HIJACK: SEASON TWO
Starring: Idris Elba, Christine Adams, Max Beesley, Archie Panjabi, Toby Jones, Lisa Vicari, Christiane Paul, Clare-Hope Ashitey, Karima McAdams, and Christian Näthe
Creators: George Kay and Jim Field Smith
QUENTIN
Of all the intended miniseries to get an unexpected second season, Hijack, with its very singular premise, seemed the most unnecessary. While I give credit to series creators George Kay and Jim Field Smith for finding a somewhat novel approach to keep things fresh, Season Two simply isn’t as good as Season One. Idris Elba is infinitely watchable, of course, but the slow-burn nature of the proceedings, coupled with convoluted explanations, subplots, and everything we already know about Sam (Elba), leads to diminished returns in both tension and thrills. I wonder if it would have been better as its own thing and not Hijack: Season Two.
NICK
Hijack: Season One was really good. It was a well-paced, clever, singular story played out in real time. It did not need a second season. Yet, here we are. Hijack: Season Two is one of diminishing returns. Besides Sam Nelson (Idris Elba) still being a thoroughly watchable character, everything else here feels lesser. The claustrophobic tension of the first season is replaced by an unnecessarily convoluted The Taking of Pelham 123 riff that just doesn’t land. Unfortunately, this is yet another example of a series that should've existed in its bubble and then ended. There's nothing wrong with that.
