WARNING: Spoilers ahead for The Flight Attendant.
(This post will be updated weekly as each new episode becomes publicly available)
HBO Max’s The Flight Attendant soundtrack emphasizes the show's quirkiness, as well as it being a fascinating thriller with a lot of heart. Kaley Cuoco of The Big Bang Theory fame stars as the titular flight attendant, Cassie, who wakes up after a drunken night out with a passenger only to find him brutally killed in bed beside her. Her attempt to piece the night back together while contending with newfound trauma and her own inner demons makes for an intense and compelling watch that manages to maintain a delightfully off-beat sense of humor.
The Flight Attendant's equilibrium is reflected perfectly by the soundtrack, which includes current, high energy pop hits alongside an idiosyncratic and jazzy score by Blake Neely. The show's feel is simultaneously contemporary and reminiscent of classic thrillers, striking a fun balance between familiar tropes and newer modes of storytelling. Audiences are treated to quintessential moments like montages and suspenseful chases in addition to fascinating visual manifestations of Cassie’s trauma, not the least of which is the ever-changing Alex who occupies her mind.
While The Flight Attendant score often accompanies tense sequences or revelations about Cassie’s blacked-out night, pop music often follows her during moments of wildness at clubs, in bars, and as she struts proudly around the airport. The contrasting sounds begin to represent Cassie’s double-life of sorts as she desperately struggles to avoid the fallout of Alex’s murder while maintaining a (mostly) composed appearance.
The Flight Attendant Episode 1: “In Case of Emergency”
Sofi Tukker, “Good Time Girl (feat. Charlie Barker)”: The Flight Attendant opens with a montage that shows the contrast between Cassie’s prim and proper role as a flight attendant and her wild-child partying across the globe.
Sofi Tukker, “Energia”: Cassie hastily kicks out her forgotten one night stand and, despite her friends’ expectations, arrives perfectly on time. The song plays again, moments later, during Cassie and Alex’s tryst in the airplane bathroom.
ABBA, “Voulez-Vous”: This song plays over the speakers as the passengers deplane and Alex (played by Game of Thrones’ Michiel Huisman) gives Cassie his number. The music takes over as the audience gets their first glimpse of Bangkok.
Karen O and Danger Mouse, “WOMAN”: Cassie sneaks out of the Bangkok airport to find Alex waiting for her around the corner. They embark on a series of lavish outings, take in the sights of Bangkok, and return to Alex’s hotel.
Wham!, “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”: This song is Cassie’s alarm the morning after her drunken night with Alex; she makes a disturbing discovery.
The Flight Attendant Episode 2: “Rabbits”
Dua Lipa, “New Rules”: This song plays during Cassie’s spin class, and continues in the background as she argues with Alex about the importance of understanding why he is in her head. They also discuss Miranda and her importance.
Lizzo, “Boys”: Cassie dances at the club with her newfound companion Buckley, sometimes slipping into her own head where she dances instead with Alex. She decides to spend the night with Buckley.
The Flight Attendant Episode 3, “Funeralia”
Club Yoko, “Voilà”: Cassie and the rest of the flight crew arrive in Rome.
Stefano Fucili, "Ulisse e Penelope": Cassie visits an old friend in Rome, unexpectedly running into Megan at his place of work.
The Flight Attendant Episode 4, "Conspiracy Theories"
Phantogram, “In a Spiral”: Cassie and Max stay up all night taping together pieces of the shredded documents Cassie stole from the Sokolovs’ house.
Summer Kennedy, “Gold Rays”: Cassie meets up with Davey and his family at the aquarium.
My Morning Jacket, “Leaving on a Jet Plane”: While Cassie is on the MinuteJets flight, Alex (in her head) convinces her to dance with him. When she protests that there’s no music, this song (written by John Denver and popularized by Peter, Paul and Mary) begins to play, much to Cassie’s bemused annoyance.
FOXTROTT, “Shaky Hands”: Cassie pays Sabrina a visit that ends in a shocking turn of events. This song continues to play as the credits roll.
The Flight Attendant Episode 5: “Other People’s Houses”
Automatic, “Damage”: Cassie and Max search for the fob in Alex’s apartment, discovering some odd quirks about him along the way.
Hole, “Celebrity Skin”: Alex and Cassie fight in her head about the assumptions they’ve made about each other. Cassie begins to lash out as this song begins to play, but Max interrupts and brings her back to reality.
The Flight Attendant Episode 6: "After Dark"
Dolly Parton, “Here You Come Again”: Cassie and Buckley arrive, already very drunk, at a bar. Cassie knows the bartender and he puts on this song, a favorite of hers. While she drunkenly dances to it, Cassie returns to her head where she runs away from Alex and various other manifestations of her trauma.
Lionel Ritchie, “Dancing on the Ceiling”: Megan and her son drive into New York City, where Megan hopes to find Cassie. They discuss Megan and Cassie’s relationship while this song plays on the radio.
Dollar Question (feat. Katie Konop), “Here You Come Again”: This song plays at the close of the episode and over the credits.
The Flight Attendant Episode 7: "Hitchcock Double"
The Cure, “alt.end”: Cassie flees an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting and, triggered by the discussion, relives a key traumatic memory.
Milahroy (feat. the LMNOP), “D.F.O”: Miranda and Cassie hide from an assailant on a rooftop and Cassie has a vital realization.
Blondie, “Atomic”: This song plays at the end of the episode as the credits roll.
The Flight Attendant, Episode 8: "Arrival and Departures"
Piero Umiliani, “Un posto per un addio - Version 2”: Cassie and Enrico travel through Rome to his grandmother’s house.
Sia, “Angel By the Wings”: Cassie says goodbye to the ever-shifting hotel room in her head as she prepares to spend more time in the real world.