Directed by Dawn Shadforth, Damon Thomas, and Sophie Muller, and based on the novel *The Price You Pay* by Aidan Truhen, this AMC+ and Prime Video series stars Catherine Zeta-Jones as Jackie Price, alongside Daniel Ings (Sam), Sidse Babett Knudsen (Karenina), Christine Adams (The Doc), Raff Law (Sean Harper), Julian Rhind-Tutt (Friedrich), and Enzo Cilenti (Don Markel). The series consists of eight 60-minute episodes.
Jackie Price has spent nearly two decades building a comfortable identity in the art world, leaving a violent criminal past behind. She has it all—money, connections, and a well-ordered life—but it all falls apart when she discovers that someone has hired the "Seven Demons," a group of assassins, to take her out. She soon realizes that running away won't help, especially when the people around her also become targets of the attackers.
Stars: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Sidse Babett Knudsen, Julian Rhind-Tutt
She must rely on her instincts to figure out who is after her and how to survive the assault. The plot twist lies in the fact that Jackie isn't fleeing the assassins out of ignorance; she knows that world well, having lived it herself in the past. One of the aspects I enjoyed most about the Prime Video series *Kill Jackie* is that Jackie’s character herself is what kept me interested in what would happen next. It is fascinating to watch someone who has worked so hard to lead a quiet life transform back into the person she tried to leave behind.
Catherine Zeta-Jones portrays this conflict masterfully. Jackie doesn't need to raise her voice to prove she knows exactly what she’s doing. Even when cornered and surrounded by danger, she always has a strategy in mind. Her cool, composed demeanor makes the action even more thrilling when she finally taps into her old skills. Prime Video’s *Kill Jackie* also plays with the fact that Jackie isn’t the only one experiencing this madness. Sam’s involvement in her dangerous life grows over time, and it is interesting to watch his relationship with Jackie evolve—especially after finding himself in an environment completely alien to him. Navigating such a violent setting goes against his nature—unlike Jackie’s—and therein lies the charm of some of the series' comedic moments. However, at times I found Sam’s jittery, comic persona a bit repetitive, as it creates the impression that his only function is to be terrified of everything around him.
Karenina is a far more intriguing figure, as she introduces a completely different kind of conflict. Her presence among the Seven Demons isn't merely an obstacle to survival; she adds a personal, uncomfortable layer to the danger, especially given that Jackie is fully aware of just how lethal these individuals are. Furthermore, Sidse Babett Knudsen imbues her character with a quirky personality that fits perfectly with the show’s dark humor. The same can be said for the other assassins and supporting characters.
The aspect of *Kill Jackie* that doesn't quite win me over is its narrative pacing. The premise offers plenty of potential for dynamism, yet the series doesn't seem willing to capitalize on it. I didn't mind the slow start, as it felt necessary to ground Jackie in her new life. The problem arises when, once the main conflict is established, the plot occasionally veers off in unnecessary directions.
This is all the more frustrating considering that the action sequences demonstrate the true power the series could have if it stuck to its core concept. The shootouts, ambushes, and chases are bursting with the energy typical of the *pulp* genre, and the show’s flair for blending violence with dark comedy really shines through. I particularly enjoyed the moments where Jackie prepares for combat; she isn't portrayed as someone who sits idly by waiting for the assassins to show up—she knows they are coming and tries to use her resources to gain the upper hand. This makes her come across less like an heiress discovering martial arts and more like a woman with prior experience in the field.
Another aspect of the AMC+ series *Kill Jackie* that I enjoyed was the way it subtly reveals fragments of Jackie's past. With each new episode, we learn more about who she was, which helped me understand why she clings so firmly to her new lifestyle. On the other hand, I sometimes felt the plot became overly convoluted; the more complex the web of relationships and motivations grew, the harder it was for me to maintain an emotional connection through every new twist.
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