Hijack: Should you watch or skip the Apple TV thriller? A viewer's guide 

Hijack feels like the kind of show you click on by accident and suddenly you’re sitting there two hours later wondering how you got so stressed over a fictional flight.

Hijack is intense in that very Apple TV way where everything looks sleek but also a little claustrophobic. So should you watch it or skip it? Quick answer…watch it. Even though it came out in 2023, the show still hits just as hard today.

And honestly, the real-time style makes it feel like you’re on that plane too and you definitely don’t want to miss that ride.

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When a show traps you in your seat and you don’t mind it

The wild thing about Hijack is how fast it pulls you in. One minute you’re watching people board a flight from Dubai to London like it’s any regular day, and the next minute you’re glued to the screen because you can sense something is off even before anyone says a word.

The Apple TV series knows exactly how to set the mood without wasting time and that’s honestly what makes it addictive. You’re watching Sam Nelson, played by Idris Elba, walk onto that plane carrying what looks like zero drama except a small gift bag for his wife, and somehow that tiny detail ends up surprising you later.

As the flight takes off, the show does this cool thing where it lets you meet all kinds of passengers through tiny moments. A tired mom trying to get her kids settled. A teen girl stumbling on something she definitely shouldn’t have. People arguing about overhead bins.

It feels chaotic in a normal airplane way until suddenly it’s not normal at all. The show slowly closes in on that panic without shouting about it and that’s honestly why it works so well.

And when the guns finally come out, it’s not loud or messy. It’s quiet and sharp and genuinely scary because the show has already made you feel like you know these strangers. Sam notices clues before most people even realize anything has changed and you start paying attention the same way he does.

Hijack makes seven hours inside a plane feel like seven different roller coasters and somehow every twist lands at the right time. If you usually get bored easily, this show will shock you because it never gives you enough space to breathe.

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The Idris Elba factor in Apple TV's Hijack

Hijack doesn’t try to hide that Idris Elba is the anchor of the whole thing. He plays Sam in such a calm but intense way that you almost forget he’s not the pilot. The show doesn’t dump his whole life story at once, which makes him feel even more mysterious.

You just know he’s a corporate negotiator who’s really good at getting people to listen and suddenly that becomes the skill that might save an entire plane. I love how Hijack lets you figure Sam out piece by piece instead of telling you everything straight away.

What’s cool is how the show refuses to rely on the usual “terrorists look a certain way” trope. The people hijacking the plane aren’t the lazy stereotypes we’ve seen in so many thrillers and it instantly makes the story more interesting.

Even when you don’t know much about them, they still feel chillingly real. The tension between Sam and Stuart, the main hijacker, is honestly one of the best parts. Two people trying to outsmart each other using nothing but words and timing.

Back on the ground, Hijack shows you how messy and slow real investigations can be. You watch airport staff panic, families worry, and the UK counterterrorism team put pieces together one clue at a time. It makes the world outside the plane feel just as heavy as the one inside.

Even the emotional moments hit quietly but deeply. Sam dealing with his marriage falling apart. Parents worrying for their kids. People trying to stay brave even when they’re terrified. The Apple TV series could have easily gone full action mode but instead it picks its dramatic moments carefully. That balance makes the whole thing feel way more real.

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Time to jog your memory back up for Season 2

Hijack came out in 2023, but watching it today still feels fresh. Maybe it’s because real-time storytelling just never gets old or maybe it’s because the show doesn’t drag things out more than needed.

Seven episodes is the perfect length. You get enough time to sit with the characters but not enough time to get tired of the story. The pace stays sharp from start to finish.

The show also never relies on gross violence or random shock value. Whenever something horrible happens, the series doesn’t shove it in your face. It lets you fill in the blanks which somehow makes it scarier.

And even though the flight is packed with people, the story never forgets them. Some characters get more screen time than others, but everyone adds something to the tension. Even tiny interactions feel important.

Also, if you get nervous on flights, this show might make you grip your sofa like it has seat belts. But that’s kind of the charm. The Apple TV series leans into the fear and the tight space and makes it work.

The action and emotion feels very grounded and even when things get dramatic, it doesn’t tip into chaos. Instead, it builds this weird rhythm where you’re constantly waiting for the next twist.

The cast is honestly stacked. Ben Miles, Eve Myles, Archie Panjabi and more keep the energy strong even when the story shifts between the sky and the ground. And yes, sometimes the drama feels slightly over the top, but that’s what makes the show fun. It knows exactly what it is and leans into it.

And, with Hijack Season 2 premiering on January 14 on Apple TV, you might want to jog back your memory.

If you want something that keeps your heart rate up but still gives you characters you actually care about, this show is the one. It’s a quick binge, a smart thriller and honestly a great example of how to make a plane hijacking story feel new again. Stream it. You won’t regret hopping on this flight.

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