A manhunt for a hitman in The Day of the Jackal brings with it a number of challenges. How do you even start a manhunt when the person you are looking for keeps changing shape? A film or series based on a book is not something original. However, with the right source material, a true gem can be created. This also applies to the 1971 novel by Frederick Forsyth: The Day of the Jackal. There have been several attempts to film the highly praised novel, but this time, for the first time, an attempt has been made to develop the story in the form of a series. In my opinion, this attempt was successful, because The Day of the Jackal is a pleasure to watch.
An unparalleled, elusive and solitary assassin, the Jackal makes his living by killing for the ultimate price. But after his latest kill, he meets his match in a tough British intelligence officer who tracks the Jackal on a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe, leaving a trail of destruction in his wake.
The first season of The Day of the Jackal is a gripping and exciting series that captivates viewers from the very first episode. The novel of the same name on which the series is based dates back to 1971. The series manages to give this story a modern reinterpretation of the classic tale. With a fresh and contemporary approach, the makers try to appeal to both fans of the book and new viewers.
One of the highlights is undoubtedly the acting of Eddie Redmayne. Redmayne, who plays the role of the ruthless assassin the Jackal, manages to deliver a complex and layered performance. His portrayal of the Jackal is both charismatic and terrifying. He manages to keep the viewer on the edge of his seat at all times. Redmayne's ability to convey the inner conflicts and the coolness of his character makes his performance unforgettable and impressive.
The hunter gets hunted
The Jackal is a master of disguises to assume different identities. The creators have invested a lot of time in the disguises and it pays off. Everything looks incredibly realistic. How the Jackal's target is studied is worked out down to the last detail. Daily routines, combing the location, distance to the target for the perfect shot and so much more. Nothing is left to chance by the Jackal and his plan is worked out in great detail. How he manages to smuggle his weapon in is fascinating to watch.
The above is contradictory to what I experienced as a viewer when the cat-and-mouse game starts to get going with MI6 agent Bianca Pullman. The character is played by Lashana Lynch. She is a good actress, but her character is not on the level of the Jackal. This is where I hit the weak point of the series for me. The Jackal is unapproachable in the first few episodes. As I said, he leaves nothing to chance and everything is well thought out. The secret services therefore have no clues about who the Jackal could be. However, during the season, events do take place that follow each other based on coincidences. I understand that a manhunt has to start, but these events do not fit with how the Jackal is put together.
In addition, the Jackal has a family that he wants to keep out of the picture, both literally and figuratively. His wife Nuria is played by Úrsula Corberó. She lives in a remote villa in Spain and has no idea of her husband's true identity. In itself, it is nice for the viewer to see that the Jackal is also only human. He wants nothing more than to be with his family. However, the things that happen in Spain in the meantime do not come across very well. Of course, Nuria becomes suspicious about where her husband goes every time and why he always stays away for so long on business trips. The way she and her family deal with this does not always seem very logical to me.
In short, the first season of The Day of the Jackal is an absolute must. Despite some drawbacks, Eddie Redmayne's impressive portrayal of the Jackal ensures that you as a viewer will start to sympathize with the assassin. That is a great achievement. Shortly after the premiere, the series was renewed for a second season and that is right in my opinion. The Jackal still has unfinished business that he has to deal with.
About the writer, Karzal
Mike (1995) has been a member of MySeries since 2016 and is mainly active on the English version of the site. Since 2018, he has been actively translating news articles, columns, reviews and basically everything that ends up on the Dutch site. The original articles, columns and reviews were actually written by others. During the week Mike can be found at IKEA, where he is a national systems specialist and occasionally also in the classroom to teach an English lesson. In addition, Mike logically enjoys watching series and has actually been spoon-fed this from an early age. The genre doesn't matter, there is a place for everything in the otherwise busy life.
