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S01.E10: Episode 10

Snazzy Daisy

By Snazzy Daisy
in The Day Of The Jackal

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Irlandesa

Irlandesa

I've never seen previous adaptations of this material so I didn't really have any expectations as to how it'd play out.  (The only Jackal stuff I've heard of before is a character on Scarecrow & Mrs. King and CJ Cregg doing the song "The Jackal.")

Since Lashanna Lynch is a producer on the series, I really didn't expect her to catch a bullet but I guess only one could walk out of that situation. 

The family stuff is the most boring part of the show so I hope Nuria stays well hidden in the second season. 

I was surprised when this was renewed because I thought it was supposed to be a limited series but it clearly was meant to continue. 

2 hours ago, KristenR said:

So...world's greatest assassin...world's worst driver? 

I don't quite get how he survived the crash or what the point of it was.  Maybe that was supposed to be the show's original ending if it didn't get renewed. 

  • Like 5
KristenR

KristenR

9 hours ago, Irlandesa said:

I don't quite get how he survived the crash or what the point of it was.  

I feel like that happens quite a bit on this show. I still don't really understand how what's her face found him back in episode 4 or whatever. I don't understand how he escaped on the boat. Then this big crash near the end here. There are probably other examples but I haven't had coffee yet.

  • Like 6
Snazzy Daisy

Snazzy Daisy

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The Jackal teaming up with Zina for their unpaid debts, hunting down Winthrop and Co. will be an interesting narrative for S02.

The Jackal manages to get out of every sticky situations is not very plausible. How did he get away from the boats that were chasing him in Croatia? There was no clear escape plan by the look of it. What’s the point of the car crash scene towards the end if there’s no consequences to the Jackal?

Bianca confidently connecting a mafia’s assassination in Spain to the Jackal is far fetched. One isolated incident. Yes, it’s the same MO but there are so many other capable snipers out there. The way she deduces that Nuria is running away just because she’s taking a taxi. People take taxis to the airport all the time. Nuria could be planning to meet her husband somewhere. 🙄

Seeing Bianca gets killed by the Jackal is sooooo satisfying. What a bloody awful and very irritating character. Lashana Lynch almost ruins the show for me but am glad I stay for Eddie Redmayne.

Unlike the viewers, the Jackal doesn’t know Bianca. She’s killed in insignificant manner because she’s just a nuisance to him. The Jackal decides to prioritize his family, wanting an out while Bianca is the opposite of him, choosing her job over her family.

The penultimate episode is still the best for me. Hopefully the series will do better in writing and casting the more capable female lead for S02. 🤞🏻
 

  • Like 3
blackwing

blackwing

(edited)

Just binged the whole series in a week or so.  Overall, I quite enjoyed it.  I never read the book or saw the movie... are we supposed to root for the Jackal?  Was it an intentional choice to make Bianca so thoroughly unlikeable?  I hated everything about her, and apparently so did her family and her co-workers.  She bullies everyone to get what she wants.  The only ones that seemed to like her were Vince and maybe Osi.  She didn't care who got hurt or killed, as long as she catches the Jackal.

The Jackal has done horrible things and killed innocent people, but because of how much I hated Bianca, I was rooting for him to get away.  Some of this is probably due to the star power of Eddie Redmayne, but some of it is also due to the awfulness of Lashana Lynch.  She was terrible in this role.  One could argue that the character was a horrible character, but for me, it was hard to tell whether the awfulness was simply the way that Bianca was written or Lynch's acting.

Likewise, I greatly disliked Ulle Dag Charles, both the character and the actor.  Is he supposed to be a stand in for Elon Musk?  They cast someone that looks vaguely like him and then had his sycophant spout stupid phrases like "let UDC be UDC".  I didn't care for the actor, I greatly disliked him as Dodi Fayed on "The Crown" and he basically played the same character here, again with the strange, weirdly flat American accent, even though the actor is British, Dodi was Egyptian and UDC was presumably some kind of mixed Scandinavian / Middle Eastern heritage.  Why the poor American accent?  I actually leaped up off the couch and gave a great "huzzah!" when UDC got plugged in the water.

