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.

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.

There should be more De Niro on TV.

An impressive emblem of the times wrapped in gleaming celluloid, "Zero Day" is the present in ace cinema presentation. Robert De Niro is George Mullen, a former president of the United States who left office for personal reasons riddled with murky gossip and rumors. Convinced out of retirement to head a group in combatting a mysterious and sinister body of hackers who launched a cyber attack that terrified a nation and claimed fatalities in the thousands, Mullen and his crew are in a race against time to outsmart and capture the criminals before the techy goons nail another devastating strike. The intense discussions, heated arguments, compelling brainstorms and intriguing mysteries all build up to an escalating tension that spirals the series to a full and satisfying finish. De Niro is the star and main focus with his endless poker face grimace as he battles naysayers, cyber attacks, colleagues and his own family in his quest to save his country. Joan Allen is the smart and kindly stoic wife who is a quiet bastion to her husband's late life ordeal. Lizzy Caplan's annoying and confused portrayal as the attractive daughter who serves as counterpoint to her father's composed and self-assured decisiveness serves as the irritating factor in this game of politics where she is way over her head. Angela Bassett is the pc quota as the stately and composed president while Matthew Modine is effective as the smug and ambitious antagonist.

With its direct depictions of technology, terrorism, conspiracy theories, fake news, ubiquitous talking heads and the cultural, social and racial divides that dominate contemporary American society, "Zero Day" may very well be the artistic representative of the era. Thrilling, riveting and relevant it's one of the standout television series and is a must see.

If you're into political thrillers then Zero Day is the show for you. This limited series is headed by an all-star cast led by the legendary Robert De Niro. De Niro gives one of his better performances of his career, the man is just incapable of giving a bad performance and this is no different. He's absolutely brilliant yet again. De Niro is as big as star as there is so for him to do a tv series you know that show would have to be special. While Zero Day isn't the best show that you'll see this year, it's still a very good show that's worth every second watching it. It's going to have most of you on the edge of your seat throughout the series, especially the last couple episodes. Some of it gets a little ridiculous but it's not based off a true story, just turn your brain off and enjoy it for the political thriller it is.

...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.