Jour Zéro

"Zero Day" is a gripping mini-series that stands out with its compelling storyline and outstanding performances. Tackling some of the most pressing issues of our time-cybersecurity, political intrigue, and global threats-it invites viewers into a high-stakes game of strategy. Starring Robert De Niro in the lead role, the series goes beyond being just a political thriller by offering deep character exploration and a cleverly constructed narrative.

The story follows former U. S. President George Mullen as he steps back into action to uncover the truth behind a devastating cyberattack that has thrown the country into chaos. Beyond delivering action and suspense, the show skillfully addresses themes such as the nature of power, media manipulation, and the role of technology in politics. The pacing is well-balanced, ensuring that the plot remains engaging without feeling rushed, keeping viewers hooked with every episode.

The cast is another strong point of the series. De Niro's charismatic and seasoned performance brings a remarkable sense of authenticity to his character. The supporting actors also deliver impressive performances, maintaining the tension throughout the show. Additionally, the high production quality, cinematography, and immersive atmosphere make for a visually and emotionally satisfying experience. In conclusion, "Zero Day" is a must-watch for fans of political thrillers and cybersecurity narratives, offering a thought-provoking and exhilarating journey.

Zero Day is lightly intriguing, fairly tame, and carries a timeless feel that works in its favor. There's an air of mystery that keeps things moving, and while it never reaches edge-of-your-seat levels, I wouldn't label it as "dull" either. The pacing is steady, the writing isn't half-bad, and there's just enough intrigue to keep you guessing.

Robert De Niro delivers a strong performance-no surprise there-but I had a hard time buying him as a former president. He's compelling, but something about his presence doesn't fully sell the idea of him having once led the country. Still, the show doesn't lean too heavily on that angle, so it doesn't derail the experience.

As a conspiracy thriller, Zero Day sets up an intriguing mystery but never fully leans into the paranoia or high stakes that could have made it more gripping. The twists keep things moving, but they feel more procedural than truly surprising. It's an easy watch, but it lacks the gravitas that could have made it feel more substantial.

Overall, Zero Day delivers a polished, well-paced mystery that holds your attention without demanding too much from it. If you're looking for a thriller with a classic feel and a steady sense of intrigue, it's worth checking out-just don't expect it to push the genre in any bold new directions.

The main premise of this show is that of the review title.

It's an engaging thriller that makes some intriguing points and by all means, does it well. It peaks your interest and it does it through top acting and reasonably good cinematography.

But what it isn't is anything more. Potential strong plot points are either undone by sloppy plot holes or lack of clarity come the end. Multiple moments that felt like they were building towards a great climax also frequently petered out into mediocrity.

Overall the series was done well. A great cast performance mixed with reasonably good writing, storytelling and cinematography produces what we have here in Zero Day.

It's nice, but I wouldn't say it's more than that.

7/10.

First, there is a lot of angst right off the bat about how much power to hand an investigative commission, when it seems the attack only just occurred. You would think that the FBI would have more time to investigate, and you'd only award extraordinary powers once they hit a wall. Next, presidents are polarizing figures regardless of how supposedly beloved one might be, so why not select a trusted nonpartisan figure (who is not a befuddled septuagenarian) to lead an IT investigation? So you get past that, and the acting is pretty good. Angela Bassett does not compare well in scenes with DeNiro, but who does? Lizzy Caplan is a one-note tune so she doesn't do so well either. It's just not a compelling series although the pacing is ok. It is a decent series although every single actor involved has had much better scripts to work with.

...and that's the long and short of it. No, it isn't a 10, and but it certainly isn't a 1/10.

There's nothing stand out about the plot, and no edge of the seat moments. As others have said, the confusion that de Niro's character suffers from is hammy, clumsy, overdone and overly-repeated... and it adds nothing to the plot. It's just an annoyance to watch.

Plemmons is ok - not one of his better roles but his portrayal is fine. As is De Niro, just fine in his role but nothing special - sometimes even a little one dimensional (though the script may be to blame for that).

Angela Bassett is woeful though, unbelievable as a sitting president. Again that may be down to the script - her character trying to push urgency with no real necessity behind it. "I'm holding a press conference in 2 days so you need results by then" is the same line used in 70's police series/ films, where the Captain shouts "You've got 48 hours or it's your badge".

It was watchable, but I managed to follow the whole thing while working at home.

Just a bit average really.