Episode #1.9

Eddie Tremayne perform this killer in a strange, weird, one of a kind manner. A perfect killing sniper machine but with personal issues. The Afghanistan wedding affair and the outcome from that event let us know he has a sense of justice, twisted but defined. He is, to say it plainly, a one man army. When the name of Eddie Tremayne was revealed as the star of Day of the Jackal my first thought was he was miscast. But he delivers a great Jackal in each episode, absolute masterful acting and characterization. In fact, he should recieve an Emmy for this series. Very glad this series got another season , I hope Eddie Tremayne keeps leading this powerful show.

We are thoroughly enjoying this show. Redmayne has certainly shown himself to be a great prospect to be the next James Bond. He can display dispassionate ruthlessness as well as charm, so I think the Bond producers should give his agent a call....

As for the show, the episodes fly in such is the pace and lack of filler. Even Bianca's domestic issues are delivered quickly and believably. She is the flip side to The Jackal's life, both leading double lives which is staining their home life.

The tension comes naturally without contrived plot devices so is very immersion. What's refreshing is that the main characters are portrayed as competent professionals without the need to demonstrate some crippling personal issues or intrinsic flaws.

The writers do not force the viewers to see The Jackal as some anti-hero to be rooted for. He is a killer, who eliminates innocent people as a means to an end or because it's necessary to protect his identity, so he is undoubtedly a bad man, deserving to be captured. Despite this, I found myself rooting for him to complete his mission even though the people who hired him are seen as the evil corporate types.

I want this show to have a run of a couple of sessions but only if the writing and production values are kept as tight as this series.

Aside from a climactic five minute set-piece, this episode is ridiculous.

• more dull soap opera garbage about Bianca and her husband that NOONE cares about.

• More dull MI5 guffery that adds nothing to the story, shutting down the case blah blah boring.

• Nurias brother wants Charles to meet this gangster guy. So Charles decides to snipe the gangster from a boat. Think about this. The police will now be all over Nurias brother, who could easily mention they were supposed to meet Charles (who didn't show up!) Jackal has NO IDEA where they were going to sit in the restaurant, Nurias bro wasnt even visible from the window, can only see back of a mystery guys head. The hit wasn't even necessary! He could have just not been interested in going?! It's such ludicrous filler.

• Jackal went to all these lengths before to get his special gun. Now he pulls this massive steady-cam modified rig out of nowhere to install on a boat he's hired. This strategy would have surely been easier than the launch hit that he went to all these lengths to fail on before?

• the dialogue and acting between 'UDG' and his boyfriend is so laughably stupid, like a 12 year old wrote it. Every time someone says 'River... Will flow!' I cringe so hard my face breaks.

• the sound editing is awful in this episode. Some scenes have this low hiss throughout.

Well, another strong episode but why would a person of such power go swimming on the day of such a big announcement? His security team just wouldn't allow him to take such a risk after the previous attempt on killing him.

A big budget and a big international cast cover up the plot which does have holes in it.

Such as shame we have to wait a week (except Australia i am led to believe which has already seen it) for the season finale but we have already been told there is a season two which does make us curiouser as to how this season will end.

Surely, the richest man in the world would have a private pool.

And I have see all the worthy ones, including the original 1973 movie. In the original, the Jackal didn't have a lot of leeway with a historical figure - De Gaulle. But with this one, the production has all the leeway it wants. Although I won't reveal the end of the episode to avoid spilling the beans, I was secretly rooting for Duggan to stop the release of the River. Nobody seems to want its release except the target and he seems to have a death wish. He disclosed so much with his words, actions, and facial expressions. Jackal isn't the villain in this story even though people assume he is. There are plenty of other individuals who are villainous - like his brother-in-law, for example. Brothers-in-law are always trouble-makers, especially if you are rich.