The more I think about it, the more I think I disliked most of the characters on the show.  In addition to Bianca and UDC, I also disliked the Irish husband/wife, their daughter, the gunsmith brother, UDC's entire entourage, Charles Dance and his entourage, almost everyone at MI6, Nuria, the mom, and most of all the brother.  I liked Bianca's husband, Vince (who loses points for being apparently Bianca's only friend), Carlito, Zima, and poor innocent Rasmus.

So Charles Dance got the UDC death he wanted and instead of paying the Jackal and Zima, he decides to just kill them instead?  Didn't he see what happened to the son who hired Jackal to kill his dad and then didn't pay?  Why wouldn't he just pay, that group had plenty of money.

I know Jackal wants his son, but I'd just as soon the show finds a way to lose Nuria.  She doesn't add anything to the show.  She's been with him for several years and never once questioned where all the money was coming from?  

I am all for a Season 2 of Jackal and Zima chasing Charles Dance around Europe.

Also, I saw some comments on some of the episode threads about how much people hated the music.  I fully agree.  I hated how they used the obscure European (?) songs on the show... the music always seemed very jarring and out of place.  And terrible.  I also really hated the theme song.... some flowers whatever whatever.  I hope whoever is the music person for this show gets replaced before the next season.

Edited by blackwing
  • Like 3
magdalene

magdalene

I both read the book and watched the original adaptation. I thought what worked best there for the actual thriller aspect of the material was that the Jackal remained a complete enigma.

I vividly disliked the female lead from episode 1 and never warmed up to her. So good riddance there.

I admit I am shocked that this is getting a second season. The second season might be improved if they left out his wife altogether. 

  • Useful 1
justmehere

justmehere

(edited)

Just finished the series. Did I miss who the mole was? I thought it was Isabel, but if they made that clear, I missed it. Charles Dance's assistant knowing the Jackal was in Spain - seems only Isabel and the Foreign Secretary knew that. Or Osi? The calls to the U.S. and then that text... I binged the last 4 episodes, so I very likely missed something. 

I wondered if the car crash was about keeping him from catching up with Nuria. (If it wasn't a possible ending to the series.)  I agree, less with her is better as those parts began to drag. 

So many deaths. I think Rasmus was the worst - though I was a little surprised about Bianca. Oh, and Vince seemed OK too. And the old couple (though they should have let it all be, it's understandable that they wouldn't). Still, Rasmus was the worst.

I was glad that Zina didn't fall for the lie about another assignment. Maybe the assistant tried to make it obvious.

I liked it overall but sort of think it would have been better at 8 episodes (Edit: or shorter eps if there are 10) as it did drag out some elements. 

Edited by justmehere
  • Like 2
Straycat80

Straycat80

I just finished bingeing this and thought it was riveting. And agree with what you all have said about the series and characters.

I am also confused about the mole. Osi I think? Because of that text at the end. How did Zina find the Jackal in that last scene? They had thrown away their cellphones. 
What happened to the Jackals buddy from the Army? Gary? After they blew up their unit in the flashback in Afghanistan they just left us hanging. 
Looking forward to season two. And I’m sure Nuria and the baby will be found in the Canary or Grand Cayman Islands because that’s what they talked about after he had killed the old couple. 

  • Like 2
aghst

aghst

Binged it in 2-3 days.

The mole is the foreign secretary and Isabel..  The foreign secretary went to NY to meet with Winthrop.  They wanted MI6 to go after the Jackal to get rid of him once he served his purpose, killing UDC.

So the leadership of the MI6, as well as in fact one of the top ministers of the UK govt. are corrupt, interested in protecting the interests of people like Winthrop.  That's like Slow Horses where the leadership of the MI5 are also corrupt, willing to have people killed to consolidate their pow

I thought they perfectly encapsulated the elitist, fascist ideology of these people.  Winthrop wasn't just mad that UDC might expose him, just the whole reason UDC was trying to reduce inequality offended him.

When they were watching that warm up speaker for the event, Winthrop asked, annoyed, who she was and the other guy said she's nobody -- she's not rich like them basically.

I think the reason they kept the Jackal alive is that this is Redmayne's vehicle.  I've never seen him in his movies and I guess he's willing to do multiple seasons of the show, which probably was pitched as 2 or more seasons from the start.

And to make money, they made 10 episodes, out of consideration for US distribution, because a streamer like Peacock is going to release week by week, to keep people subscribed.

