The Day of the Jackal

Lynch is completely miscast. Her acting is poor. Why she was cast in this role when there are plenty of actresses to be better at it. It baffles me. Her character is not interesting just another role of an obsessive agent.

Eddie Redmayne can do anything, his range as an actor is impressive from theater drama, musicals, films. He never disappoints. In this role, he is solid in anything he performs.

The plot is interesting and catching.....funny how we cheer for the Jackal.... Not for the MÍ 6 agent. The series location is impressive and the plot is high octane thrill. It is not comparable to the original, this is a worthy adaptation to our current times.

TLDR: Redmayne nails it. Lynch is miscast.

Unfortunately the leads are not on par with one another, which detracts from the otherwise spectacular and high quality production.

No shade to Lynch, it is just a high bar that Redmayne has set.

A more seasoned actor may have delivered a more credible counterpart/adversary charachter necessary to challenge The Jackal.

Overall the story is viable adaptation. The charachter development sort of works, although some things are just left open in the main charachter narratives, but that might be wanted. The locations, varied interactions, and Redmaynes delivery of languages and change of charachters really adds a special layer to the story arc. The deception barometer is on all the time in the background. I'm looking forward to seeing how Se01 ends and how the quality is maintained or improved upon in Se02. Hopefully Lynch eases up to be less forced and gives a more nuanced performance to try and meet Redmayne. If she does, Se02 could be quite promising.

I certainly did not have Eddie Redmayne as The Jackal on my streaming series bingo card for this year but there you go. It's great to see a classic novel given such a lavish production and it all plays really well as far as I'm concerned. The locations look gorgeous, the action sequences thus far, have been gripping and the performances have been compelling. Like other reviewers, I don't buy Lashana Lynch as the MI:6 operative and feel she was miscast in the role. On the flip side, it's always good to see Charles Dance flexing his acting muscles. Úrsula Corberó is lovely to watch on screen though I fear she's been a little underused.

Otherwise, a fine piece of old school cloak and dagger entertainment.

I came to check reviews to see if anyone else noticed how off the female lead's performance was, and I was surprised to find many others felt the same way. Lashana's portrayal is unfortunately a glaring weak point in this otherwise brilliant adaptation of The Day of the Jackal. Her expressions feel stiff, her delivery lacks authenticity, and her performance breaks the immersive tension of an otherwise exceptional crime thriller. While I haven't seen her other work and she may shine in different roles, here her acting feels amateurish and out of place.

That being said, the series itself is a masterpiece of suspense. The narrative is gripping, the pacing keeps you hooked, and the rest of the cast delivers top-notch performances. If you're a fan of crime thrillers, this is still absolutely worth your time. Lashana's shortcomings aside, the overall production and thrilling storyline make it an unforgettable experience.

The Day of the Jackal (2024) offers a gripping narrative with Eddie Redmayne delivering a standout performance, embodying the intensity of his character. The series' cinematic style is refreshingly authentic, reminiscent of a time when storytelling felt grounded and realistic. However, the casting of Lashana Lynch as Bianca Pullman detracts from the series. Her portrayal lacks the depth and expression required for the role, which feels like a misstep. Without this casting issue, the series would easily be a 10/10. Hoping future episodes maintain the high bar set and deliver a satisfying conclusions.