Sam (Idris Elba) hasn’t been the same in Hijack Season 2. His general demeanor, what he’s doing, and what has driven him to do this have remained a mystery. That is, up until now. While we still don’t know the full story behind the confusing plot this season, Episode 3, “Baggage,” finally explains the baggage Sam is carrying that has caused him to be involved in the hijacking of a train filled with innocent passengers. It’s downright heartbreaking and instantly makes you feel a twinge of understanding. But it still doesn’t make sense of everything that’s going on.
Why Sam Has Gone Off The Rails in ‘Hijack’ Season 2
Finally, in Episode 3 of the hit Apple TV series, we get some clarity. We were understandably shaken after seeing Sam declare that he had hijacked the train in the first episode, demand that Clara (Lisa Vicari) find John Bailey Brown (Ian Burfield), the man behind the plane hijacking he was involved in during Season 1, and hold the train’s driver, Otto (Christian Näthe), hostage. This was amplified when he told Clara she needs to make sure authorities find Brown, or people would die. He even tells Otto that he “knew what was involved when he took the money,” confirming Otto was aware something was going on as well, as was hinted when he was clearly having second thoughts before the train departed. So clearly, Sam was involved from the beginning.
Things come to a shocking head when, at the end of Episode 2, “Control,” Sam sends an innocent passenger named Freddie (Albrecht Schuch) out to the station, rigged with what appears to be a bomb. We’re left to wonder if he let this man die all in the name of his plan and purpose, whatever that is. Thankfully, the cliffhanger ending is confirmed to be all a ruse in Episode 3. Sam didn’t kill Freddie but needed to make it look like he did. But why and to whom? We finally get the answer. Sort of.
Sam’s son Kai (Jude Cudjoe) was introduced in Season 1. He was almost harmed by the hijacker’s cronies on the ground, but thankfully survived. However, a year ago to the day, Kai was killed in a car accident. But it was no accident. Sam believes that Brown was behind it, and it was outright murder in retaliation for Sam’s involvement in stopping the plane hijacking. Now, Sam wants justice, revenge, maybe a bit of both, for his fallen son. But why would Sam put hundreds of innocent people in danger to accomplish this? Sure, a parent will do anything to protect their child, and it’s possible that in his state of grief, Sam agreed to do something he never otherwise would do. But it still doesn’t make any sense. This does, however, explain why Sam appears to be a shell of his former self.
Whatever is going on, it seems that Sam isn’t just angered that no one will help him take down this awful man, but he’s also likely fearful for his own life and, more importantly, that of his ex-wife, Marsha (Christine Adams). This might be the only way to save what remains of his family, even if it means sacrificing himself and his freedom, even his life, to do it. Season 2 flips the script and makes Sam the hijacker instead of a victim of a hijacking.
‘Hijack’ Season 2 Still Doesn’t Add Up
Even if we were to accept that this is all for Kai, and likely to save Marsha, the reasoning still doesn’t add up. Sam might be desperate to get justice for his son. But the Sam we got to know in Season 1 would never put other lives in danger, and treat them the way he has been, to do it. That is, unless he truly had no other choice. Even so, his demeanor is off, even if he is just acting to ensure that the plan works to the favor of whoever is in charge.
What becomes clear is that Sam is right and Brown is indeed in Berlin, being held by German intelligence. Peter Faber (Toby Jones) with British intelligence kept this fact under wraps because Brown is a flight risk. The plan is to extradite him to the U.K. where he will face charges and prison time. But this isn’t good enough for Sam. He wants the authorities to bring Brown to the train. Or rather, whoever is making him do what he’s doing does. Wait, what?
Another element is added to the mix when the scene cuts back to Marsha in that hideaway cabin. Her reason for being there is clearer now: it’s the anniversary of Kai’s death, and she just needs to get away and be alone. But she isn’t alone. Someone is watching her. It’s confirmed that this is tied back to why Sam is doing this when he receives a message ordering him to get Brown on the train, along with a photo of his ex at the cabin. Now, we know for sure that someone is forcing Sam to do this, but who?
Creating even more confusion is the reveal that Sam wasn’t bluffing, and there is indeed a bomb on the train. So, was the plan to kill these passengers and Marsha and frame Sam for both? If so, who is ordering Sam to get Brown on the train if Brown was the one who orchestrated this plan, or at least the train bombing, in the first place? Ironically, as more details are revealed, it makes the plot even more convoluted.
Sam reveals to Otto after they find the bombs mounted under the train that “they” told him Marsha would die if he failed with this mission. Perhaps he felt he had to pretend he was an awful hijacker, so the passengers would feel a real sense of fear and not fight back. He just needs to wait it out long enough for Brown to be delivered, after which, who knows what will happen. But then, the confusion continues when Freddie, who had long made it back onto the train, terrified at his near-death encounter, is found dead. What on Earth is going on?
‘Hijack’s Big Reveal Doesn’t Make Up For the Confusion
While viewers might have exhaled a collective sigh of relief after learning about Kai, finally understanding why Sam isn’t himself, this quickly turned back to head-scratching. This confusion is precisely what led to poor initial ratings on sites like Rotten Tomatoes for this season, in stark contrast to Season 1. It’s more than likely that whoever killed Kai, assuming its Brown, is threatening Marsha and using Sam to do their bidding, knowing that he will do whatever it takes to avoid losing her, too. Perhaps it’s someone who has a bone to pick with Brown and wants to kill two birds with one stone, rather two men with one train, to get their own revenge. Someone who took the fall for the plane hijacking in Season 1, perhaps? They would certainly have it out for both Brown and Sam.
Still, Sam’s complete shift in attitude, his unlikable personality, and all the moving parts of this season don’t come together as seamlessly as they should. Why was Otto involved, and who paid him? Who on the train killed Freddie? There are also those other scenes of local police breaking down the door of a drug house, finding a hard drive, and working some angle that clearly links with this one. But how remains a mystery, making these scenes seen completely removed from the plot. It will surely all come into focus eventually. But right now, it’s disjointed.
We finally know what has put both Sam and Marsha in such a funk, we know that Sam was privy to the bombs on the train and somehow involved in the plot but was coerced to do so. But there are still missing pieces of the puzzle. With other similar shows, the pieces are neatly arranged. We just need to put them together as new ones surface to the top of the pile. For Hijack Season 2, the pieces are scattered everywhere, some missing, some simply that don’t fit. Kai’s death suggests we’ve finally got the border around the puzzle. But the middle remains a mess we need to figure out for this to fully come into focus.
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