10/33
The show moves the setting to the current era
Narrative
The Jackal is an elusive assassin who makes his living carrying out hits for the highest fee. He soon meets his match in a tenacious British intelligence officer who tracks him down in a thrilling cat-and-mouse chase across Europe.. The "Day of the Jackal" novel was set in 1963 and involved an assassination attempt on the then-President of France Charles de Gaulle.
Remake of The Day of the Jackal (1973)
I love what they have tried to do. How does an assassin remain anonymous and untraceable in the modern world of security cameras, camera phones and social media, internet and facial recognition, communications monitoring, digital transactions etc. Etc.
There is plenty to like in each episode
The attempt is imperfect, but please name me any show or movie that has nailed it and I will watch it immediately. However the telling of the central story is disrupted by inclusion of the M16 agent's family drama which seems like filler that has been included to satisfy a formulaic screenwriting "principle". I am skipping past these unnecessary scenes to keep the main story lines moving at a pace.
don't mention the bullets
I am mid way through episode 4 and appreciating the effort and the intent. Plus, loving the neck scarf nod to the original movie and the update on the sniper rifle – suspension of disbelief wound up to 11 that this is passing through airport X-ray screening, never mind the magical suppressor for supersonic rounds and the inability of anyone to smell a recently used firearm 🙂 Shhh… Anyway, imperfect but i'll watch to the end and appreciate the effort, and watch with interest the choices they have made to tell an engaging story.
Finding him in this was a bonus
And, I'll watch anything with Charles Dance. A new season of "Silo" is one of the biggest TV and streaming premieres this month. Check out our November calendar for more!