The Day Of The Jackal: Season 1 Season Finale Recap & Review | Bianca Meets the Jackal

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Category	Details
Originally Aired	December 12, 2024
Network	Peacock, Sky
Director(s)	Anu Menon
Writer(s)	Ronan Bennett
Character	ACTOR’S NAME
Tim	Charles Dance
Zina	Eleanor Matsuura
Nuria	Úrsula Corberó
Alexander	Eddie Redmayne
Alvaro	Jon Arias
Isabel	Lia Williams
Bianca	Lashana Lynch
Paul	Sule Rimi
Jasmine	Florisa Kamara
Vince	Nick Blood
Osita	Chukwudi Iwuji
Jeremy	Adam James

Storyline Recap

Plans Change – Tim, Zina, Nuria, Alexander, Alvaro

Despite Alexander succeeding in killing UDC, it seems Tim and his associates have no intention of paying out the rest of his fee. In fact, to really cover their tracks, it seems even Zina will be eliminated to shield them from effectively putting a stop to River being released.

Sadly, this isn’t the only drama in Alexander’s life. After Nuria decides to cut off her brother and forbid him from being part of her life, she then decides to leave Alexander. In conversation, it seems like they would try to reconcile before she made her decision. However, as Alexander talks about being on the run, going to the Caribbean or some far-off country, and Nuria talks about settling in at home, it becomes clear they are discussing two very different futures.

Tying Up Loose Ends – Isabel, Bianca, Paul, Jasmine, Osita, Tim, Jeremy

While both viewers and some within MI:6 may have questioned Osita, it is Isabel who has been feeding information and causing damage. Hence why, originally, she wanted to put a full stop to Bianca’s investigation, as Alexander did as desired. However, as Tim makes it clear he wants Alexander eliminated, and tasks Jeremy to be part of the effort to clean shop, Bianca is brought back into the fold and authorized, unofficially, to do a kill mission.

Now, this whole situation seems a bit suspect to Bianca. One minute, she is vaguely threatened if she pursues this case and quits on principle. The next thing she knows, Isabel is at her door, interrupting her family dinner with an offer Paul and Jasmine know Bianca can’t refuse. Mind you, this is after they finally return home, and it seems their relationships are healing.

But, with a limited budget and the go-ahead, Bianca decides to pick up where she left off and follow the trail Alexander left by killing Jimmy, whose death came off personal, considering UDC’s closely followed.

I’m Coming Home – Vince, Bianca, Alexander, Alvaro

Alexander’s journey home is as fraught as any time we’ve seen him try to get from point A to Z. From multiple vehicles that get damaged or explode to people he feels the need to kill, getting home in hopes that Nuria will still be there was an immense challenge. But, sadly, all he finds is his son gone, money taken from his secret room, and Vince and Bianca breaching his gates.

Luckily, Alvaro is the first to meet them, and Vince shooting him and killing him alerts Alexander to the fact he is not alone. From that point on, you are left to question, with Alexander trying to abandon his old life, thus leaving his trusted rifle behind, can he handle a two-on-one assault? Bianca and Vince have some form of machine guns, and Alexander has pistols.

Well, to make a long story short, Alexander wins. Vince dies, jumping in front of Bianca, leading to him getting shot in the forehead. Bianca quickly follows, for after exploring Alexander’s home, seeing he has a child, and wanting the whole story of who hired Alexander and more, she seemingly lets her guard down. But, by saying Alexander’s legal last name, she sealed her fate, for she knew too much, and Alexander used his home court advantage to kill Bianca.

You Have This Pattern – Zina, Alexander

Which leaves the question of what is next? The answer to that is simple: revenge. Zina was set to be killed, as was Alexander, and on top of that, Tim and the others didn’t pay Alexander’s fee. As shown by Elias’ murder, Alexander takes non-payment personally, and it will lead to him going on a vendetta. However, before taking on that task, he wants to find his wife and have a conversation.

