Idris Elba’s Hit Series Stumbles as Season 2 Scores Drop on Rotten Tomatoes

Well, that didn’t take long. The much-hyped Season 2 of Idris Elba's thriller series 'Hijack' has returned to Apple TV+, but this time the buzz is for all the wrong reasons. If you're a fan who loved the first season and were hoping for another nail-biter, you might want to lower those expectations a bit—at least if the early critics are to be believed.

From High Flying to Bumpy Landing

Let’s get straight to the point: Season 1 of 'Hijack' was a real crowd-pleaser with critics, pulling off a slick 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes. It introduced us to Elba as Sam Nelson, the smooth-talking negotiator who kept his cool through a plane hijacking, and honestly, the tension was pretty addictive. Apple TV+ didn’t waste any time ordering another round after that success.

Fast forward two and a half years (yeah, it's been a while), and Season 2 just dropped—literally. That first Rotten Tomatoes score? Not so hot. We're looking at a 67% right now, which is a far cry from the glory of last season.

What's the Score, Really?

• Season 1 critics: 90% (really good)
• Season 1 audience: 51% (somewhat lukewarm)
• Season 2 critics so far: 67% (down significantly)
• Number of reviews logged for Season 2: 24 (still early days, admittedly)
• Season 2 episode count: 8, rolling out weekly, so the overall verdict might shift later

Just to be clear, the 67% is from a pretty small batch of early reviews—only two dozen have been counted, so there’s still plenty of time for things to swing upward (or crash even harder). The audience scores for Season 2 haven’t rolled in yet, and let’s not forget the first season’s audience vibe wasn’t exactly off-the-charts either.

Same Star, New Crisis

The basics haven't changed: Elba's back as Sam Nelson, this time thrown into another 'oh no, not again' life-or-death situation two years after the events of Season 1. The formula—tense real-time pacing, Elba's charisma—remains, but something about the new set-up isn’t connecting with reviewers just yet. Maybe the move away from the original plane setting shook up the magic. Who knows.

'It’s a complex show to make.'
– Idris Elba, talking about Season 2's challenges

Elba himself has copped to the difficulties behind the scenes, and it shows. With the weekly release schedule, there’s still a chance 'Hijack' can course-correct as the story unfolds and more critics (and eventually fans) weigh in.

For now, though? Consider that Season 2 has gotten off to a rocky start. If you’re curious whether it’ll pull up or keep spiraling, keep an eye on those scores—and, obviously, the next six episodes.