The action was good.  I know most people hate the family scenes, all the personal drama.  But as good as the action is, I think it's better for the pacing that the leads have families pulling on them, kind of shows what's important to them.

Without all the family drama stuff, they could have probably winnow it down to 6 episodes but they made a different business decision.

Yeah it's preposterous that he gets away so many times.  In the first half of the season, they say they have to get him because it would be embarrassing if this guy was committing big political assassinations and it turned out to be someone trained in the British military.  Then Isabel said it costs too much money?  That's BS, obviously they serve Winthrop and people of his ilk.

  • Like 3
magdalene

magdalene

I did like the show with the exception of the things I mentioned in a previous post and I am looking forward to the second season. I am rewatching and am up to episode 6.

Redmayne is a very versatile and to me a very likable actor.  That may be influencing me - but if they wanted me to root for the "good" guys instead of the Jackal they should have written the main police not quite so morally deficient. The only police guy I found somewhat sympathetic was Vincent.

And there is much more humanity in this Jackal in comparison to both the book and the original adaptation.  The hook up for cover with the gay man is straight up from the book and the old show, and he wasn't conflicted there at all killing the guy. Not like poor Rasmus here.  And I don't remember original recipe Jackal ever sparing anybody.

  • Like 1
ribboninthesky1

ribboninthesky1

Not discounting Bianca's personality, but I had sympathy when it was clear after Belarus she was being undermined while trying to do her job.  I felt bad that Emma died because she was just a pawn.  Otherwise, I didn't care about the other deaths. 

Bianca's family dynamic was interesting to me.  She was with an older man, presumably married young and had her daughter young.  Did she want a child? Or did she have their daughter because her husband wanted a child? I side-eyed the husband for rooming with the ex-wife during their estrangement.  

Vince was a good friend (and frankly the actors had better chemistry). 

I thought Eddie Redmayne was miscast in this.  He was okay, but I was never rooting for The Jackal.  Then again, the writing for the character was kind of terrible.  He always came across as amateur beyond the actual...snipering, and it made me wonder how long he was doing the work. I also got the sense that he hadn't been with Nuria that long, which is why he could get away with being so mysterious and distant before she got wise. Yes, her family was annoying for sure, but in-laws are usually a package deal. Oh well. 

Agreed with others that this could have been 6-8 episodes.  I tuned into this thinking it was a limited series, and mostly for Lashana Lynch.  So I'm not interested in another season. 

  • Like 1
Zaffy

Zaffy

(edited)

I quite enjoyed this one and I am glad it was renewed, despite its sometimes quite unrealistic plot. 
I have watched on TV the 1973 movie and the remake with  Bruce Willis as the Jackal and I enjoyed both. 
Clearly the writers did not want to have any sympathetic figure on this one. Even the UDC, who wanted to save the world and expose the rich, was annoying.

They also wanted to make the "good guy" not so good, but I think they really overdid it and Bianca ended up  a psychotic caricature of a villain. I am really glad she won't be in season two. I could not believe she was dead. I expected her being shot on the vest and survived. I did cheer a bit when this didn't happen.

Also they had the Jackal making too many mistakes. Of course, if we want to be realistic, it is almost impossible for someone to manage to escape capture so many times under such circumstances. Also I am not sure how he managed to travel using public transportation, like buses or airplanes, while his "wanted" face was in the news all over Europe. Nobody in Cadiz recognized him?
But hey, "the Americans" were 10X more unrealistic and they are considered top de la creme, so I won't complain really.
Although it has become frustrating how much realism is bend on TV now days, with the "excuse" of "it is just TV, it is just fiction, etc etc etc". 
MVP of the season was Zina. Although I prefer it spelled as Xena :)

Edited by Zaffy
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KittyQ

KittyQ

(edited)
23 hours ago, Zaffy said:

Also they had the Jackal making too many mistakes. Of course, if we want to be realistic, it is almost impossible for someone to manage to escape capture so many times under such circumstances. Also I am not sure how he managed to travel using public transportation, like buses or airplanes, while his "wanted" face was in the news all over Europe. Nobody in Cadiz recognized him?
But hey, "the Americans" were 10X more unrealistic and they are considered top de la creme, so I won't complain really.

