Chilling, suspenseful, and occasionally outlandish, Eddie Redmayne’s limited series adaptation of the classic thriller delivers a pulse-pounding ride through modern espionage.
In the first few moments of The Day of the Jackal, Eddie Redmayne is almost unrecognizable, buried beneath layers of prosthetics as an elderly German man. But soon enough, we get the dramatic reveal: the mask, wig, and contact lenses are stripped away, revealing the Jackal beneath. It’s an impressive, chilling, and slightly theatrical introduction—setting the tone for what’s to come.
This modern update of Frederick Forsyth’s 1971 classic thrusts the story into today’s murky world of international politics, cybercrime, and covert operations. Redmayne is the Jackal—a lethal, shape-shifting assassin who can pull off sniper shots so improbable that even MI6 doubts their possibility. Unlike the original, this Jackal is also juggling family responsibilities, adding a curious human angle to his otherwise ruthless character.
The action kicks off in Munich, where the Jackal is hired to assassinate a divisive political figure—a mission that soon draws the attention of British intelligence, specifically Lashana Lynch’s Bianca, a gun specialist with a hunch about the mysterious sniper. “Snipers are my patch,” she declares, elbowing her way into the investigation. The Day of the Jackal becomes a firearms aficionado’s dream, as much of the plot dives into gun model details, technical shooting techniques, and the intricacies of sniping. Redmayne’s Jackal is a master of disguise and evasion, but his greatest talent lies in his pinpoint accuracy—taking out targets without hesitation.
The series evolves into a relentless game of cat and mouse, with Bianca and the Jackal leaving a path of chaos in their pursuit of one another. Both characters are bound by their own dual lives—whether it’s Bianca balancing her career with family obligations or the Jackal hiding his deadly profession from his loved ones. The interplay between their personal struggles and professional ruthlessness adds a unique tension, even if it occasionally veers into melodrama.
The initial batch of five episodes drops all at once, and binge-watching them can feel like a marathon. There’s a lot to digest—loyalist militias, tech magnates out to expose global corruption, and family conflicts all swirl together while the Jackal hops from one stunning location to the next. It’s ambitious, but at times it feels cluttered, with story threads that don’t quite weave together seamlessly.
When The Day of the Jackal sticks to the basics, it excels. The opening episode is a standout: taut, precise, and suspenseful, laying the groundwork for a nail-biting thrill ride. Watching Redmayne’s Jackal execute his missions against all odds is gripping, and even though you know he’ll most likely make it out unscathed, each checkpoint leaves you holding your breath. That’s the kind of tension that keeps you glued to the screen.
However, as the series progresses, it falls into the pitfalls of prestige TV. The pacing slows, the subplots multiply, and the straightforward intensity of the Jackal and Bianca’s rivalry starts to lose focus. The show swaps precision for scope, opting for grand gestures over the tight character work that makes the opening so engaging.
Ultimately, this adaptation doesn’t entirely reinvent the wheel. It feels reminiscent of shows like Slow Horses, but without the sharp humor or self-awareness. Redmayne’s Jackal offers an intriguing glimpse of a darker, more morally ambiguous take on the spy genre, though it doesn’t always deliver on its early promise. Still, when The Day of the Jackal hits the mark, it’s a thrill—just don’t expect all ten episodes to sustain that initial momentum.
The Day of the Jackal, a limited series, is streaming now on Peacock TV.
