The Day of the Jackal

[Smidge001]

Anyone watching? So far I'm really liking the lead actress.

But they keep talking about a Northern Irish weapon-maker bloke being British. I thought Northern Ireland was part of the UK, but not part of Great Britain? Isn't that why our passports say great Britain AND Northern Ireland? Annoying.

On the upside, I loved it so much when the lead lady said "pre planning? Isn't all planning pre ?!"

OMG I hate all this "pre" business, "pre" ordering etc. It's already in advance! (Probably a thread for the pedants section)

I love the lead actress though.

Loving it. Binged all 5 eps available now, Bloody good telly.

Loving the locations and soundtrack too.

Bloody good, I just started watching and could've watched the whole lot in one go. Instead I only watched 3!
Great soundtrack I agree too, that cover version they played of Rid of me by PJ Harvey was brilliant.

N.Irish person here. You are correct - N.Ireland is part of the UK, not mainland Britain BUT (speaking as a Prod) around half (ish) of us identify with the British culture in opposition to the traditional Irish cultural identity (hence the Troubles). The Union Jack is flown everywhere.
I will say that NI is much prettier and cheerful than this TV show would have you believe!
Also, thanks to the Good Friday Agreement, we are all allowed to hold both Irish and British passports (which I and my children do). This is a great piece of good luck in these post-Brexit times.

This is how people from NI self-identified on the 2021 census when offered a choice @Smidge001. As you can see it’s very common for someone from NI to see themselves as British and not Irish. This is because of their heritage mostly - many people from GB settled there during the Ulster Plantation (17th century).

From Wikipedia

National identity of Northern Ireland residents (2021)
British only 31.9%
Irish only 29.1%
Northern Irish only 19.8%
British & Northern Irish 8.0%
Irish & Northern Irish 1.8%
British, Irish & Northern Irish 1.5%
British & Irish 0.6%

Also, in fact if a baby is born in NI (to ‘eligible’ parents) legally they are automatically a British citizen. They are also automatically entitled to Irish citizenship but don’t actually get to claim it until they apply for a passport or similar.

(Some see this as an unfair distinction and not in the spirit of the Good Friday Agreement. There have been court cases. The legalities probably don’t much affect how people self-identify btw.)

I want to watch The Day of the Jackal now so thanks for the recommendation!

Loving this! 3 episodes in.

Interesting, thank you

I’m two episodes in and enjoying it, although finding it a bit slow.

Did Eddie Redmayne actually speak any words in the first episode - he was definantly the strong silent type.

That house in Spain is beautiful although I think I would find it a bit cut off if I lived there. Lovely for a holiday though.

Did anyone else thought the intro music and visuals were a bit James Bond-ish?

I have absolutely loved it, watched all five and now have to wait for every Thursday to watch the next five. They are not going to be downloaded all at once, just come out on a Thursday

I thought it was really classy and exciting and edge of seat stuff

I've watched 3 episodes and loved it too. Didn't realise all the episodes weren't going to be available that's a shame. Like the lead actress and Eddie Redmayne.

It's not from the novel is it? It's "inspired by"?

(the novel is very good, it adds a lot to the story if you've only ever seen the Edward Fox film)

Watched all 5 last night loved it , but gutted it's weekly now I could easily have binged the lot!
I really like the cast , Eddie is very easy
On the eye isn't he

I'm loving it and the soundtrack. Completely agree with @Fireworknight intro music is very reminiscent of Bond.

Yes definitely Bondesque. I didn't realise after 5 episodes they'd be releasing another 5 (but one a week). We're up to episode 4 so will have to slow down!
Still loving the sound track. They seem to have some major songs but done by lesser known artists (well, lesser known to me anyway!). I have to shazam the music about once an episode!

The secret room with all his faces, money and passports was pretty cool. Not sure I buy into him loving his wife though. I don't really see any chemistry.

The guy who plays Norman played a policeman called Gerry in Blue Lights and he was such an adorable character in that, that I can’t get behind him being a villain in this.

This is not my normal sort of thing to watch but I am really enjoying it, reminds me of James Bond! Only thing that lets it down a bit is his relationship with his wife just feels like there is no chemistry whatsoever between them, but maybe its meant to be like that

I sort of thought the opposite, he is obviously barely there so she has mother, brother and all her family round her, then in he comes briefly, and back out again. To me it comes across as him being really in love with her but in his line of 'work' that is dangerous

Loving this so far (binged episodes 1-4 yesterday).

It was driving me mad where I'd seen the actress playing his wife before - she played Tokio in Money Heist.

We found this yesterday and watched 5 episodes in bed. We were so addicted we got a brunch deliveroo'd in and didn't get up until it was dark 🤣

So Bond esque. If anyone finds the Spotify playlist, please post it here. The wicked game cover really caught my ear.

I am really enjoying it and it's good to watch a show like this where I'm not screaming cosntantly at the television because there are so many holes in the story!

I think the wife thing is interesting. I think he does love her. But he doesn't really have the sort of mentality that means he can have a proper relationship. And I think that's also why she's clearly younger and, on the surface, more naive - he loves her but he can't be in a relationship with someone who is older and more mature becuase they'd see through his bollocks. And now she is starting to do exactly that.

That's where I have seen him before thanks!!

I'm enjoying it, though thought it started slowly. Agree that titles are Bond-esque.
I've never seen Eddie R in anything else, does he always speak like that? Voice sounds a bit strangled.

He's suitably posh, went to Eton etc in real life.

I think the reason he's actually great in this role is that he really is demonstrating the chameleon aspect of the character - not just in accent but everything - tone, body language etc. Eg the way he is with his wife and her family - slightly bumbling, super rich Englishman who speaks little Spanish vs the way he is with the security guy at the concert hall - young, slightly bashful, flirtatious.

Who do we think the mole is? (In the secret services who tipped off Norman).