Hijack Season 2: Review Points to a Predictable, Disappointing Series

Hijack, the suspense series starring Idris Elba that was a critical hit in 2023, returns with a second season that, according to expert analysis, does not live up to the same standard. Premiering on January 14, 2026 on Apple TV+, the new season moves negotiator Sam Nelson onto a hijacked train in Germany. Yet despite the similar premise, the production seems to stumble by repeating formulas and through script problems, resulting in an experience reviewers consider below expectations. The series, which earned a rare 90% approval on Rotten Tomatoes for its first batch of episodes, now faces the challenge of justifying its continuation to the Brazilian public, increasingly demanding with streaming productions.

How this drop in quality manifests is a central point of the criticism. The narrative follows a path extremely similar to the first season, merely swapping the plane for a train, which creates a sense of déjà vu. In addition, a traumatic event crucial to the protagonist takes place between seasons and is only mentioned, never shown, creating an emotional and logical void. In this way, what was once an electrifying thriller beloved by critics becomes, in the analysis’ view, a clumsy retread that fails to explore its potential.

Where the second season loses its way

The analysis published by CBR notes that, while the first season balanced tension inside and outside the plane with high-stakes geopolitical conflict, the follow-up fails to create antagonists and dilemmas to match. On the train, the motivation behind the hijacking becomes muddled and relies on unmemorable characters. Idris Elba, on the other hand, remains charismatic as Sam Nelson, and his interaction with the train driver Otto, played by Christian Näthe, is one of the few positive highlights. Even so, the protagonist’s strength alone is not enough to carry a screen that, according to critics, suffers from tiresome dialogue and a plot that circles without meaningful progress, much like the train it tries to control.

The supporting cast, which includes names like Lisa Vicari (of Dark) and the return of Christine Adams as Sam’s ex-wife, earns mixed reviews. Some characters are well constructed, but others are reduced to clichés or given arcs disconnected from the main plot. The conclusion, therefore, is that Hijack is yet another case of a limited series that should have remained a single season. For Brazilian Apple TV+ subscribers, the expectation is a competent thriller, but without the soul and originality that made the production famous. The big question is whether Elba’s charisma will be enough to hold the audience through yet another nearly identical mission.