didn’t need to come back. If it was desperate to bring Elba back, the series could have explored the same aftermath of revenge on John Bailey-Brown (Ian Burfield) for the death of his son, sans hijacking. Hijack was a bit too beholden to its title.
Related
Now That It's Returning for Season 2, You Have To Binge Idris Elba's Pulse-Pounding Apple TV Action Thriller
Remain calm.
Posts By Michael BlockThe intriguing element of Season 2 is watching a man on a mission of revenge. In a sense, it mirrors the hijackers' actions in Season 1, who sought to fulfill their retribution. The difference is in perspective. Sam is seen as a hero, while the Season 1 hijackers were painted as villains, despite similar objectives. Had Hijack removed the underground hijacking, allowing Sam to embark on his journey like an action hero, we would understand it as still part of the Hijack universe. The show should be about Sam, not literal hijacking.
Idris Elba's Apple TV Thriller 'Hijack' Worked in the Sky, but Not Underground
Lest we forget, Hijack offers action through scenes featuring those aiding Sam in stopping the events. Both seasons integrated multiple off-site scenes, from control rooms to homes, but the subplots this season, including Marsha Smith-Nelson’s (Christine Adams) woods ordeal, messed with the pacing as well. Plus, the German allies working on tracking the U-Bahn lack the heroism we saw from the likes of Alice Sinclair (Eve Myles), the humble air traffic controller. The energy and stakes are sadly not at the peak of Season 1.
The first season was extremely gripping because not only was the hijacking in the sky, but it was a literal non-stop adventure released almost in real time. Yes, Season 2 is a multi-hour expedition, but with the underground train able to stop and start. With many individuals able to affect its movement, the action no longer feels as high-stakes as it once did. There are bombs attached to carriages and some shady individuals who are on board to cause a stir, but it’s not nearly as captivating as a flying vehicle with a bevy of hijackers on board.
Even though the plane in Season 1 was massive, it was much more contained than the multi-carriage U-Bahn, where movement from train car to train car isn’t as unifying for passengers. The slower pace of Season 2 made the action dwindle, and by the end, it becomes crystal clear that Idris Elba's thrilling Apple TV series should've stayed in the air.
5
10
Hijack
Like Follow Followed TV-MA Drama Thriller Release Date 2023 - 2024 Network Apple TV Showrunner George Kay, Jim Field Smith Directors Mo Ali, Jim Field Smith Writers Adam Gyngell, Catherine Moulton, Fred Fernandez Armesto, Anna-Maria Ssemuyaba, George Kay, Kam OdedraCast
See All-
Idris Elba
Sam Nelson
-
Julia Deakin
Claire Paxton
Expand
Collapse
-
Hijack
-
Idris Elba
What To Watch
July 20, 2025
The 72 Best Movies on Netflix Right Now
Trending Now
'John Wick' Is Named 'John Wick' Because Keanu Reeves Couldn't Get the Original Title Right
Apple TV's Near-Perfect 5-Season Spy Thriller Is an Undisputed Hit
10 Modern Animated Shows That Are 10/10, No Notes
