Series Review: Hijack (Season 1)

In a world where Hollywood seems stuck in a loop of rehashed ideas, Hijack emerges as the ideal way to reanimate a dead trope.

Hey, random question. What would you do if you found out you have 6 hours and 54 minutes left to live? Would you call anyone? 

Step aboard Kingdom Flight KA29 alongside 216 other passengers, a seemingly routine 6-hour 54-minute journey from Dubai to Heathrow. But buckle up because Apple Original’s newest sensation, “Hijack,” takes the term “turbulence” to a new level.

In a world where Hollywood seems stuck in a loop of rehashed ideas, Hijack emerges as the ideal way to reanimate a dead trope. Before you roll your eyes at yet another 9/11 wanna-be, hear me out, I’ll try not to give too much away.

Picture this: a group of “white British people” (and one black young man who can speak Arabic, but we all know minorities are just there to make up the numbers) kidnap a British airliner. But nothing is going according to plan. And the mysterious twist? No one on the ground knows what’s happening. Survival is all that matters now as passengers and crew grapple to outwit their captors.

At the centre of this heart-pounding drama is Idris Elba, who masterfully portrays a passenger with premium negotiation skills and determination. He is not your typical hero; he’s merely a man who yearns to reunite with his family, so he treads a fine line between aiding the hijackers and securing the safety of his fellow passengers.

But this hijacking has been planned to a T. There is a backup for every meticulously planned move, leaving no room for error. It’s a game of cat and mouse, where even the hunters are hunted, and no one is truly safe. All is not well on the ground either, as flight operators, government agencies and family members are all put through the wringer. 

Through seven gripping episodes, the series keeps you teetering on the edge of your seat, running through myriad emotions, from laughter to anticipation and dread. 

What’s truly remarkable is how Hijack crafts compelling character arcs amidst the confined space of a flight. As the tension escalates, connections form, secrets unravel, and alliances shift. And the “plot devices” are definitely plot-devising. Each minute counts, and it is not over till it is really over.

Also, seriously, are you going to say no to Idris Elba? 

So, fasten your seatbelts for the most riveting 6 hours and 54 minutes of your life awaits, because trust me, this is binge-worthy. 

And remember, as the story unfolds, that person you’re thinking of? Perhaps it’s time to make that call.