‘The Day of the Jackal’ Recap: ‘Episode 1’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

THE DAY OF THE JACKAL -- -- Pictured: Eddie Redmayne as the Jackal -- (Photo by: Marcell Piti/PEACOCK)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for the Series Premiere of ‘The Day of the Jackal’.
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For the most part, stories that revolve around the capture of a mysterious assassin, follow a similar formula. Wherein an ambitious investigator is shocked to learn that people are dying suddenly by way of an assassin. One who is flawed, fallible and sometimes ready for salvation and of course, they and the investigator enter into a grandiose cat and mouse game where being chased by the forces of good wears down the assassin, who dies in a grand showdown with the hero. Which is, the perfect way to explore a story about good and evil and the nuances of how people falter and fall in this life, and it brings about a great and enticing story that audiences do enjoy.  

In fact, this formula is so commonplace it is rarely deviated from. But now and again, you’ll run into an assassin story that adds something refreshing and dynamic to the mythos, while still staying true to what audiences love and it just so happens that Peacock is now home to a dynamic new assassin story, that truly does offer something familiar and something supremely new by way of The Day of the Jackal. Which is surprising, since this particular story in its original form, helped to create many of the elements we celebrate in this genre. But this particular iteration of the story… goes so many new places and it does so… by offering up some fascinating changes to both character and story. 

For instance, this time around the Jackal, is put on the radar of the world by pulling off one of the most ambitious assassinations ever. Since he, from a stunning distance and through incredible equipment, and shocking deception, manages to take out a German Chancellor candidate that is eerily reminiscent of a certain political leader in America. Which brings forth a firestorm for certain. One that makes its way to MI6 in Britian, wherein we meet the Jackal’s foil, a sniping expert named Bianca, who is eager to start the hunt and uncover who did this, and why it happened and that sets the stage for the cat and mouse game. One that at first glance appears to be the usual run of the mill stuff. But it is what happens in between those big moments that make this such a unique entry into the genre.

In large part, because we spend a lot of time with the Jackal, and we learn a great deal about how he operates. Which is mostly in silence. Which allows for Eddie Redmayne, who plays the Jackal, to just shine and showcase his abilities as an actor. Since his ability to sell emotion with a mere look, helps us to understand the fury the Jacksal sometimes carries, and that he is a cautious man that truly does this for the money and nothing more. Making him a fascinating and sometimes apathetic character that is so vastly different from the other assassins we see in this type of story, and that compels us to continue the journey and see what else we can learn about him. Not to mention, Bianca is also fascinating. Because she’s not some lone wolf employee eager to prove herself to the world and be the hero. She’s a mother, a wife, someone we can deeply relate to and believe in.

But more importantly, those moments, and the slow burning style of the series, informs us that this will be more character study than cat and mouse game. One where we get to know the people involved and not the tropes and concepts they could stand for. Giving rise to a supremely realistic opening chapter to a long and winding journey. One full of surprises and tension as well. Because make no mistake about it, when this series is showcasing the talents of the Jackal, we are on the edge of our seats. But what matters most, is that all of these elements bring forth just good television. Because this really is an engaging series as well, one that truly sucks you in with its story and its characters and it does have us eager to see what lie ahead as Bianca and the Jackal begin their grand back and forth. Until next time.

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