When a rogue billionaire vows to release a disruptive technology that will forever level the playing field of capitalism, another billionaire recruits a masterful sniper to permanently eliminate the threat. Eddie Redmayne stars as the anonymous Jackal in this potent reimagining of Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 novel and the 1973 feature film.
Buy The Day of the Jackal: Season OneWe’re introduced to the Jackal as he carefully plans for and executes a hit on a German target, performing a miracle sniper shot from over two miles away and subsequently evading detection during exfil out of the country. From there, a dogged British intelligence officer (Lashana Lynch) starts investigating his actions, drawing ever closer to revealing his identity as the season progresses. To temper the professional actions and give the Jackal some humanity, the series adds a Spanish homebase for him, complete with a devoted but oblivious wife (Ursula Corbero) and toddler. The domestic plot thread has the potential to derail the international intrigue, but Corbero is a compelling presence who rises above her presumed one-note role, making us care about the family dynamics almost as much as the Jackal’s primary mission.
Redmayne is icily efficient as the Jackal, performing his character’s high-stakes actions with brisk precision befitting a master assassin. He’s enough of a cipher as an actor that he’s fully believable as the ever-malleable character who assumes multiple identities and elaborate disguises in his quest. Lynch isn’t quite up to par with him, although her Bianca character is also given a full slate of domestic issues to deal with after office hours. The real star is the plot, slingshotting us throughout scenic European locations in a thrillingly paced and thoroughly engaging cat-and-mouse chase to the billionaire cheese target.
The Blu-ray set spreads the 10 episodes across three discs in a standard case. Video is formatted in 2.39:1 aspect ratio, and sound is the industry standard DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. The series boasts sky high production values and glamourous international locales, making for a particularly rewarding audiovisual showcase on Blu-ray. Three bonus features are included on the third disc: “Melon Scene Breakdown” about the Jackal’s weapon prep with a melon target, “Becoming the Jackal” featuring extensive behind-the-scenes footage and conversations with Redmayne, and “Becoming Bianca” focusing on Lynch. Redmayne is warmly accommodating in his segment, detailing his grueling makeup routine for the Jackal’s numerous prosthetic disguises, as well as stepping viewers through his character’s immaculately tailored wardrobe.
The series was a massive success for both broadcast partners Sky (UK) and Peacock, earning a brisk Season Two renewal within its first month. The Jackal’s next target is made obvious well before the end of Season One, but much is left up in the air, including Lynch’s future with the show, a potential new ally, and the viability of the Jackal’s marriage. For now, Season One is a fully satisfying and complete story arc and a stellar continuation of Forsyth’s evergreen Jackal character.