Question(s) Left Unanswered

1. What was holding UDC’s partner from releasing River in honor of him? Was it not done?

Review

Trajectory (82/100): Plateau
“The Day Of The Jackal” ends on a high note, keeping things steady despite the shock of Alexander killing his mark in the penultimate episode. This is worthy of applause, for the show could have easily fallen off and made you question what need there could have been for a second season. Yet, with the decisions made, there is no need to question

Highlights

The Heartbreak of Nuria Leaving Alexander

I would have never expected to care about Nuria and Alexander’s marriage. For the most part, Nuria had everything you could imagine going against her. Her background was thinly developed; all we knew was that she worked in a restaurant when she met Alexander. When it comes to her family, her brother was a user and mother annoying, and while her relationship with Alexander had its hot and steamy moments, for a lot of it, we’ve watched her go back and forth between staying married and potentially getting divorced.

Add in her letting her brother steal from Alexander, and then she steals from him as well? You’d think she’d be someone you’d want to become a target, yet there is this sort of ache. From what it seems, Alexander has no one anymore. The way he talks in this episode, it seems his parents are dead, then because of the type of work he does, friends are few, and at best, the people he had some form of camaraderie with, like Norman, got put into positions where they had to be killed.

Then, you could bring up Zina, who seems like she could be a friend due to mutual enemies, but she is still someone who hired Alexander as a broker, and who is to say she couldn’t be paid off to betray him? So, at the end of the day, you are forced to realize Nuria is all this man had and because Alexander is such an anti-hero, you want that joy, that normalcy, that happy ever after for him. Did he deserve it? Probably not, but because of your investment, Nuria rejecting him hurts in unexpected ways.

Both The Expected and Necessary and Unexpected Deaths

Charles killing people is something you should expect. Whether it is the old couple or even Vince, you knew people were going to die, and with this being the season finale, someone notable was going to go. However, Bianca wasn’t expected at all. She was the one who kept things going, was one of the biggest names in the cast, and, in terms of casting, checked off many boxes. Yet, unless Osita is lying about Bianca’s death, she is killed and bled out on Alexander’s floor.

This is a huge shock, especially since the show was renewed for a second season, and Lashana Lynch is not a nobody. While she may not be an Oscar winner, like Redmayne, she is probably one of the most notable Black actresses who predominantly do English-speaking roles. Never mind, she isn’t just notable because of her performances but has financial hits.  

But, with her death, it does set the tone for what could come and show no one is safe when bullets are flying.

The Setup For Season 2

There is a notable number of things that can happen in season 2, from Alexander confronting Nuria to him likely not only going after Tim but everyone involved in him not being paid, with Zina likely willing to give them up. Add in the possibility that River could come back around, and maybe someone beyond MI:6 seeks to hunt Alexander, with UDC’s partner perhaps hiring them – A lot could happen and while we may mourn Bianca, a notable new character from her grave could rise.

On The Fence

How Does A Man Survive So Many Wounds and Accidents Without It Having Much Effect?

Do we love Alexander as a character? Yes. However, we’re not so enamored that it allows us to not question things. For example, this man gets into a whole lot of situations that should slow him down and cause injuries that keep him from being a masterful shot. In this episode alone, he gets stabbed in his upper back and gets into a car accident that seems to have knocked him out.

You expect me to believe all he was left with is a few marks on his face and no sort of impairment? This isn’t even counting all we’ve seen happen to him throughout the season, which took place over a couple of weeks if not a few months. I get that he has military training and is one of the best snipers out there. However, I feel like the show was pushing it for us to believe there wasn’t some notable damage done – especially since it isn’t like Alexander has established that he has some world-class doctor on retainer.  

The Question Of Why One Man’s Death Stopped River?

In my mind, UDC’s partner could and should have released River in honor of his murdered betrothed. Why he didn’t do that is beyond me, considering he had nothing to lose and likely inherited everything UDC had. Plus, considering he saw his partner shot, that, to me, should be all the motivation he needs to go ballistic and raise his middle fingers high to the people who killed his man.

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