Hijack Season 2 Review: Apple TV Finds a New Gear for Its High-Stress Hit

Some shows return bigger. Others return louder. Hijack Season 2 returns tighter, darker and far more claustrophobic and that turns out to be its biggest strength. Apple TV’s hit thriller trades the skies for the subway, dropping Idris Elba’s Sam Nelson into a Berlin underground train where every stop, stare and split-second decision feels like it could be his last.

After the real-time airplane hijacking that defined Season 1, Hijack Season 2 had a tricky task: escalate the tension without repeating itself. The solution? Go underground, literally and strip Sam of almost everything that once made him feel in control. No familiar environment. No fluent language. No allies. Just instinct, intelligence and a rapidly shrinking margin for error.

The shift in setting immediately refreshes the series. The Berlin U-Bahn is like a pressure cooker. The low ceilings, narrow aisle and constant motion create a suffocating sense of realism that makes even quiet conversations feel dangerous. Everyone has been on a subway train. Everyone knows the smell, the noise, the awkward proximity. Hijack leans into that shared experience and weaponizes it.

Idris Elba remains the show’s anchor, delivering a performance that feels more raw and reactive than before. Sam Nelson isn’t the composed observer he was in Season 1. This time, he’s improvising in real time, often unsure whether he’s helping or making things worse. That uncertainty makes him far more compelling to watch. The show wisely resists turning Sam into an action hero. His greatest weapon is still his mind, his ability to listen, read people and manipulate social dynamics without anyone realizing they’re being nudged.

Season 2 also benefits from a sharper understanding of what makes Hijack work. The storytelling is most effective when it stays close to Sam, allowing the audience to experience events as he does. The camera lingers in uncomfortable proximity, forcing viewers to study facial expressions, micro-reactions and moments of restraint. It’s tense in a way that doesn’t rely on constant explosions or shouting though there’s no shortage of chaos when it’s needed.

The expanded cast adds texture rather than distraction. New characters feel distinct, reactive and genuinely unpredictable, particularly those who communicate with Sam from outside the train. These relationships bring emotional stakes without slowing the pace. Some characters initially come off as irritating, suspicious, or expendable until the show flips expectations and reminds you that survival thrillers are rarely polite about first impressions.

Clare-Hope Ashitey and Toby Jones in "Hijack," premiering January 14, 2026 on Apple TV.

From a technical standpoint, Hijack Season 2 is impressively ambitious. Nearly every scene functions like an action sequence, even when it’s just two people talking. The production design sells the authenticity of the train environment, while the sound design amplifies every jolt, screech and uneasy silence. It all adds up to a season that feels relentlessly immersive, sometimes uncomfortably so and that’s clearly the point.

If there’s a downside, it’s that the intensity rarely lets up. This isn’t a background show. Blink and you’ll miss something important. But for viewers who appreciated Season 1’s real-time structure and moral complexity, that constant pressure is part of the appeal.

Hijack Season 2 proves the series wasn’t a one-time adrenaline trick. By evolving its setting, deepening its central character and doubling down on realism over spectacle, Apple TV delivers a follow-up that feels smarter, leaner and even more nerve-wracking than before. It’s the kind of show that makes public transportation feel slightly more suspicious and television thrillers feel a lot more alive.

Whether you’re here for Idris Elba’s commanding performance, the tightly wound suspense, or the thrill of watching a crisis unfold one uncomfortable minute at a time, Hijack remains one of Apple TV’s most gripping rides. Just don’t expect a smooth commute.

Hijack Season 2 premieres January 14 on Apple TV, with new episodes rolling out weekly.