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The Day ofof thethe Jackal S1 E6: AnAn impendingimpending sensesense ofof dreaddread
Let’s hit the ground running with this latest review and dive straight into what makes this series so brilliantly compelling. I struggle to remember the last time a series held my attention so completely, nor can I think of one that has so brutally shown the darkest side of humanity in all its terrifying beauty.
As you struggle to decide which character to root for, you are forced to confront your own values and feelings, eliciting a depth of viewer engagement few series can muster.
WARNING: Heavy spoilers below!
Characters in order of first mention:
- Eddie Redmayne plays The Jackal
- Vatamány Atanáz plays Laszlo
- Lashana Lynch plays Bianca Pullman
- Ûrsula Corberó plays Nuria
- Khalid Abdalla plays Ulle Dag Charles (UDC)
- Andreas Jessen plays Rasmus
Chaos
Tension builds as the Jackal desperately writhes to escape the clutches of two Hungarian farmers and their farmhand, Laszlo. His control over the situation appears to be loosening, when once again he violently breaks free of this temporary setback, leaving death in his wake.
It must be said that the action and brutality of this series are superb. Never gratuitous or overdone, it serves to enhance the viewer’s appreciation of the show’s sharp writing, and possesses a cold, clinical quality which chills you to the bone.
Bianca gives chase once again as the Jackal forces Laszlo at gunpoint to get him out of Budapest. In calling Nuria, he rouses her sympathy and tells just enough of the truth to keep her on side. Alas, we just can’t be sure if his emotional and fatalistic outpouring is truly heartfelt or just another ploy to buy time.
Either way, the Jackal’s sense of despair is beautifully brought to life by a cinematic shot of a row of dead trees reflected on a lake’s surface, against a cold, grey sky and a lifeless landscape.
The Brink of Disaster
Ulle Dag Charles presses on with ‘River’, his plan to reveal the net worth of every obscenely rich individual, and thus expose all corruption. We learn he will announce this in four days behind bulletproof glass, which should guarantee his safety. As long as he doesn’t pace…
The Jackal appears to be on the verge of some deep introspective crisis as he relives the bloodshed of his merciless career. The memories which replay give him pause. For the first time, a flash of true remorse crosses his stony expression as he asks Laszlo to repeat that he has a ‘good man face’. Against all expectations and former practice, he lets him go with a mere threat.
Is the death toll finally getting too high for the Jackal?
Charles and Nuria reconcile as he shows her his ability to disguise himself seamlessly. This is soon put to the test. He is tantalisingly close to Bianca, who sits in front of him on a flight to Tallinn, completely oblivious that her nemesis has never been closer.
Finally, I am gratified to say a twist I predicted when they first met was realised. The Jackal lures the handsome and oblivious Rasmus on a date as a thank you for retrieving his phone. This show of gratitude soon gets steamy, and once again, the Jackal reveals the lengths he will go to in his pursuit of success.
The Day of the Jackal S1 E6 conclusions
One thing in particular stood out to me as I closed this latest episode: the impeccable use of characterisation. No character is introduced who feels pointless or out of place. They all drive the plot forward and engage us for every second of screentime. The Hungarian farmers won my care and respect for the part they played in slowing the Jackal, as did Laszlo for his unenviable position of being at the latter’s mercy.
Nowhere is this more apparent than in our antihero and his wife. Charles and Nuria’s relationship was a tour de force in this episode, as we saw every facet of their fractured but compelling marriage in exquisite detail. The conflicted Nuria chooses her husband over all else, and Charles confides in her more than ever before. The question is, will this newfound trust and honesty spell doom for one or both of them? Is the Jackal being genuine and opening up to the woman he loves, or is she once again caught in his cold calculations?
It is these questions which keep us enthralled.
The Day of the Jackal S1 E6 is available to stream on Now TV.
