Sam Nelson spent last season on one of the worst flights imaginable. Naturally, this season, he chooses another means of transport, this time, the subway. But we already know: it will be another terrible choice.

Here he is, boarding a journey departing from Berlin. At the station, people with carts, hurried passengers: everything that would be ordinary. But Sam watches it all in silence.

The German Armed Forces are seen in action in an apartment. Empty. They arrived too late, they realize. Something is going to happen… on a train. At a construction site in a station, we see our terrorist pass unnoticed.

Meanwhile, Sam is about to board and senses that something is off. He is recognized by a young woman, Mei Tan, who met him in Singapore. He “escapes” by saying he wants to get on a different carriage. And there they are: all on the same train, he and the very suspicious guy with the red backpack that Sam spots as soon as the episode begins. Here we go.

The subway’s power network is shut down until the services are completed. Since the information says everyone has already left, it is reconnected. The control-room technicians prepare to start their shift. Clara Max takes over the U5 line (where Sam is), because her colleague Max will run the U8: “Paula is sick.” Paula immediately goes on my suspect list. And Max as well.

Olivia, at the Embassy, is waiting for Sam for a meeting.

Mei Tan approaches Sam again, wanting to know what he is doing in Berlin (the Commerzbank merger?). She mentions a Financial Times article about the events of last season. Although she still feels suspicious to me, Mei Tan mostly comes across as an oblivious nuisance. Sam clearly doesn’t want to talk.

In an isolated house, Sam’s wife is clearly in hiding. A neighbor shows up to deliver flowers and asks too many questions.

On the delayed train, people strike up conversations, musicians play, police move through the cars, a child cries, and Mei Tan keeps talking nonstop. The man with the backpack enters Sam’s carriage, bumping into everyone. Sam starts following him, while Mei Tan keeps talking. When the train stops at the station, a group of students boards. Sam continues to follow the man with the red backpack. Yes, the guy is extremely strange.

Sam calls the police to investigate the man. He resists and is thrown out of the carriage. But he is just an innocent immigrant. Everyone looks at Sam sideways now, and he comes off as racist.

The conductor, Otto — whom only we know is acting strangely — asks for “code 700” (a bathroom break). He is very nervous.

On the U5 line, the terrorist, dressed as an employee, walks along the tracks. Otto leaves the train and goes into the restroom. He tries to make a call, but the station worker doesn’t answer. Otto realizes he won’t manage. The subway, already delayed, now gets worse: without a conductor. Sam notices and asks someone to go check on Otto, who doesn’t seem well. He is crying in the bathroom, but pulls himself together and resumes the journey. Why didn’t Sam just wait for the next train? I would have.

Something is wrong — Sam can feel it. And he is already late for the meeting at the Embassy. Olivia receives information from the Hamburg border: they are after the person responsible for the plane hijacking.

Little by little, we learn that Otto is unraveling. His colleagues, seeing that he is unwell, consider replacing him at the next station, even against his will. The train stops, but the doors do not open. And it keeps going. Officially, something is wrong now. Otto does not respond to control. And the man on the tracks begins cutting cables and changing the line’s direction. Otto doesn’t stop even at red signals.

Sam manages to break into the cabin. Otto ignores him. The two get into a fight.

The whole episode with the police and the immigrant? It was an improvisation by Sam.

He is hijacking the train.