“The Hunter, Hunted”
In the world of spy thrillers, few stories cast as real a shadow as Frederick Forsyth’sThe Day of the Jackal—based on a true terrorist’s tale that inspired both the novel and an original 1973 film. Now, Sky and Peacock are taking a shot at revamping this Cold War classic for streaming audiences with their new series. This adaptation follows the relentless MI6 agent Bianca, played by Lashana Lynch, as she scrambles to unmask Eddie Redmayne‘s elusive assassin, the Jackal, after he goes one kill too far
Lynch is fierce as Bianca, the agent hell-bent on cracking the case and exposing the Jackal. This character is draped in complexity—caught between duty and personal desire—that adds depth to the show’s tension. With antifreeze for blood, Bianca’s ruthlessness is a match for the Jackal. Neither character flinches at manipulating people to achieve their goals. Redmayne is coldly efficient as the perfect assassin, but as the story unfolds, we see glimpses of unexpected warmth and duality that make him more than a ruthless predator. Together, Bianca and the Jackal dive into a showdown that is more mongoose-and-snake than cat-and-mouse (and from episode to episode we’re not sure which is which).
Visually, The Day of the Jackal goes big. The production values bring out the subtext in shadowy corridors and sun-soaked plazas, and the action sequences snap with excitement. The opening titles even sprinkle in a bit of that classic Bond 007 vibe. However, in the early chapters, the story often lacks charm. The series shines when it digs into the psychological toll of life in the shadows. Redmayne’s Jackal and Lynch’s Bianca are dedicated pros, but their commitment to the job often comes at the cost of personal connections. The TV format gives the production more room to update that relationship along with the book’s intricate plotting, but even with that intrigue and depth, it doesn’t always land. Overall, it’s a wild chase wrapped in a spy-craft package that’s both thrilling and, at times, oddly dry.
In the end, by reimagining The Day of the Jackal, the creators have crafted a series that pays homage to its source material while boldly redefining the espionage genre for today, all while remaining classic. The result is a show that, like its chameleonic protagonist, seamlessly changes its colors. It’s visually stunning yet uneven, psychologically rich and emotionally twisty; it questions loyalty; and is occasionally brilliant. However, it’s not always forceful enough to push us to the edge of our seats and keep us there. But maybe that doesn’t matter. Sometimes, keeping us engaged is more than enough, and The Day of the Jackal gets “engaging” done.
The first five episodes premiere on Nov 14 with new episodes streaming on Thursdays
and a double-episode finale on Dec 12 only on Peacock
