Episode 8 of "The Day of the Jackal" whisks us away to Helmand, Afghanistan, in the year 2013, where the Jackal operates as a sniper, poised to eliminate a man presumed to be their intended target. Convinced that the man in his sights is not the genuine article, the Jackal remains steadfast, prepared to wait indefinitely. This revelation serves as a profound insight into his incredible patience, as exemplified by his ability to lie in wait for two days in a theater with his weapon at the ready.
It transpires that "Jackal" is also the moniker emblazoned on the jeep he drives alongside his comrades. Alexander Duggan? Indeed, that is the Jackal's given name as well. Meanwhile, in Cyprus, tensions rise as a Middle Eastern man approaches Jackal's spotter, Gary, who is inebriated and vents his frustrations about the hardships of military life. Despite his state, Gary listens intently as the man presents a proposition. The meager compensation within the military ranks, apparently less than what a refuse collector earns in the UK, has driven him to seek alternative revenue streams. He offers a solution: for a fee of 10,000 pounds each, they can eliminate certain "problems."
Tempted by the prospect of easy money, and with their skills and all expenses covered, Gary and the Jackal initially agree to embark on this venture. However, the Jackal ultimately decides against it, prompting Gary and another soldier, Doug, to return to their military duties. Yet, the operation they undertake goes disastrously awry. The objective was to capture the Deputy Governor alive, but an unexpected sniper perched atop the hills catches the Jackal off guard. Reacting instinctively, he fires before his comrades can be hit, sending birds fluttering into the air—a poignant image that now contextualizes the numerous bird shots that have preceded this scene.
Gunfire rains down like a storm, tearing the location apart as the Americans unleash their fury, unaware that within the walls, a wedding was unfolding in all its joyous splendor. Gary and Duggan dash to the scene, where the once-vibrant space is now a bathtub of blood, a grim testament to the carnage. Their comrades, seeking to obscure the tragic error, concoct a tale of an RPG ambush that necessitated an airstrike to secure their safety.
In the present moment, Leonore's voice crackles through the phone line to New York, revealing that the shooter hailed from UDC's own security detail. This revelation throws the group into a tailspin of chaos and panic, as they grapple with the impending public release of River in just a week's time—a deadline that catalyzed Jackal's pursuit of them.
The shooter, a fanatic embedded within UDC's security council, has left them scrambling to comprehend how such a monstrosity could have infiltrated their ranks. Meanwhile, Bianca and her team delve into the connections to Duggan, piecing together clues from the concert night's footage. Bianca's mind races as she realizes that Duggan is the sole architect of that fateful shot. Intelligence hints at his journey to Afghanistan—a trip he never returned from. Declared dead in absentia, his fate remains suspicious, his body nowhere to be found. The evidence converges, pointing unmistakably towards him. Bianca is closing the noose.
In Spain, whispers of the assassination attempt on UDC's life ripple through the air. Nuria's heart races as she beholds the composite sketch, an eerie semblance of familiarity stirring within her. Her brother shares her conviction, and when the Jackal catches wind of it, his resolve hardens: silence, no matter the cost.
That very night, Jasmine steps into her mother's home, words heavy in her throat. The struggle is palpable, yet she concedes to lend her ear, at least.
Meanwhile, at Wakefield Prison in England, Bianca makes an appearance to visit Larry. He chuckles bitterly, accepting his fate confined behind bars. He labels her as corrupt, asserting that she is just as degenerate as he is. However, Bianca has come to express her apologies. Larry remains unyielding, reaching for a shank concealed in his trouser leg and slashing his own neck in a violent act of defiance.
Bianca is horrified by the sight, her emotions trembling like leaves in a storm. Vince tries to soothe her as she makes her way back home, haunted by the need to wash the blood from her hands. She manages to pull herself together enough for a briefing on Duggan, where she discovers that, following the operation depicted earlier in the episode, a catastrophic explosion obliterated the entire team.
As OC faces scrutiny from Carver, we flash back to reveal that the explosion was actually masterminded by Duggan. He sabotaged the jeeps with bombs, eliminating his own comrades while ensuring his and Gary's survival in the chaos.
