‘Hijack’ Recap: ‘Final Call’ & ‘3 Degrees’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Idris Elba as Sam Nelson in Episode 101 of ‘Hijack’ – ‘Final Call’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘Hijack’.
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One particular mental game that we all play often in our lives, is ‘What if?’ and we play that game for a bevy of unique reasons. For instance, sometimes we play it, to help us ponder upon what our next moves should be when we’re making some big life changes. Since that can help us visualize and focus. Sometimes… we play the game out of fear and let our imagination look at all the negative possibilities that could occur from a scary or tough decision. And sometimes… we just play it for the sake of boredom. Which is where we ponder upon wild scenarios and ones, we think we will never encounter in this life, simply because our imagination just wanders.
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But now and again, we play the game so hard and so well… that certain scenarios that play over in our minds that stick with us. Because we simply cannot stop pondering upon what could happen if we ran into it and sometimes… those thoughts find their way into fiction. Wherein creatives minds can explore that question in relative safety, since the scenario that haunts them, haunts us and it just so happens… that Apple TV+ is now host to a new series that ponders deeply upon a ‘What if?’ scenario we’ve all thought about now and again. Specifically, how would we respond if we were on an airplane that was actively being hijacked? Because we would be presented with all kinds of choices, and well… what Hijack explores regarding those questions makes its series premiere, quite the intense and powerful watch.

Courtesy of how ‘Final Call’ and ‘3 Degrees’ play out. For these are a pair of episodes that take place in real-time, as will the rest of the series. Wherein we are introduced to the passengers and crew of Kingdom Airlines Flight 29. A plane that is bound from Dubai to Heathrow Airport in London and well… while the plane is midair, an unfortunate discovery, forces a group of unsavory characters to bring that worst-case scenario to life and seize the plane. Which brings about fear and powerful tension inside the plane since no one knows what their fate is going to be and that quickly informs us… that the vast majority of people that think about this scenario… would be compliant. Because after all, their lives are in the hijackers’ hands and there is no shame in standing down, especially since history has proven that compliance saves lives in situations such as these.

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Neil Maskell as Stuart Atterton in Episode 102 of ‘Hijack’ – ‘3 Degrees’. (Photo Courtesy of Apple.)

But of course, with these opening chapters being a game of ‘What if?’ it is only right for the story to ponder upon… what would happen to those that opt to be the hero and fight back and try to reclaim the plane and well… that too reflects history in this tale since a pair of gents quickly learn quickly that those with guns have far greater power aboard an aircraft and such an act of rebellion would end as quickly as it did here. And of course, to add more intrigue to the story… it also ponders upon, what might happen if someone was one step ahead of the bad guys. Since Sam Nelson, our lead character and something of an everyman on this plane… is able to observe and understand his captors quickly and works to outmaneuver them to send signals to the ground when this group of hijackers makes it clear they want this to happen in secret.
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Which is where the story grows into so much more than a fun and uncomfortable exercise in the game of ‘What if?’ Since there are clearly deep motives in play regarding this hijacking. For the bad guys are well armed and also know the crew well, and on the ground… suspicious things are starting to come together regarding how these individuals made it on the plane so easily and with weapons no less. All of which sets the stage for five incredible episodes to come. The kind that will undoubtedly reveal all to us and ramp up the tension and that makes this series premiere, brilliant in every sense of the word. For it provides us with an original plot, and refreshing scenarios regarding stories in this vein and it feels shockingly realistic at times and that definitely helps the viewer to immerse themselves within this story and invest in the everyday folks aboard KA29. 

Not to mention, it doesn’t hurt that we are treated to quality performances from top to bottom, since those sell the fear aboard the plane and add to the tension and realism and of course… we’d be foolish to not point out that Idris Elba is the real draw here acting wise. Since he sells deception well in this tale, at a level where we don’t know if we can trust him as a hero or not, at least not until the very end of episode two. But above all, what truly makes this premiere so impressive and resoundingly brilliant, is the sheer fact that it leaves you desperate for more. Because we have to know what these villains want, and what exactly is going on, on the ground, to inspire murder and secrecy and above all… we have to know how this ends and not being able to know right away… is genuinely frustrating and it means, we will be counting down the minutes to next Wednesday to enjoy another chapter in this magnificent new show… one that is going to take us on an incredible ride. Until next time.

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