Hijack Season 2 Review: Idris Elba Raises the Stakes in Apple TV’s Taut Thriller

Reel Perspectives

January 14, 2026

Apple TV's hit thriller returns with relentless suspense and a commanding lead performance by Idris Elba.

After a three-year wait, Idris Elba returns as everyone's favorite corporate negotiator, Sam Nelson, to thwart another hijacking plot for the highly anticipated second season of Apple TV's acclaimed series Hijack.

After a successful attempt to thwart a hijacking on board a flight from Dubai to London in Season 1, Nelson is thrust into another conspiracy when a Berlin underground train and its commuters are taken hostage, while above-ground authorities scramble to save hundreds of lives. Sam Nelson is at the heart of the crisis on board, where one wrong decision could spell disaster.

At this point, Nelson should stick to ride-sharing to get to his destination, but how else will he put his fantastic negotiation skills to use while delivering high-stakes action, drama, and suspense?

The new season premieres on January 14 and will release weekly episodes every Wednesday through its season finale on March 4. With eight episodes this season (one more than Season 1), Apple TV proves that high concept thrillers still have the power to grip audiences week after week. With Season 2, the series confidently cements its place among the platform's most compelling dramas.

Idris Elba's performance as Sam Nelson remains its greatest asset. Elba brings a blend of authority and quiet intensity that makes even the smallest decisions feel monumental. He doesn't just play the hero, he makes you feel the weight of every consequence, grounding the tension in raw human emotion. His performance anchors the series, transforming every negotiation and decision into a pulse-pounding moment. Elba's ability to balance calm authority with visible vulnerability remains one of the show's greatest strengths.

Apple TV

Hijack cast includes:

• Idris Elba as Sam Nelson

• Christine Adams as Marsha Smith-Nelson

• Max Beesley as Daniel O’Farrell

• Christiane Paul as Winter

• Gabrielle Scharnitzky as Petra

• Alec Newman as Nick

• Lodi Doumit as Karoline

• Christian Näthe

• Clare-Hope Ashitey

• Lisa Vicari

• Karima McAdams

Apple TV

Season 2 smartly builds on what made the first season so addictive: real-time urgency, morally complex choices, and a constant sense that things could spiral out of control at any moment. The storytelling remains lean and purposeful, refusing to rely solely on spectacle. The suspense comes from dialogue, timing, and the psychological chess match between characters, making the season relentlessly effective.

Hijack continues to impress. The production design and tight direction heighten the claustrophobic atmosphere, pulling viewers directly into the crisis alongside the characters. Each episode feels meticulously crafted to keep the pressure rising, even as this season starts slower, making it difficult to stop watching once the story gets moving.

The series knows exactly what it is and leans into its strengths without overcomplicating the formula, providing relentless suspense, sharp writing, and a commanding performance from Idris Elba.

Hijack Season 2 delivers a thrilling continuation that proves the series is more than just a one-season phenomenon. It returned with bigger stakes, tighter pacing, and nonstop suspense that make it a standout thriller.