Episode 5 of Hijack Season 2 is a masterclass in tension, emotion, and storytelling. Every scene feels heavier than the last, building toward a jaw-dropping climax that changes everything we thought we knew. As the U-Bahn hijacking races forward, truths begin to unravel, alliances fracture, and danger multiplies with every passing minute.
This episode brilliantly balances chaos inside the train with investigations unfolding in London, Berlin, and Scotland; hence, creating a gripping, multi-layered thriller that keeps viewers glued to the screen.
A Flicker of Hope Inside the Train
The episode opens in the emotional aftermath of Sam Nelson’s decision to let baby Benji and his mother, Leah, leave the train. The unexpected act of kindness sends a ripple of cautious hope through the passengers. For a brief moment, it seems possible that humanity might win over fear.
Teachers Colin and Lukas, traveling with a group of schoolchildren, carefully consider asking Sam to release the children next. The optimism, however, clashes with the growing anger of other passengers. A small group, led by the volatile Anders, believes Sam’s gesture is a calculated move rather than compassion.
Their patience is gone and instead of negotiating, they begin plotting to overpower Sam and take control of the situation themselves. With several strong men onboard and the belief that Sam isn’t armed, they feel confident their plan will succeed.
But what they don’t realize is that Sam is only one piece of a far more dangerous puzzle.
The Real Threat Revealed
Inside the driver’s cabin, Sam remains alert. His eyes follow Jess, the calm medic whose behavior has raised red flags from the start. When she slips into an empty carriage and pulls something from her bag, Sam senses disaster.
He orders Otto to suddenly slow the train, causing Jess to lose her grip on the object. What falls to the floor sends chills through everyone watching; a detonator.
In that moment, the truth becomes undeniable. Jess is not a helpless passenger, she is the operative controlling the explosives mounted beneath the train. Sam, despite appearances, is merely being forced to play the villain.
Jess immediately tries to regain control, urging the passengers to stay calm and avoid rash actions. But her efforts come too late. Fear has already transformed into fury.
Armed with broken metal rails, the passengers attack as the lights cut out. Sam is overwhelmed, restrained, and tied to a pole. The hijacker is now a prisoner and the situation spins completely out of control.
Sam’s Truth Finally Comes Out
With the train halted, panic erupts at the U-Bahn control center. Clara’s desperate attempts to contact Sam through the intercom only deepen the confusion; forced into honesty, Sam finally reveals his heartbreaking reality.
He is not driven by greed or ideology, he is a father trying to save his ex-wife, Marsha, whose life has been threatened by the criminals behind the hijacking. In exchange for her safety, Sam has been ordered to secure the release of John Bailey-Brown - the man responsible for murdering his son.
The revelation shakes the carriage, some passengers begin to empathize. Others, particularly Anders, grow more suspicious. Why would Sam risk innocent lives to free his child’s killer? Their debate is cut short by a horrifying discovery of multiple bombs.
Passengers inspect the undercarriage and uncover not one, but eight time bombs; two beneath each carriage. Jess is forced to admit she must reset the timers every fifteen minutes using the detonator.
London: The Past Refuses to Stay Buried
In London, DCI Zahra Gahfoor intensifies her investigation, quickly connecting the Berlin hijacking to the Kingdom Airlines disaster from Season One. Her focus shifts to Stuart Atterton, the convicted mastermind behind that tragedy.
Brought in for questioning, Stuart wastes no time asserting psychological dominance. Though Daniel O’Farrel leads the interrogation, Stuart instantly senses Zahra watching behind the one-way mirror.
Bribes and incentives fail to loosen his tongue. Emotional pressure finally cracks the surface when Daniel confronts him about the deaths of his brother and mother - casualties of his loyalty to the Cheapside Firm.
While Stuart admits knowing about Sam’s involvement, he insists he has no knowledge of who is pulling the strings. Whether he’s telling the truth or playing yet another mind game remains unclear, but his cryptic demeanor suggests there’s more beneath the surface.
Berlin: Shadows Within the System
Meanwhile, Detective Zoran’s investigation leads him to the Foxhole bar, the breadcrumb Sam deliberately left for authorities. There, a patron reveals seeing Sam with a smug British man, raising suspicion around intelligence officer Peter Faber.
It hints at a deeper conspiracy, possibly involving British Intelligence itself. Soon after, Olivia Thatcher is summoned by Peter and instructed to bring confidential embassy files documenting her communications with Sam. Their secretive interaction suggests that something far bigger is unfolding behind closed doors.
Peter reveals that John Bailey-Brown is being held in an MI5 safehouse, and someone within German authorities may have leaked his presence in Berlin, triggering the hijacking. The implication is chilling; the real enemy could be embedded within trusted institutions.
Scotland: Marsha’s Silent Nightmare
In the remote Scottish Highlands, Marsha’s storyline grows increasingly unsettling. Her overly friendly neighbors, Gold and Mansell, are revealed as the ones monitoring her and possibly preparing to kill her.
When Marsha returns from her forest walk, subtle details alert her to the danger: Nick’s car keys in Gold’s hand, their tense behavior, and the echo of a distant gunshot.
Feigning concern, they invent a story about an injury to gain access to her cabin. Marsha allows them inside, but her instincts are razor-sharp. She knows she’s in immediate danger.
Every glance, every step becomes a calculation. Survival now depends on her ability to stay calm and alert in the presence of predators.
An Explosive Ending and a Game-Changing Discovery
The final moments of the episode deliver pure adrenaline. Jess fails to reset one of the bomb timers, sending the situation spiraling into chaos.
Sam races to evacuate the last carriage, forcing passengers forward seconds before the explosion tears through the rear of the train. The blast is violent, terrifying, and unforgettable leaving viewers breathless.
Yet, even amid the devastation, Sam executes one final, brilliant move.
Earlier, he secretly slipped a USB drive into baby Benji’s milk bottle. Leah now discovers it and hands it over to authorities. The footage exposes the truth; Jess murdered Freddie.
At last, the world is on the verge of learning who the real hijacker is.
Final Verdict
Season 2, Episode 5 stands as one of Hijack’s most powerful chapters. It blends emotional depth, relentless suspense, and shocking revelations into an unforgettable hour of television.
As secrets are now exposed, alliances shattered, and the real villains inching closer to discovery, the story is hurtling toward an explosive conclusion.
If this episode proves anything, it’s this: Hijack isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
Read more: Berlin Train Hijack
