Hijack Season 2 is worth watching if Idris Elba’s controlled, magnetic lead performance and a tightly staged hostage crisis are your main draws. The move from a plane to a Berlin subway gives the thriller a fresh setting, but not a wholly fresh engine: the familiar formula and eight-episode run can make the suspense feel stretched. One important score correction: the “90%” belongs to Season 1, not Season 2.
Why does the title say 90% when Season 2 is 71%?
The scores refer to different seasons. In Rotten Tomatoes’ snapshot accessed October 8, 2026, Season 1 has a 90% Tomatometer from 69 critic reviews, while Season 2 has a 71% Tomatometer from 35 critic reviews. Rotten Tomatoes also lists Season 2’s Popcornmeter at 34% from more than 250 ratings. These are snapshots, and review and audience totals can change. Rotten Tomatoes: Season 2 · Rotten Tomatoes: Season 1 and series
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Another aggregator offers a different kind of measure: Metacritic lists Season 2 at 65 from 13 critic reviews, labeled “Generally Favorable,” and a user score of 4.4 from 25 ratings, labeled “Mixed or Average.” Those figures use a separate scoring system and should not be read as equivalents to Rotten Tomatoes percentages. Metacritic: Season 2
What changes in Season 2—and what stays familiar?
The first season put Sam Nelson in an airplane hijacking; the continuation moves the crisis to a Berlin underground train. Apple’s description places commuters in danger below ground while authorities above ground try to save hundreds of lives. The shift creates a new confined setting and a different public-safety problem, but the core appeal remains a hostage situation driven by pressure, negotiation and Sam’s decisions. Apple TV Press: Hijack
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That continuity is both the season’s selling point and its main limitation. For viewers who want the same efficient thriller machinery with a new transit backdrop, the premise is immediately legible. For viewers hoping the sequel will reinvent the show, the change of vehicle may feel more cosmetic than transformative. Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus makes the same broad criticism: the season repeats a formula that worked particularly well as a one-off, even as Elba remains a compelling reason to watch. Rotten Tomatoes: Season 2
Does Idris Elba still make it suspenseful?
Yes. Elba remains the season’s strongest asset. His performance gives Sam a measured, watchful presence that can anchor scenes built around urgent choices and shifting leverage. The Guardian’s January 14, 2026 review framed the show as exceptionally bingeable and singled out Elba as a reason to keep watching. That is a persuasive case for the season’s entertainment value, though it does not erase questions about how plausibly the plot’s turns fit together. The Guardian review
The Daily Beast’s January 6, 2026 review likewise praised Elba’s screen presence while arguing that the story develops predictably from the first season. The tension works best when the focus stays on immediate peril and Sam’s response; it is less convincing if you expect every escalation to withstand close scrutiny. The Daily Beast review
Rank #2
Does the eight-episode season keep its pace?
Apple announced eight episodes, released weekly from January 14 through March 4, 2026. The weekly rollout offered time to sit with each installment, while the complete run can now be watched on the service. The length also creates a trade-off: more episodes mean more room for suspense to build, but the hostage premise can lose force when the action is extended. The Daily Beast estimated the season at about six and a half hours and saw that duration as a drag on the story’s impact; the Guardian’s more positive response points to its bingeability. Both reactions capture the central pacing question: whether Elba and the escalating crisis keep you engaged through the full run. Apple TV Press: Season 2 release announcement
Is it as good as Season 1?
The available ratings snapshot favors the first season with critics: its Rotten Tomatoes score is 90%, compared with Season 2’s 71%. Season 2’s much lower 34% Popcornmeter in the same captured listing also shows a sharp difference between critic and audience ratings, though it cannot explain why individual viewers responded differently. The fairest comparison is that Season 2 preserves the lead performance and high-stakes setup that made the show appealing, but it has a harder time making the return feel necessary. Rotten Tomatoes: Season 2 · Rotten Tomatoes: Season 1 and series
Who should watch it?
- Watch if: You enjoy Idris Elba’s performance, contained high-stakes thrillers and a premise that gets moving quickly.
- Temper expectations if: You want a major reinvention, airtight plot plausibility or a season that maintains the sharpest possible pace across eight episodes.
- Know the tone: Rotten Tomatoes lists the series as TV-MA, and the premise involves danger to train commuters. The cited sources do not provide a detailed content advisory by category.
Where can you stream Hijack Season 2?
Hijack Season 2 is available on Apple TV with a subscription. Apple announced the eight-episode season’s weekly run from January 14 to March 4, 2026; the announced rollout has concluded. Apple TV Press: Season 2 release announcement
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