The Day of the Jackal made a big mistake killing (SPOILER)

As a fan who has spent countless hours engrossed in gripping thrillers and nail-biting suspense stories, I must say that the recent finale of “The Day of the Jackal” left me feeling quite perplexed and disheartened!

The final episode of “The Day of the Jackal” concluded with an unexpected demise, which could potentially prove detrimental for the series!

Caution: This article contains SPOILERS for the season 1 finale of The Day of the Jackal.

In this reimagined take on the timeless tale, we follow Eddie Redmayne as the character Jackal, a hired gun with a contract on tech magnate Ulle Dag Charles. Simultaneously, MI-6 operative Bianca (played by Lashana Lynch) is in pursuit of the elusive assassin.

In the second-to-last episode, the Jackal managed to kill Charles but got hurt while fleeing. Simultaneously, Bianca was pursuing him, but her superior Isabel halted her investigation. This left Bianca questioning whether anyone in authority cared if the Jackal was caught or not. Enraged by this, Bianca decided to resign from the agency. Upon returning home to her husband, she expressed remorse and appeared prepared to start anew.

Under pressure from her higher-ups, Isabel ended up informing Bianca that she was required to return to the case. Despite her husband’s reservations, Bianca consented and she and Vince quickly traveled to Spain. They managed to locate the Jackal at a specific house, but unfortunately, the Jackal was able to surprise them and fatally attack Vince.

In simpler terms, Bianca and the Jackal spoke, with Bianca warning him their encounter might turn sour. Sadly, it did – fatally for her. To confirm this wasn’t a misunderstanding, we saw her lifeless body. Later on, Isabel (who had been promoted) informed Osi about Bianca acting against orders. Unknown to Isabel, Osi had received a message from Bianca claiming she was following Isabel’s instructions.

So Bianca is gone and in doing so, the show has made a big mistake.

The Day of the Jackal made a big mistake killing (SPOILER)

Why Bianca should have lived

Bianca’s demise seems fitting in certain aspects. Her fixation culminating in a tragic end reflects her character well, and it underscores the cold-blooded nature of the Jackal. Moreover, it’s quite unexpected to eliminate what seemed like the main protagonist so abruptly – no last words or prolonged suffering, merely a single bullet and she disappears.

Despite the narrative structure, ending Bianca’s storyline at this point might not be wise. If this were a limited series, such an ending could make sense as a conclusion. However, given that the show has been renewed for another season, it seems more logical for the Jackal to pursue a new target rather than having Bianca cease her pursuit of him. This was an opportunity to continue her own chase, but it appears she will not be doing so in the next season.

The opportunity was vast as Bianca worked “under the radar” for MI-6, implying that she wouldn’t be able to rely on their support or safety if things turned sour. Lynch might have excelled by portraying Bianca becoming somewhat unhinged, compelled to perform questionable actions, transgress boundaries, and abandon her rigid perspective to embrace a morally ambiguous world. This could lead to her reflecting the Jackal in a twisted manner, making for compelling storytelling.

Additionally, there was Bianca’s marital life, which might be affected due to the strain, as Bianca is so absorbed in tracking down the Jackal that she overlooks her own deteriorating condition. Moreover, it’s possible that the Jackal could develop a sense of respect for Bianca during their pursuit. Furthermore, the potential interaction between Bianca and Nuria, the Jackal’s wife, could have yielded captivating scenes. For instance, imagine a scene where Bianca questions Nuria about her love for a murderer, only to find herself challenged by Nuria’s unwavering obsession.

Instead, Bianca has passed away, leaving her cause to be taken up by another. It could potentially be Osi, but with Iwuji portraying the character, it wouldn’t have the same effect as Lynch. Moreover, their relationship wasn’t deep enough for Osi to seek vengeance on her behalf, which diminishes the emotional resonance of that narrative arc.

It’s quite evident that the creators intended a second season, given how the series concluded with the Jackal poised to carry on his tasks. Consequently, they might have scripted Bianca living through her encounters with the Jackal, which was the main plotline of the season. Replacing Bianca’s character with a new one won’t hold the same significance as continuing Bianca’s story.

Although Season 2 of The Day of the Jackal appears captivating, it seems regrettable to eliminate Bianca’s character as her development could have enhanced the second season, and her absence might present an obstacle leading the series to falter.

The Day of the Jackal is streaming on Peacock.

2024-12-15 00:28