Zero Day

Zero Day has a fascinating premise-a cyberattack shaking the nation-and an incredible cast led by Robert De Niro, who brings gravitas and heart to every scene. The performances from the supporting cast are equally strong, making the characters believable and engaging.

Where the series struggles is in its pacing and focus. At times, the story juggles too many political and personal subplots, which can make the narrative feel unfocused. Some dialogue feels overly expository, and the show occasionally loses momentum.

Still, Zero Day remains worth watching for its timely subject matter, strong performances, and intriguing central mystery. While not flawless, it's an engaging political thriller that delivers enough to keep you invested from start to finish.

...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.

I'm usually not into politics or political shows, but this one was truly refreshing. Perfect length, interesting to follow, and it has some great twists.

De Niro! I just figured this man is 81, but oh man - he delivered! Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant actor!

I also liked Jesse Plemons (Roger) a lot in this one.

Overall, 9/10, but super close to being 10/10 for me.

Zero Day presents a fascinating case study in modern limited series storytelling: a project with genuine strengths undermined by structural issues that highlight the challenges of expanding feature-length concepts into episodic television.

Robert De Niro's first major TV role anchors the series with committed gravitas, playing a former president investigating a devastating cyberattack.

The pilot delivers on its promise: a politically balanced thriller that avoids partisan preaching while establishing compelling conspiracy elements.

However, the series quickly reveals its core problem... this feels like a tight two-hour film stretched across six episodes. Ep 2's overlong focus on dementia storylines derails momentum, while Ep 3 treads water with competent but inessential plotting that serves runtime over narrative urgency.

Fortunately, Ep 4-5 course-correct beautifully. The pacing tightens, revelations justify earlier setup, and De Niro elevates his performance to match the heightened stakes. Supporting players Angela Bassett and Jesse Plemons rise to the occasion, delivering the thriller energy the premise demands.

The finale disappointingly plays it safe, offering resolution without the explosive payoff the buildup deserved - a cop-out ending that settles for "good enough" rather than swinging for greatness.

Despite uneven pacing and missed opportunities, Zero Day succeeds as solid political entertainment anchored by De Niro's compelling return to form.

7.5/10 - flawed but worthwhile.

It was an enjoyable show, though the pacing lagged somewhat in the middle. However, the final episodes were engaging and held my attention much more. The series featured a well-regarded cast, good performances, and a storyline that felt plausible and important. As with most films and shows, there were moments that required some suspension of disbelief, so it wasn't flawless-but then again, what is these days? Ultimately, it delivered on its primary purpose: entertainment.

Rather than relying solely on others' opinions, I encourage you to watch it yourself. With only six episodes, it's a worthwhile experience, and you may find your own perspective on it.