Lashana Lynch and Eddie Redmayne make a compelling pair as the cat and mouse in The Day of the Jackal, the new TV show updating the novel by Frederick Forsyth and the 1973 movie. Redmayne plays the Jackal, the highly skilled assassin, with Lynch as an MI6 agent hot on his trail. It’s hard to argue that there will always be a place for a well-crafted spy thriller on television, and while The Day of the Jackal wouldn’t have had any trouble finding its audience, it pushes itself regardless. The series fulfills a niche that viewers have been waiting for.
The setting and period of the contemporary reimagining have changed, and that’s far from the only thing different from the original story. Audiences will be familiar with Lynch’s work in the spy genre, as she was part of the cast of No Time To Die, the most recent James Bond film. However, the characters exist in a more vivid reality in the show. Though the world that Bianca and the Jackal occupy is heightened and foreign to most of us, it’s anchored with elements of realism amid some beautifully done action sequences.
The Day Of The Jackal Stretches The Story With Deliberate Pacing
Recreating The Narrative As A Series Was The Right Choice
From the start, the biggest question we have watching The Day of the Jackal is why this couldn’t be a movie. It’s a fair question, considering how the story could be a tight two-hour runtime. To combat this, the series packs in as much action as possible and mostly handles this effectively. There are elements of all the great espionage thrillers of the past several decades sprinkled throughout. From Mission: Impossible to James Bond, it’s easy to draw comparisons to the best of the best, but there’s an edge to The Day of the Jackal‘s story.
The Peacock series encourages us to root for Bianca and the Jackal in equal measure since, if the Jackal is caught, it means the story would come to an end. While watching the show, it’s easy to hope that it won’t because The Day of the Jackal is, first and foremost, entertaining. This sounds like a low bar, but it’s shocking how many recent TV shows fail to live up to it. Well-paced but propulsive, The Day of the Jackal has enough intersecting storylines to move quickly without being confusing.
While the narrative structure shines, what really engages the viewer are the performances.
While the narrative structure shines, what’s most engaging are the performances. Lynch and Redmayne have proven they’re more than capable of leading their own show, but together, they bring the series to a higher level. By nature, The Day of the Jackal was never going to be the most character-driven project, but that doesn’t stop the series from making each character striking and unique, no matter how limited their screen time. Of course, Lynch and Redmayne have the most to do, but their scene partners hold their own across the board.
After the unfortunate end to Redmayne’s fantasy franchise (Fantastic Beasts 4 won’t happen), the actor needed something like The Day of the Jackal to bring him back into the cultural conversation. The archetype of a character like the Jackal makes it tough for the series to give too much backstory about him too early or give away too much about the truth of his internal motivations. This contrasts sharply with how well we come to know Bianca, who is something of an open book. Through understanding her drive and single-mindedness, we also learn about the Jackal.
The Day Of The Jackal Talks Politics But Doesn’t Make A Statement
The Series Has An Inkling Of Its Stance On International Affairs, But Doesn’t Go Far Enough
By the final episode, enough parallels have been made, both metaphorically and explicitly, that the Jackal and Bianca are two sides of the same coin. Bianca might have more scruples than the Jackal, but the show frames them in a similar light. The Day of the Jackal wants to know if the ends justify the means and if anyone at the highest level of industry and government looks out for the little guy. Unfortunately, the weakest link is the organization that hires the titular assassin in the first place.
The Jackal is hired to eliminate a prominent billionaire, not unlike the real ones all over the news and media. However, this one is promising change, even as he’s sequestered in his compound far away from the real world. He and the people who want to kill him demonstrate the essential issue with series like The Day of the Jackal. They must grapple with politics and morality to be compelling. However, to reach the widest possible audience, they can’t make statements more nuanced than greed is bad and war destroys lives.
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It’s not up to The Day of the Jackal to change the world, and, if anything, a preachy message would bog down the pacing and grow instantly frustrating. But it’s impossible not to feel there’s something left unsaid. Despite this, it has more to offer than most action TV shows hitting screens today. The series is a tonic for the mindless thrillers that might be fun but are ultimately empty. The Day of the Jackal proves that a series can have fight scenes, shootouts, and car chases, all while being interesting and well-written.
In terms of its connection to the 1973 movie, there are enough Easter eggs and stolen lines of dialogue that tribute feels sufficiently paid. Even if it’s a little difficult to find the soft-spoken Redmayne threatening, he certainly looks the part, especially compared to the original Jackal Edward Fox. In a landscape filled with reboots and remakes, it would have been easy for The Day of the Jackal to fall victim to relying on the reputations of its predecessor, but it doesn’t.
A Decisive Ending Makes It Easy To Want More Of The Day Of The Jackal
The Day Of The Jackal Is Satisfying & Provides A Path Forward
If The Day of the Jackal performs well, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t be extended for a second season, despite being billed as a miniseries so far. This wouldn’t be the first time that a miniseries has been transformed into a full-blown multi-season TV show. The series leaves its conclusion open-ended enough to make continuity possible. Much of this will depend on who watches The Day of the Jackal, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the series comes out on top as a crossover hit with different audience bases.
The Day of the Jackal could end here, but it shouldn’t. If season 1 felt a little lacking in development for the Jackal, it sets up season 2 as even more of a character study. No matter what, even this singular outing is plenty to get lost in. There’s room for improvement, as the series takes a few too many detours on the way to its explosive end, but even the diversions from the main plot are interesting. The Day of the Jackal finds a solid middle ground for fans of intense action and character dramas, making it easy to recommend.
The first five episodes of The Day of the Jackal will be available to stream on Peacock on Thursday, November 14. The remaining episodes will be released weekly every Thursday.
8/10
In this gripping thriller, an elusive assassin known as the Jackal orchestrates high-stakes hits for exorbitant fees, only to confront a determined British intelligence officer. Their tense pursuit unfolds across Europe, blending intense action with strategic maneuvers in a relentless cat-and-mouse chase.
- The Day of the Jackal is well-paced with compelling fight scenes
- The performances makes the characters interesting & empathetic
- It elevates the complexity of the TV thriller genre
- The series lacks a nuanced political stance
- There are a few too many intersecting storylines
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