Got a look at “Hijack” on Apple TV starring Idris Elba this weekend. I’m going to go ahead and recommend it. There is a space for this kind of suspenseful action that hasn’t been filled for some time on the streamers or free TV, and this story starring Elba as sharp minded negotiator is ticking quite a few boxes with some other similar presentations.

First, it screams Con Air at me. Now, there is no mistaking Sam Nelson for Cameron Poe, but the two share some similarities. First, there is the decision by Nelson to seemingly side with the hijackers during the beginning. This is a lot like Poe pretending to be down with Sirus “The Virus” played by John Malkovich in the film. We know how things ultimately turned out there. Sam also has to get back to his family to make some things right. Another Poe common bond.

Then there is this vibe with the team on the ground. The Alice character feels John Cusack esque with her obsession in eliminating any loose ends. Finally, you’ve got the traveler needing his insulin that screams Baby O played by Mykelti Williamson in Con Air. If we somehow manage a Steve Buscemi cameo, I wouldn’t be surprised.

Then there is a 24 vibe also taking place here. There were some viewers that felt Hijack should have been done in real time just like the Kiefer Sutherland hit series, but that would have added some restraints to the storytelling here.

What we do get is the terrorist activity taking place on the ground. Our heroic air traffic controller in Dubai sadly had to find out about this the hard way. And I would be shocked if there wasn’t a collaborator on the ground or even inside one of the governments.

If we’re being completely honest, I’m not even sure the hijackers are the big bad. Gerald Taylor, the “leader” seems to be trying to get a hold of someone else.

But that will be for another post…

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