In the beginning, he was so careful not to expose his face or identity, using disguises and keeping people at arm's length at meetings. Then, in the middle of the series, he suddenly doesn't seem to care that much. It made me question his professionalism. For Heaven's sake, man, grow a beard, or even some stubble, dye your hair, cut your hair, do the Marlon Brando thing from the Godfather where you put cotton in your cheeks to fill them out; there's a dozen ways to make you less recognizable, including just wearing a hat so you aren't so easily identified. 

You are right, "The Americans" was more unrealistic in many ways, but one thing they did was always try to keep themselves from being immediately recognized.

One good thing about the finale is that everyone can be done with Bianca. I could almost sympathize with the awful Irish guy for killing himself in front of her, but while it seemed to rattle her a little, she showed very little regret or introspection about what she was doing. I really didn't like her, and I think her husband and daughter will be better off with the ex. I also hope we see the last of Nuria. Too bad she's got the kid, but at least her deadbeat brother is gone.

What's with people just throwing their cell phones in the garbage? Why not take the sims out? Is that not possible anymore? Of course, a few years ago in the movies and TV, the trend was to snap the phone in half before ditching it, also wasteful to me, but at least no random person could pick it up and possibly find your secrets (depending on how good you are with passwords). 

Overall, I enjoyed this series despite the flaws, but (cliche here) the book and the original movie were better IMO. Will I watch Season 2? I don't know. I liked Eddie Redmayne, but The Jackal had better step up his game and collect his money; having 2 clients in a row renege on their deals is terrible for a business with limited options, and which requires a lot of expensive outlay beforehand.

Edited by KittyQ
Added a thought.
  • Applause 2
Zaffy

Zaffy

13 hours ago, KittyQ said:

Overall, I enjoyed this series despite the flaws, but (cliche here) the book and the original movie were better IMO. Will I watch Season 2? I don't know. I liked Eddie Redmayne, but The Jackal had better step up his game and collect his money; having 2 clients in a row renege on their deals is terrible for a business with limited options, and which requires a lot of expensive outlay beforehand.

It is a problem that his face has been revealed... But it seems that people have already forgotten about it, as he clearly travels using public transportation with no issues, so till we reach season 2, people would have probably forgotten he ever existed! 😁

  • Like 1
aghst

aghst

They could have made him keep doing disguises.

But Redmayne is the star and this is his show so they’re not going to cover up his face all the time.

He’s suppose to be what draws viewers to the show, not the face of some random old men.

In the Mission Impossible movies, the Tom Cruise character uses disguises often but most of the scenes feature him as the box office superstar.

in real life “most wanted” criminals may change their hair styles, color, facial hair but they don’t wear elaborate latex masks which would fool cameras but not people looking at the disguise in person.

  • Like 2
magdalene

magdalene

I am enjoying the show more re-watching.  I missed a lot of details the first time.

Dumbest things I have seen about the show on youtube and reddit - the Jackal has to be gay because he hooked up with Rasmus. And Redmayne is miscast because he isn't beefy enough to make a convincing assassin.

Oh lord.  I think they did establish that Duggan will use anyone when he needs a cover or a hide-out, or whatever. And while that relationship may not be he healthy on either side, they did make it obvious by the end that Duggan genuinely wants his wife.

I am going to make a wild guess that the average skilled assassin would look more like Redmayne  than some roided beefcake.

  • Like 3
magdalene

magdalene

6 minutes ago, ribboninthesky1 said:

Someone like Michael Fassbender would have been a better fit for me. Fassbender is also wiry, so it's not about muscles or body size.  He plays efficient, ruthless sociopaths very well, and that's what the Jackal should have been, IMO.  

I disagree in that Redmayne isn't a perfect fit for the role.  And they adding layers to his character when the Jackal starts getting into trouble is all very realistic and exciting for me. 

When they made this an ongoing series certain things about the main character had to shift. Personally I am not interested in a one note ruthless machine. That is boring to me.

  • Like 2
TV Anonymous

TV Anonymous

Just to echo what has been written, I wish that the show did not do this many unexplained difficult situations.

  • How did the Jackal escape with the boat when the guards with jet skis obviously faster than the boat were right behind him?
  • Who crashed into him, what was the result, and how did he get away?
  • What happened to the assassin sent to kill Zina in her hotel room?
  • How did Zina find the Jackal's apartment in Tallinn? Does that mean that Zina knew who he was?

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