Hijack

A passenger with experience negotiating corporate deals finds himself on a hijacked flight. In Hijack, Idris Elba's Sam Nelson tries to understand what the people holding the aircraft actually want before another decision makes the situation worse.

The enclosed setting and near-real-time structure are effective. Small changes inside the cabin matter because there are so few safe options, while the action on the ground introduces a different set of uncertainties. Elba has the presence to make listening and calculating feel active.

My reservation is the plotting. Too many decisions ask me to overlook behaviour that feels arranged to keep the crisis going. A strong lead can hold attention, but cannot make every complication convincing. I eventually gave up on the series rather than continuing for his performance alone.

The original flight premise may still appeal if you enjoy a contained thriller. 24 is the obvious comparison for time pressure, while Slow Horses offers more satisfying character-led suspense and a welcome sense of humour.