‘Zero Day’ Review: Robert De Niro and a Tremendous Supporting Cast Are Wasted in Netflix’s Self-Serious Political Thriller

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During a quiet moment in the second half of Netflix’s six-part political thriller, Zero Day, I found myself pondering over how much quicker the central conflict could be resolved if either Owen Hendricks from Netflix’s The Recruit or Peter Sutherland from Netflix’s The Night Agent were involved.

Netflix’s political thrillers have become quite similar due to their tight release schedule. However, I want to focus on three of them: “The Diplomat”, “The Recruit”, and “The Night Agent”. While “The Diplomat” stands out as the best, it won’t be part of our discussion here. “The Recruit” is a bit quirky, but it embraces its silliness with an entertainingly reckless pace that I find enjoyable. On the other hand, “The Night Agent” maintains a more serious tone, but creator Shawn Ryan has a knack for keeping the show concise and action-packed.

It’s unfortunate that characters like Owen Hendricks and Peter Sutherland might significantly enhance the series “Zero Day”, but their inclusion wouldn’t align with the somber atmosphere of the show. The problem lies in the fact that despite boasting a truly outstanding cast, the storyline is overly fanciful and implausible, striving to be perceived as serious and realistic. However, its excessive pride in its own intelligence makes it challenging to fully appreciate beyond the level of curiosity, “Why are all these talented actors here?”

While characters such as Owen Hendricks and Peter Sutherland could significantly boost “Zero Day”, they don’t fit the gloomy atmosphere of the series. The issue is that despite having an exceptional cast, the story is too implausible to be taken seriously, yet it tries hard to appear so. Its overconfidence in its own intelligence makes it difficult to connect with it beyond a casual “Why are these skilled actors in this show?

Robert De Niro portrays George Mullen, a previous president of the United States who was impartial. Mullen gained fame for his ability to bridge gaps between political sides – though the specific “aisle” he refers to is unspecified and may not be related to traditional Democratic or Republican divisions – as well as for choosing not to seek reelection under somewhat enigmatic reasons.

Mullen’s days following his presidency are rather monotonous: He rises, swallows his Lipitor, dives into the pool for a swim, laces up his running shoes, peruses the Presidential Daily Briefing, and trudges to his office, grappling with writing his memoir. Occasionally, his wife Sheila (Joan Allen), who aspires to be a judge, is present. His daughter Alexandra (Lizzy Caplan), a congresswoman whose likeness to a well-known New York City politician with similar name isn’t coincidental, rarely makes an appearance.

On a typical day, suddenly everything loses power – everywhere. Airplanes collide. Surveillance systems fail. Chaos sweeps across the United States. It lasts just for a minute. Every citizen in the country gets an alert: “This disruption will occur again.

As a gamer, I’d rephrase it like this:

After the devastating “Zero Day” cyberattack left thousands in shock and millions on edge, the renowned President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) and the respected Speaker of the House, Richard Dreyer (played by Matthew Modine), decided to unite forces across party lines. Their aim? To establish a nonpartisan investigative commission, determined to prevent such a catastrophe from happening again.

In America, it’s Mullen who they believe is capable of leading the commission, despite appearing to be unsure about telling the difference between “malware” and a new clothing line called “MalcWear,” which Malcolm Gladwell has been working on for 9,999 hours. With near-unrestricted authority, Mullen’s investigation seems to disregard the Constitution.

It’s not widely known, including by Mitchell, that Mullen seems to struggle with perceptions of reality. He experiences memory lapses and hears the song “Who Killed Bambi?” by the Sex Pistols repeatedly, a phenomenon only partially clarified in the series.

Amidst the subsequent turmoil, Mullen’s trusted associate Roger (Jesse Plemons), ex-chief-of-staff Valerie (Connie Britton), the head of CIA (Bill Camp), a TV pundit reminiscent of Tucker Carlson (Dan Stevens), a questionable billionaire akin to Jeffrey Epstein (Clark Gregg), and others find themselves entangled.

