Kill Jackie (2026), Pilot
5/5 so far. Wikipedia entry for the series.
Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Jackie Price, a former international cocaine dealer who’s spent twenty years living rich and comfortable. Just as she’s getting bored, she finds out the Seven Demons, a crew of the world’s scariest hitmen, have been hired to kill her. Instead of running, she goes after them. It’s on AMC+ in the US, adapted from a novel by Nick Harkaway (writing as Aidan Truhen).
A slow start
I was sort of meh about it at first. Then it found its groove.
The chat between Jackie and Billy, her bald security-systems guy, played by Gavin Spokes (Slow Horses, House of the Dragon), about whether she’s bored is the first thing that hooked me. It’s a great setup: a woman who used to be dangerous, now bored out of her mind with being safe. You know exactly where that’s going, and you want it to get there.
Then the autocannons kick in
That’s where I went from “meh” to all in. The violence is ludicrous, completely over the top, and set to a great soundtrack. And then she Mike Tysons a security guard’s ear. Loved it.
It’s very Kill Bill. Gleeful, stylish, absurd violence, and a sexy woman dishing it out. I like sexy, dangerous women, and this show knows exactly what it’s selling.
Not shy
My favorite small moment: Jackie staring at Sam’s crotch, getting caught, and not being the least bit embarrassed about it. Sam’s her lawyer, played by Daniel Ings (The Gentlemen, Lovesick). She doesn’t apologize, doesn’t look away. That’s the whole character in one beat.
The one thing I haven’t seen yet is some people actually fucking. A show this sexy and this unhinged should go there, and I’d like to see it.
Verdict
5/5 after the pilot. Ludicrous violence, a great soundtrack, and Catherine Zeta-Jones having the time of her life. I’ll keep watching and update this if it falls off.
Research and drafting assistance for this review was provided by Claude (Anthropic). The opinions are my own.