2023
Search results
People also ask
Is 'hijack' a good movie?
Is it too soon to watch a hijack series?
Is 'hijack' a good show?
Is Hijack on Apple TV+?
88% Tomatometer 67 Reviews 50% Audience Score 1,000+ Ratings When Flight KA29 is hijacked during its seven-hour journey from Dubai to London, corporate negotiator Sam Nelson tries to use his ...
- 7. Brace Brace Brace
A Geek Community Hijack Episode 7 is a stellar end to an...
- 6. Comply Slowly
Reviews Faced with an impossible decision, the passengers...
- Reviews
Hijack hits the summer TV limited-series sweet spot thanks...
- 1. Final Call
Hijack – Season 1, Episode 1 Final Call ... Reviews Sam...
- 5. Less Than an Hour
A Geek Community Hijack Episode 5 pushes the story farther...
- 7. Brace Brace Brace
Jun 27, 2023 · Just enough of Apple TV’s latest high-profile thriller works to recommend it, even if it never quite achieves the heights it should with its premise and captivating leading man.
Jun 27, 2023 · By Angie Han. June 27, 2023 4:43pm. Idris Elba in 'Hijack.' Apple TV+. Were it not for, you know, its terror-at-35,000-feet concept, Apple TV+’s Hijack would be the TV equivalent of a classic...
- Angie Han
- Idris Elba’s Apple TV+ thriller is a bumpy but highly entertaining ride.
- What's Idris Elba's best TV role?
- Who's who in Hijack?
- Verdict
By Emma Fraser
Updated: Aug 2, 2023 4:36 pm
Posted: Aug 2, 2023 4:17 pm
All seven episodes of Hijack are streaming on Apple TV+. Some spoilers may follow.
Apple TV+’s gloriously silly summer thriller Hijack doesn’t reveal the motive behind the taking of Flight KA29 until more than halfway through the limited series, and it’s a big gamble leaving the passengers (and viewers) in the dark for this long. As with the majority of the seven episodes, it’s a choice that’s equally bewildering and beguiling. Hijack maintains edge-of-your-seat suspense with some outlandish twists and turns; what stops it from straying too far into ridiculous territory is Idris Elba in the lead role as corporate negotiator Sam, whose job ensures he stays calm in this life-or-death scenario. Elba’s no-nonsense and charismatic performance is a grounding force when the plotting hits some turbulence-sized jolts and previously intelligent characters – especially those in law enforcement – disengage their brains.
The series from Lupin creator George Kay (and Jim Field Smith) takes a real-time approach that makes it impossible not to conjure images of Kiefer Sutherland racing to save the day on 24. In this case, there is no literal ticking clock giving regular updates, and instead, the format is predicated on the seven-hour flight time from Dubai to London. This brings an urgency to Hijack, yet it never feels like what we are watching on the ground is taking place minute-by-minute. Splitting focus between the fraught situation on the plane and the various negotiations and investigations assessing the hijacking does break up the story, but it is on the claustrophobic commercial jet that the material soars.
John Luther, Luther
Russell "Stringer" Bell, The Wire
Charles Miner, The Office (U.S.)
Walter, In the Long Run
Other. Tell us in the comments.
It's also impossible to top the gasp-worthy conclusion to the penultimate episode, which is one of the most jaw-dropping TV moments of the year so far. The conspiracy behind this dramatic mid-air event stretches far and wide, and it’s refreshing to see Hijack switch up the terrorist playbook from racist Muslim stereotypes to organized crime, but some aspects of the plan spiral out of control from there.
Another crucial element is Andrew Purcell’s excellent production design, which draws on the variable sizes of the plane’s seating areas to elevate tension. In economy, the cramped space heightens the distress levels, whereas, in first class, they have time to consider their options – though there are passengers in each section who endanger the entire aircraft. Sam is the voice of reason and a skillful negotiator, but his eyes can’t hide his exasperation at the stupidity of most people around him. Here, Elba’s ability to convey every thought without uttering a word highlights that he’s a great action hero with both brains and brawn.
It would get boring rather quickly if Sam were the only person with common sense, and thankfully, other passengers are on the same page. However, the real heroes of this situation are the team of flight attendants acting as a go-between, and watching them put their knowledge of the plane to use anchors these scenes in reality and highlights their versatility. After the wi-fi is switched off, Sam uses a video game on the in-flight entertainment system to converse with the pilot, and this resourcefulness adds to the enjoyment. However, a premise like Hijack’s relies on characters making as many extremely dumb choices as smart ones.
On the ground, Detective Daniel O’Farrell (Max Beesley) ticks both boxes, bringing Flight KA29 to the attention of Zahra Gahfoor (Archie Panjabi, wasted in this role) and the counterterrorism unit. Unfortunately, Daniel also lets an important witness leave the room, and somehow the older woman makes it to a busy dual carriageway (or as the Americans in the audience would call it, a highway) before he can catch up. Later, when trailing the released criminals, his attempt at staying unseen is laughably bad. There is also the matter of Daniel dating Sam’s ex-wife Marsha (Christine Adams), and Sam’s gift and her pre-hijacking text message of “Do not get on that plane” are red flags not about Daniel but Sam. This relationship is over, and to paint the hero in this negative light is a fascinating choice, but as with other Hijack threads, it is a story half told.
It would get boring rather quickly if Sam were the only person with common sense
“
Daniel’s competency is partially restored when he figures out Marsha and Sam’s son Kai (Jude Cudjoe) is in danger, and Hijack features characters trying to prove they’re good at their jobs with mixed results. (If Eve Myles’ performance wasn’t so good, it would be hard not to roll your eyes at how air traffic controller Alice can’t get to work on time but quickly deduces something is awry in the sky.) In contrast, the various political figures don’t even have the air of knowing what they’re doing. Some of their negotiations feel like they’re trying to add weight to Hijack, but instead make the British government look inept – though that might also be the point.
Hijack hits the summer TV limited-series sweet spot thanks to its ticking-clock premise and strong performances. Idris Elba grounds the more absurd moments through his no-nonsense performance, and watching him problem-solve within this mid-air environment never gets old. Scenes aboard the flight are tense, and using the different parts of the plane...
- Emma Fraser
Jun 28, 2023 · TV REVIEW. ‘Hijack’ Is Apple TV+’s Version of ‘24’ With Idris Elba as Jack Bauer. Intense new Apple TV+ series is set in “real time” and sees Idris Elba’s ace negotiator navigate a hijacked...
Jun 28, 2023 · Hijack review – Idris Elba makes this beautifully daft plane thriller soar. The Luther star is majestically charismatic in this real-time hijack drama. He is the rock on which seven hours of...
- Lucy Mangan
Jun 28, 2023 · Hijack hits the summer TV limited-series sweet spot thanks to its ticking-clock premise and strong performances. Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Aug 2, 2023
