The Day of the Jackal

The Day of the Jackal had everything to be the series of the year, because the story is incredible, full of action, improbable setbacks and a lot of violence like the typical "coldness" of a professional killer masterfully well played by the award-winning Eddie Redmayne. Unfortunately, the series' biggest flaw is precisely the main actress, who plays the role of the police officer Bianca who pursues the Jackal, the British Lashana Lynch. Her interpretation is pathetic. She can't "get into the role" and is not convincing as an elite police officer of the British intelligence service. Her facial and body expressions range from the inexpressiveness of a door to the drowsiness of a "sloth". A disappointing choice of an actress who is very inexperienced for this type of challenge.

I must agree with many other reviewers, this is a great production with good atmosphere and Eddie Redmayne does a great job in the lead role as the Jackal but the female lead just ruins the whole thing. It's a total miscast using an actor who, can't show any facial emotion regardless of the situation and who almost approaches overacting possibly in an effort to make up for the lack of understanding or appreciating the character. The character is obviously meant to be confident and experienced but it's portrayal is one of a cocky 'I know best' woman who for one, has no appreciation of evidence walking the suitcase through the general office. She's just so irritating and unbelievable.

As has been mentioned by many other reviewers, Eddie Redmayne is fantastic in the role of "The Jackal." Cold, calm, calculated, ruthless. Everything you'd imagine an assassin to be, but contradicted by his family-man act. Something Eddie portrays brilliantly.

Unfortunately, the MI6 agent, played by Lashana Lynch, falls WAAAAYYY short of competing in this acting game.

Her character feels disjointed - the contradiction between MI6 agent, and family "homebody," so expertly portrayed by Eddie - doesn't work. Her character is just "unlikable" at best; downright annoying, most of the time.

Thankfully, there's enough screen time for Eddie to offset this.

Tense, gripping and genuinely really watchable. Most of the other characters are well acted and thought out. The set-pieces are impressive and unlike a lot of films/shows, not so dark you struggle to see anything.

Don't let the female lead prevent you from watching this fantastic adaptation - just accept you'll probably dislike her after the 1st episode, and you'll be fine!

Eddie Redmayne was truly brilliant in this, he was on point for all the different characters he's plays on the show, and makes an excellent villain, however you are always rooting for him... because the female lead (Lynch) isn't great.. she comes off as insanely arrogant, and cold hearted, even to her own family and colleagues and in no way do you want her to catch him. She shows no emotion at any point in the series, and you end up just hating her character. However the jackal - you see 2 sides, his assassin side but then the side he spends with his family, where you understand him a bit more.

I loved the different location shots across Europe, and the fact the jackal knows these different languages.

I really hope there's another season, but think they need to rethink the female lead.

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.