Pick of the week
Hijack
Plenty of familiar ingredients have gone into this real-time plane hijack thriller starring Idris Elba: there’s a whole lot of 24, a little bit of Die Hard and a dash of Con Air. Elba is Sam Nelson, an enigmatic businessman-turned-conflicted vigilante travelling from Dubai to London in the hope of repairing a shattered relationship. But there’s something slightly amiss about several of his fellow passengers – so when half a dozen of them produce guns, he’s ready for action. It’s far from cliche-free and the backstories of some of those on board don’t add much. But it’s watchable hokum, enlivened by the presence of reliably enjoyable baddie for hire, Neil Maskell, as the head hijacker.
Apple TV+, from Wednesday 28 June
***
The Witcher
The build-up to season three of this fantasy epic has been dominated by the surprising news that Henry Cavill is to pass on Geralt’s torch to Liam Hemsworth. If the famously committed Cavill is disgruntled about this turn of events, he’s done a good job of hiding it – and in any case, he’s leaving on a high. Along with Yennefer, Geralt is still charged with the safety of crown princess Ciri. But in order to fulfil this mission, he’s having to make a tough decision about his neutrality. Add a surprise reappearance from Ciri’s father, and it’s the usual heady brew, with Cavill enjoying himself immensely.
Netflix, from Thursday 29 June
***
Spiral of Lies
The murder of a young woman on the Basque coast is the trigger for the re-emergence of all manner of buried trauma in this grisly French crime thriller. Parisian lawyer Audrey has a terrible secret: when she was a teenager, she was attacked by a man who became a prolific serial killer. In order to hide the truth about her own movements that night, she lied to the police throughout their investigation. With him in the frame for the latest killing, can Audrey tell the truth about her past without blowing up her own life? Camille Lou stars.
Channel 4, out now
***
Muscles & Mayhem
Here’s an appropriately irreverent romp through one of the daftest TV phenomena of the late 20th century. This proudly unauthorised documentary series explores the roots, the wild success and the behind-the-scenes turbulence of American Gladiators, a show that was equal parts athletics and pantomime and made a primetime transition to other countries including Britain. Here, the likes of Gemini, Zap, Ice and Blaze return to the land of lycra, preposterous stage names and pugil sticks for a remembrance of all their adrenaline-fuelled yesterdays.
Netflix, from Wednesday 28 June
***
Delete
Dark tech-paranoia from Thailand in this series which attempts to wring drama out of mobile technology anxiety. A phone appears, which enables its user to delete the person standing in front of them, apparently without consequence. It’s a powerful weapon that is passed guiltily from person to person – before long, a trail of people have faced the dilemma of knowing they could remove a troublesome presence from their lives. From business partners to blackmailing former lovers, disappearances mount. But who is really calling the shots?
Netflix, from Wednesday 28 June
***
Is It Cake, Too?
The utterly ludicrous and irresistible baking elimination contest returns for a second season as 10 more master bakers compete for a chunky cash prize. Happily, nothing much has changed: the title still essentially explains the entire concept of the show. However, the bakes have, if anything, become even more absurdly ambitious – this season’s highlights include a cake Mona Lisa and a large cake toilet. How big can these cakey concealments become? The mind boggles but as ever, you’ll find yourself enjoying it far more than you expect.
Netflix, from Friday 30 June
***
Celebrity
Several streams crossed all at once in this glossy Korean melodrama which incorporates the treacherous world of online influencers and supernatural shenanigans. When Seo Ah-ri (Park Gyu-young) ascends through the world of online celebrity, her rise seems mysterious to her catty contemporaries. But they don’t know the half of it. It becomes apparent that somehow, Seo is livestreaming from beyond the grave. It’s a transparently silly premise but it does attempt to make pertinent points about the denatured and immaterial nature of lives lived online.
Netflix, from Friday 30 June
