(may contain spoilers)
Douban rating: 8.6
Director: Brian Kirk, Anthony Philipson, Paul Wilmshurst, Anu Menon
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Lashana Lynch, Úrsula Corberó
Douban Comments: “So cool! That sniper scene in the first episode was so elegant! And I was wondering why Eddie’s wife looked so familiar – turns out it’s Tokyo! Tokyo from Money Heist, she’s my favorite! Can I rate it a 6 out of 5? Especially since the twist at the end of episode 6 completely caught me off guard.”
“Eddie Redmayne and Lashana Lynch are undoubtedly the two highlights of this series. Eddie brings depth and complexity to the protagonist, ‘The Jackal’, moving beyond the typical one-dimensional portrayal of an assassin. Instead, he infuses the character with a human touch. Under his performance, ‘The Jackal’ is no longer just a killing machine but a layered individual with a rich inner world. His calm demeanor, sharp intellect, and occasional glimpses of warmth make the character incredibly compelling, leaving the audience eager to uncover his true nature.
The production quality is top-notch, with filming spanning multiple cities and villages across Europe. The stunning landscapes add a vibrant layer to the story, and the director masterfully integrates them into the narrative, making them a part of the storytelling itself. The assassination sequences and action scenes are brilliantly shot, delivering a powerful visual impact. The moody indie rock soundtrack amplifies the unease and heightens the tension, perfectly complementing the drama.”
“The spy thriller plot itself isn’t anything particularly special; it all depends on the chemistry between the leads. One is sly and weak, like a chameleon or a sneaky reptile, while the other is strong and fierce, like a lion or a predator. One strikes from a distance, using its long tongue to catch prey, while the other rushes in for close combat with sharp claws. This contrast between them makes the showdown exciting to watch.”
“I really enjoyed the parts with Eddie Redmayne. It’s supposed to be a battle of wits between two heroes, but Eddie just completely dominates. The clean and efficient assassin is absolutely amazing. The only downside might be that I was just watching for how cool Eddie was – his opponents were just too weak. Also, the family storylines felt a bit disappointing. I still believe that a professional assassin shouldn’t get involved in relationships or have kids before retiring; it just creates too many weaknesses.”
“Eddie Redmayne is still traveling around with his suitcase, and his scenes are still amusing to watch. However, while the male lead is acting very well, the female lead is doing terribly. The entire black family feels completely inauthentic – they could just as easily be a white family, which makes this kind of forced political correctness feel very off-putting and arrogant. Political correctness is fine, but there should be a basic level of quality. The black female lead doesn’t come across as capable at all – she doesn’t feel like a secret agent, nor does she feel like a believable mother or wife. She feels more like a daughter than a grown woman.
On top of that, the whole family seems oddly mismatched and not making sense. As for acting, her performance is one of the worst examples of forced diversity casting in recent years, even Finn from Star Wars did better. She mostly just stares blankly or tries to act tough. Honestly, the only reason to keep watching is because of Eddie Redmayne’s outstanding performance, which makes the contrast even clearer.”
