Zero Day Review
Never has there been a more tumultuous time to release a show that’s extremely politically and emotionally charged than now. With everything that’s going on in the world, it feels like there’s something that needs to be understood with how we confront problems. Every aspect of our society is constantly shifting, but we never seem to figure out how to fix that. Netflix’s newest political thriller series, Zero Day, seeks to answer that by asking the question, “Is it better to face the truth or to cover it up?” Well, it definitely has a lot to unpack.
Netflix’s Zero Day falls in the same vein as The Recruit and House of Cards, with the checks and balances of government shifting around. After a devastating global cyberattack temporarily causes chaos, a new commission is formed under former president George Mullen (Robert De Niro) to prevent another attack. However, to keep him in check, his daughter, Alex (Lizzy Caplan) is hired by House Speaker Dreyer (Matthew Modine) to keep oversight. With the American people spurred on by radical voices like Evan Green (Dan Stevens) and more, Mullen must solve this case before current president Mitchell (Angela Bassett) can close that door.
From the beginning, Zero Day felt like it wanted to incorporate many different genres, ranging from being a psychological thriller to being a procedural. In its opening scenes, it tries to grab your attention by playing up Mullen’s psychosis in a way that feels somewhat flashy. As Mullen tries to deal with his circumstances from the first episode, it may feel like Zero Day can dip into one genre more than the other. This is especially so when, later on in the first episode, Mullen reintegrates himself into the system, which tries to play around with this “whodunnit” idea.
This genre bouncing is also really felt through Zero Day’s cinematography and editing. Though Lesli Linka Glatter directed every episode in the series, it certainly feels like there were some specific changes to these elements. The first half of Zero Day takes on a more realistic, cinematic visual tone akin to something like Severance. However, as the show pushes forward, the camera change, which emphasizes those smooth, fluid movements, makes it feel like it wanted to experiment with different styles. While this was subtle within those first three episodes, it makes itself very apparent, which may feel somewhat peculiar on a rewatch.
All of these changes really come into play with everything that happens in Zero Day’s narrative. It’s balancing being a twisty political cyber-conspiracy, a mini-cop procedural, and an emotional family drama. As such, this means there are some things that are underdeveloped than they should be, like the familial bonds between Mullen, Alex, and the matriarch Sheila (Joan Allen). Most of their motivations and reasons for putting Mullen on the right track are relegated to pure telling more than showing. There are some scenes, particularly in episodes 3 and 4 that stand out, but it’s not explored as deeply until things get revealed in the tail end of the series.
The overarching cyber-conspiracy and political aspects of Zero Day try to be as mysterious and tense as it can be. However, by the time the series ends, you can’t help but feel like it needs to stick to one thing. As such, it makes the full reveal of who’s behind it all very underwhelming. These narrative bits and details may fall into place slowly initially, but there’s this sense of predictability by Episode 5. Sure, it tries to throw you off here and there, but there’s too many red herrings to go around (like what they call Proteus.)
Of course, that doesn’t mean that Zero Day doesn’t utilize every cast member to the fullest. Robert De Niro is still strikingly amazing as Mullen, being able to get into that mindset of dealing with all the stresses and inner demons in a click. The mentor relationship he has with his right-hand man Roger (Jesse Plemons) is generally fun to watch. There’s this brevity that makes Roger more than just Mullen’s lackey and it’s fortunately found with his bond with Alex. That dynamic is a good way to dramatize this “familial” connection the three of them share, but it may feel a little overemphasized by the end of it.
You really want to be able to resonate with these three because there’s this feeling it won’t last forever. The moments they get together, with each respective bond, When it gets to that point, in the show, it perfectly builds up to a very harrowing moment for both Mullen and Alex.
As for other characters, Angela Bassett takes the spotlight for sure. In every way, she makes President Mitchell powerful, yet captivating in this way that gives so much depth. Her expressions and tones are given this innate and subtle sense of empathy that makes you fully trust her moves. On the other side of things, Dan Stevens comedically and somewhat mischievously channels his Alex Jones as Evan Green. His performance is a softer version of the personality, but when Green gets kidnapped later, it definitely feels like Green is overplayed. Still, both characters are very interesting in the grand scheme of Zero Day.
Staggering and uncompromising, Zero Day’s deeper investigation to confront the past through the lens of a political thriller is sufficiently compelling, but can utilize a few changes. Even though Zero Day wants to address many topics, both controversial and personal, it can clunk up its overarching story and decrease the emotional resonance some arcs have. However, there’s still enough material and potential that makes it a satisfying watch for the political thriller lovers!
Rating: ★★★
Zero Day is now streaming on Netflix.
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.