Told in real-time, Hijack is a tense thriller that follows the journey of a hijacked plane as it makes its way to London over a seven-hour flight.
Like House of Cards, Orange Is The New Black, and the extremely popular Stranger Things, Apple TV+ has been quietly building flagship content of its own. Mythic Quest, Tehran, and the extremely popular Ted Lasso have been huge draws to the new platform. But if the newcomer to the streaming war wants to cement itself as a formidable opponent and pull subscribers, it’s going to need a series anchor. Hijack has the capacity to be that series.
Directed by Jim Field Smith, Hijack is a seven-episode thriller told in real-time as it follows Flight KA29 from Dubai to London. The series is absolutely brilliant. Idris Elba serves as the show’s star and one of its executive producers. Playing the role of Sam Nelson, an accomplished corporate negotiator, he attempts to put his special skill set to use but not everything goes as planned. Surrounded by a full cabin of anxious passengers, it’s not easy to know who would help or become a hindrance. The series also stars Archie Panjabi, Max Beesley, Christine Adams, and Neil Maskell.
We have high-ranking government officials, counterterrorism task forces, and even determined air traffic controllers that find themselves directly involved in the chaos that’s unfolding above the clouds. There isn’t a single boring episode in this series whatsoever. Not one. A true series thriller without love scenes to slow it down or one-on-one conversations that draw the story to a lull. I can’t remember the last time I enjoyed a series this much.
This edge-of-your-seat action thriller is bound to set records for Apple TV+. The action, drama, and suspense are nonstop. The only thing that may become an annoyance is the questionable decision-making by a select few passengers. Aside from that, be prepared for the thrill ride that you didn’t know you needed.
Hijack gets a 9.5 out of 10. With coarse language and plenty of violence, it’s definitely not a family film. But if you’re looking for a straightforward story with some high-quality writing, then this is the series for you. There’s no secret what it’s about: a hijacking. Now, what everyone is clueless about is how will said hijacking play out. I strongly suggest you give this a stream. This is the type of series where people will subscribe to Apple TV+ just to watch this show.
I do believe awards season will be kind to this project!
Apple TV+’s Hijack premieres on June 28.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of Apple TV+