‘Hijack’ Recap: ‘Comply Slowly’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Harry Michell and Idris Elba as Hugo and Sam Nelson in Episode Six of ‘Hijack’ – ‘Comply Slowly’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode Six of ‘Hijack’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.
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The old saying, desperate times call for desperate measures, is one that still has merit in this day and age, simply because time and time again… we’ve come to learn that when the chips are down and our backs are against the wall, the only way to improve our situation is to resort to drastic measures. And more often than not, they do wonders for us. For they might get us the extra money we need for rent that month or get us moving in the right direction when we feel stuck. Or perhaps save our lives when we are presented with a dangerous situation. If anything, desperate measures are top of mind today, because every aspect about them, just so happened to play a big part in the next episode of Hijack on Apple TV+.
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For ‘Comply Slowly’ featured some hard escalation. For on the ground, the British government decided to use the mobsters that were the masterminds behind this whole mess… as guinea pigs of sorts. By releasing them from their cells, and offering them their freedom, in the hopes that they would either call off the hijack or lead the authorities to all kinds of new cases. Since their freedom could net intelligence and further arrests and well, this basically turned out to be an outright terrible idea. Because one of the demands these ‘upstanding gentlemen’ made, was to have no one follow them, and if that was the case, there would be consequences. Well of course, they had to be followed, and those trailing these villains were spotted and that did indeed bring forth… some consequences born of desperate measures. 

Because Stuart received a text in the air, one that demanded, that someone die aboard the plane and photo evidence be sent over to properly make it clear to those in charge… to acquiesce to those demands or more would pay the ultimate price. Which brought forth another hostage to stand before Stuart’s gun, until Sam intervened. For he pointed out that blood had already been shed and to use that victim to keep the big boss happy. Which Stuart did, and that of course… was everything needed to de-escalate the situation on the ground, if only for a little while. Because that order from down below, inspired some more desperate measures in the air. Because Sam came to realize that this close call with the hijackers was only the beginning of their troubles.

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Max Beesley as Detective Inspection Daniel O’Farrel in Episode Six of ‘Hijack’ – ‘Comply Slowly’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

For if they were pushed or asked again by their bosses to kill, they were clearly ready to, and that meant… the passengers had to fight back whether they liked it or not if they wanted to survive. Which prompted Sam to work with his new friends in First Class to get a message to the rest of the plane. One that specified that the time had come to rise up and re-take KA29 and land it ASAP, before more perished at the whims of a monster, and that led to some desperate moments from the passengers. Wherein we saw them organize and eventually rise up against the hijackers in a tense moment that left us believing through and through that this was it, that they were about to finally put an end to this nightmare and be free at last. All because of a desperate choice to inspire quick action. 
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But alas… that move, and the fact that the authorities did their best to try and bring those bosses back to prison, pushed the bad folks in this story… into desperation mode. Because they wanted their agenda to be executed, and since the brass escaped arrest… they pulled off quite the surprise. In that, they had a desperation mode plan in place, one that made sure, that in the event the hijackers faltered or if anyone fought back… the plan could continue, and the leverage evil had over good would be maintained and well… that plan went into motion. One where a sleeper agent of sorts was awakened and made her way to the cockpit to take control the plane and seal that all-important room, and she made sure to kill the pilot along the way. Which made the push to retake the plane moot and left the fate of everyone on KA29 in a terrifying place. 

Because we simply don’t know if this person knows how to fly, or if they have darker directives in mind. But what we do know, is that desperation ruled the day in this episode and that the situation is simply falling to pieces. Simply because, the tight hold these mobsters have over everyone is slipping fast and survival instincts are kicking in, and that reality made for one stunningly intense episode. One that really kept us on the edge of our seats. For we didn’t know what was going to happen, and in many ways, we still don’t. Because that twist really was something else and well, just like that… the finale of this incredible journey awaits. One that is undoubtedly going to wow us and get our hearts racing, as we watch this long and winding, and stunningly suspenseful adventure come to an undoubtedly powerful end. Until next time.

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