User reviews

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.

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!

Ok so I am loving the series, yes I can pick out errors etc, but I am just watching and enjoying the series so far.

One major let down is Lashana who is playing the lead female role, she is a decent enough actor but this role just does not suit her, apparently she is a weapons expert but without spoiling the plot must of shot over 200 shots at someone and well let's just say if she was on a grassy knoll we would not be talking about JFK's fate today, there are many better suited people for this role but unfortunately the casting people made an error, and this we have to live with. I am only 6 episodes in and am waiting for the next to be released, if the series continues the way it is it will be a success regardless of Lashana.

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.

Eddie Redmayne was absolutely incredible, and the rest of the cast delivered top-tier performances that had me hooked from the start. The cinematography was stunning, and the use of the locations added so much atmosphere to the story. The pacing was perfect, keeping a steady rhythm without ever feeling rushed or dragging. It was so close to being perfect.

Unfortunately, Lashana Lynch was completely miscast. Her performance felt out of place, breaking the immersion and disrupting the flow of an otherwise flawless production. It was hard to get past how much she stood out in all the wrong ways. Without her involvement, this show would've easily been a 10/10.

As many others have stated, the female lead is just awful in this. I mean really really bad. What were they thinking!? It brings the whole series down as every other actor is brilliant in this. Especially Eddie. Still worth watching if you can grit your teeth and get through the females parts. Shame because with a different lead in the MI role this would be top notch tv.

Only other thing this is missing from other Jackal adaptations is it isn't as focused on the assassinations (I want to see more to really see how the Jackal works) and the Jackals ability to disguise himself which was a big part of the original Jackal movie.

There's plenty of time in a 10 part show to do both of those things so I don't know why we couldn't have gotten more of that. They should have cut down some of the female leads parts to make room.

I noticed the strong comment from "Where have we gone wrong". The casting of Redmayne was the perfect choice for this remake of a classic. The big mistake was the casting of the lead female role to Lashana Lynch, the female MI6 agent. She comes across as to inexperienced for this role. Like she was trying to hard to impress and less attention to her character role, who should have gone to a more seasoned actress. They should have cast a more confident and experienced actress like Christine Adams. I will admit that the rest of the cast was okay and the acting decent. The story and production were spot on for me and kept me glued to the action scenes with Redmayne. I was tempted to fast forward all the Lashana Lynch parts as they became very annoying.

The Day of the Jackal is as good as advertised. It's an updated version of the classic story. The series is about an elite assassin sniper (Eddie Redmayne) who goes by the nickname of The Jackal. He's a highly trained killer who's also a master of disguise. He's offered a job worth so much that he can retire from the business but the job is risky, especially with a ruthless British intelligence officer named Bianca (Lashana Lynch) hot on his trail. She chases him all over Europe while he tries to carry out his mission. There are plenty of casualties along the way as these two go head to head. Their personal lives start to clash with work as they start to figure out that other forces are pulling the strings. Even though some parts are dragged out so they can get to 10 episodes, there is plenty of action and drama to keep you entertained throughout the series.

I've been looking forward to The Day of the Jackal ever since I first heard about it. Then I saw the trailers and my excitement grew even more. Well, after seeing it I can say that it without a doubt lived up to my expectations. Everyone already knows what a terrific actor Eddie Redmayne is but I still had my doubts about him playing this role. I was wrong because he absolutely killed it. He plays the anti-hero here perfectly and has you rooting for him to succeed. This series is best watched binged because I can promise when you finish an episode you can't wait to start the next. When Redmayne's character (The Jackal) is on a mission you're on the edge of your seat waiting to see what happens next. The Jackal reminds me of a James Bond spy character but who turned bad. I definitely recommend this series.

Something about Lashana just didn't work for me-I can't quite put my finger on it. I'm not sure why they chose her for that role. She wasn't terrible, but it bugged me the entire time. :(

Eddie Redmayne absolutely nails it as the assassin, bringing a chilling, magnetic energy to the role. He's terrifying but somehow impossible to look away from, and every move he makes feels super calculated. Redmayne's mix of charm and menace is spot-on, making the character both fascinating and unsettling. Lashana Lynch as I said doesn't quite measure up. Her performance as the no-nonsense intelligence agent feels flat and a bit cliché, lacking the depth you'd expect from a story like this. In a movie that thrives on detail and complexity, her character comes off as one-note and underwhelming.

Overall, the film is intense and gripping, but the uneven performances hold it back a bit. Redmayne's incredible performance makes it worth checking out, even if Lynch's misses take away some of the impact.

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.

Eddie Redmayne delivers a masterful performance as the enigmatic Jackal, bringing nuanced complexity to the role of an elite assassin. His transformative abilities and subtle character work elevate every scene he's in.

Unfortunately, Lashana Lynch's portrayal of Bianca Pullman lacks the necessary depth and authenticity for such a pivotal role. Her performance feels forced almost all the time, but particularly during emotional scenes or wcenes involving her character's family.

The series excels in its technical aspects, with nice European locations and impressive action sequences. The opening assassination scene demonstrates remarkable technical prowess, though some plot points strain credibility.

While the contemporary update of the original works well, addressing themes of global inequality and financial transparency, the narrative occasionally meanders with unnecessary subplots and filler content.

The show maintains a solid pace with well-crafted twists, but the extended episode count dilutes what could have been a tighter, more impactful story. Despite its flaws, it remains an entertaining thriller.

Honestly, I don't know how to rate The Day of the Jackal. For everything Eddie Redmayne brings to the series, Lashana Lynch takes an equal amount away.

In most stories like these, the reader/audience has cause to cheer for both the protagonist and antagonist. But...in this story, Bianca is so unlikable on every front. She's rude and condescending to everyone in her orbit. She acts like she is the best in her field only to continually screw up and get people around her killed.

She's a horrible mother, horrible wife, horrible colleague, horrible handler, etc. I-literally-can't think of one redeeming quality about her.

For that reason, I almost stopped watching. What does it say about character development if the audience is cheering for the ruthless assassin over law enforcement. It's either terrible acting or terrible writing. You'll have to decide for yourself which it is.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Lynch is absolutely terrible. One of the worst acting Ive ever witnessed in such a brilliant series. Everything's great but her. Sorry Lashana, you dont fit in this show whatsoever, literally.

I get absolutely 0 emotions & all I see is super fake & terrible acting. Besides she is so unfit physically for her role. Field MI6 agent?? Wooow. Lucky lucky lucky & of course super connected.

I hope she gets eliminated very soon in following episodes.

Game on, writing staff.

& On the other side the magnificent Eddie Redmayne.

He never seems to amaze. What an incredible actor.

A+++. & big shoutout to writers , production designers & directors.

Ive taken 2 stars out for Lashana.

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.

Lashana Lynch is not a lead actress, in fact, I've seen much better acting in local amateur theatre. It's a real shame because she is not convincing in her role at all. Redmayne and co. Turn our strong performances, but Lynch's weak central performance ruins the show for me. Because of her lack of authenticity you don't care for her family troubles.

Also, I really wish they hadn't dragged the series out: there are a lot of filler scenes and storylines that do not feel necessary or particularly relevant to the overall plot. I really hope the show picks up with the additional episodes, but I don't think it will do enough to redeem itself. Shame!