Hijack ☆☆☆☆

Starring: Idris Elba, Archie Panjabi, Ben Miles and Eve Myles
Direction: Jim Field Smith, Mo Ali

ince the tragic events of 9/11, our understanding of airplane hijackings has drastically changed. Any airplane that is hijacked and doesn’t respond to air traffic control can become a vessel used as a weapon to strike any place, resulting in thousands of casualties. The lives of those onboard may well be in the hundreds, but if a hijacked airplane crashes into a major city, the loss of lives can be in the thousands.

In the modern day, shooting down an airplane to avoid thousands of deaths is not out of the realm of possibility. The presumption is also that it is about terrorism.

But what if such an incident isn’t about bombs, terrorism, or even any threat to individuals onboard, and the hijackers are not stereotypical? Any number of things can also go wrong if those on the ground are not aware of this distinction and mistake it for another 9/11.

Idris Elba anchors the series as corporate negotiator Sam Nelson, flying from Dubai to London. He is the man a major corporation calls when there is a hostile takeover or a merger. He negotiates and gives everyone what they want after talking them out of what they want and making them realize what they can actually get.

Sam’s ex-wife is presently dating a detective. When Sam sends what seems to be his last message to her, she shows it to the detective, who then contacts a counterterrorism officer, Zahra Gahfoor, played by the magnificent Archie Panjabi. This leads to a chain of events, and you cannot fathom what they are until the end.

The supporting cast is equally strong in addition to Idris Elba and Archie Panjabi. Ben Miles, for instance, portrays the pilot of the plane, amid these extraordinary hours. His decision to open the cockpit door, a no-no by the rules, makes us wonder why he does it and how it relates to the main story.

Eve Myles plays Alice Sinclair, a flight control officer who is quick to spot odd things. Her alertness underscores how a slight deviation of a plane can stand out even when there are hundreds of flights in the air at any given moment.

A series that breaks away from our preconceived notions and led by the brilliant Idris Elba, it runs on adrenaline. Fast-paced and condensed into seven episodes, it runs in real-time—similar to how 24 used to show its episodes—leaving barely any room for filler episodes. With every episode, we realize nothing is what it seems, and every disclosure is essential. The pilot, passengers, and hijackers are not the only ones upon whom the series is based.

It is also about geopolitics and how one country can choose to react. It is as much about the politicians who have to make the call and decide whether they must give the order to shoot down a plane, often wanting to pass the buck to the next person.

Elba does what he does best—oozing charisma on a pair of ridiculously broad shoulders. The trouble? The script sometimes drops him hanging in mid-air, as if to say, “He’s Idris Elba; he can make anything work,” giving him a motivational poster in lieu of dialogue instead.

The totality of people on the plane—portraying various passengers, crew, and hijackers—adds a level of realism and depth to the story.

Hijack is one of the top thrill rides that merges fantastic acting, excellent control, and a solid story for an entertaining viewing experience. Idris Elba as the lead is compelling, with the real-time episodes keeping the stakes real from beginning to end.

Every question posed leads logically to the next, yet Hijack never lets the pace falter. The complexity of the hijackers’ identities and the response of countries mirrors the complexities of our world.

Can a lawmaker justify letting innocent civilians die to spare thousands? The ethical and moral questions this show raises are as gripping as much as the crisis itself, adding another layer to its appeal. Consider it a recommendation.

In the modern day, shooting down an airplane to avoid thousands of deaths is not out of the realm of possibility. The presumption is also that it is about terrorism. But what if such an incident isn’t about bombs, terrorism, or even any threat to individuals onboard, and the hijackers are not stereotypical? Any number of things can also go wrong if those on the ground are not aware of this distinction and mistake it for another 9/11.

Rating system: *Not on your life * ½ If you really must waste your time ** Hardly worth the bother ** ½ Okay for a slow afternoon only *** Good enough for a look see *** ½ Recommended viewing **** Don’t miss it **** ½ Almost perfect ***** Perfection