Mullen’s loyal aide Roger (Jesse Plemons), his former chief-of-staff Valerie (Connie Britton), the CIA head (Bill Camp), a TV personality like Tucker Carlson (Dan Stevens), a billionaire similar to Jeffrey Epstein (Clark Gregg) and more are all caught up in the confusion following the event.

It appears the cyberattack was orchestrated as part of a larger scheme, and I’m hesitant to disclose the full extent of this plot. However, suffice it to say that it’s not confined to the lower echelons.

Written by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt, the series Zero Day strives to maintain a dual perspective when dealing with real-world issues. While many characters are easily recognizable as real-life counterparts, the show is quick to acknowledge these connections, often limiting its commentary to superficial references such as “Russia” or “The Patriot Act.” If you try to discern a broader thematic thread about our divided political landscape and the impact of technology on our freedoms, particularly the temporary sacrifice of these liberties, you may find yourself quite frustrated. In essence, it’s like reading an opinion piece from the New York Times, slightly leaning towards the center but not daring to take a firm stance.

The series implies that people on extreme ends, whether left or right, are contributing to our division equally. Furthermore, it hints that the extremely wealthy might not always be morally good, and if you grasp this concept, you’ll receive an appreciation or reward.

Under Lesli Linka Glatter’s direction across all six episodes, the series Zero Day seems visually engaging, however, its rhythm feels unusual throughout. The frequent on-screen captions counting down the days since Zero Day create an urgency that feels more akin to time travel than a typical television show. Characters appear and disappear between different locations in a manner that hints at teleportation rather than conventional transportation methods like helicopters. The series boasts one particularly effective suspense sequence and scattered instances of tension, but the mystery lacks a driving force, and the absence of compelling character development is noticeable.

In essence, we’re left wondering which character seems least necessary in this ensemble cast. Bassett delivers a commanding presence even when she’s barely acting. Britton’s character is intriguing due to her hidden past, but lacks significance in the main plot. Allen has an impressive scene that, upon reflection, doesn’t quite fit. Her character appears to be a version of AOC without the ideology or backstory, leaving Caplan with mostly scenes filled with frustration instead of development.

With ease, Stevens skillfully exposes the hollow hypocrisy inherent in Tucker Carlson’s polished, elitist persona and his contradictory common-man image. Among all the cast members, it’s Stevens who appears to be enjoying himself most. While lampooning Tucker Carlson isn’t particularly challenging, Stevens does it with flair.

In the role, Plemons portrays a versatile troubleshooter whose on-screen years of expertise appear to outnumber his actual age (being 36). He subtly expresses a rich inner turmoil through scattered dialogue. This character might have anchored a more intricate series, but with Robert De Niro in the cast, the production takes on a distinctly personal feel, almost transforming into “The Robert De Niro Show“.

In this production, it’s De Niro who appears to have attracted everyone due to his star power. However, he has his instances where we can see his emotional depth, particularly when Mullen’s mental health becomes a significant factor. Unfortunately, De Niro’s scenes often lack the feeling of genuine interaction, making it seem as though he isn’t acting alongside anyone else. Despite Mullen having multiple roles in the story – husband, father, mentor, and more complex relationships with other characters – there’s no dynamic interplay between De Niro and his co-stars that leaves you impressed. In a series centered around teamwork and investigation, this lack of engaging chemistry between De Niro and his fellow actors is a significant letdown.

In contrast to what you’d typically find in a “limited series,” the ending of Zero Day leaves plenty of room for further exploration if the show becomes successful. Given its impressive cast, achieving success is not an unrealistic expectation. However, the insights into modern American life presented in the series may not be captivating enough to necessitate a continuation.

Supporters of the series might arrogantly claim that those who dislike it are oblivious to its realism. However, let me clarify that plausibility doesn’t equate to a compelling narrative skillfully presented. In simpler terms, just because something is believable doesn’t necessarily make it a good story.

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2025-02-20 11:25