It’s only six episodes. Six! But I watched with my fists clenched. Netflix’s Zero Day is only a thriller…I kept reminding myself that sometimes politics and conspiracy are conjoined like some circus freak.
Zero Day
Zero Day was created and produced by Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, Lesli Linka Glatter, and Michael Schmidt for Netflix. It stars Lizzy Caplan, Jesse Plemons, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, Bill Camp, Dan Stevens, Gabby Hoffmann, McKinley Belcher, Angela Bassett, and Robert DeNiro, who is also one of the executive producers. This series is DeNiro’s first-ever TV series. Zero Day is about a cyberattack that takes the lives of 3400 Americans. President Mitchell (Angela Bassett) calls on a beloved former President, George Mullen (Robert DeNiro), to head the investigation into who is behind the attack and to prevent another attack.
George, who resigned from the presidency due to the drug overdose/suicide of his son, surrounds himself with what he assumes is a trusted team: his wife, Sheila (Joan Allen), Mullen’s Chief of Staff, Valerie (Connie Britton), and Top Aide, Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons). But we’ve seen in real time that there is no loyalty in politics. George has his share of enemies within Congress, starting with the Speaker of the House (Matthew Modine). Still, there are also billionaires who want to cripple George’s investigation, which include Monica Kidder (Gaby Hoffman), Chief Executive of the global tech company, Panoply, Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg) and conspiracy talk show host, Evan Green (Dan Stevens).
Mullen essentially initiates a national investigation that not only borders but blatantly crosses the Constitution…at times resorting to torture to find the people behind the cyberattack. Six episodes…and I’m comparing notes to what is happening in the United States in real-time and what is happening in the series. To add to the stress, we constantly question George Mullen’s sanity. Throughout the series, we hear the song Who Killed Bambi by the Sex Pistols. Mullen hears music when no one is playing, and he is also hallucinating. His staff question his decisions, as do we, the viewers. What is the cause of Mullen’s symptoms? When a second cyberattack hits one of the major banks, riots break out when people cannot buy food. Without cash, credit cards are useless in the event of a cyberattack on our banking system.
Conclusion
I am purposely withholding information on the series because this is a must-see situation. The six episodes take us on an active investigation. Who was powerful enough to cause this cyberattack? Would our own country betray us?
I binge-watched the entire six episodes with my daughter. I am a fighting Blue, Woke, Liberal, and my only child is pro-Trump/Musk. We survive cohabitation by not talking about politics. We both loved the series, but I’m sure my fists were clenched tighter than hers. I have the cuts on my palms to prove it.
Zero Day is one of the best thrillers that I’ve watched in a long time. The writing and acting are top shelf. It is a history lesson disguised as entertainment. Zero Day is also a warning. Years ago, when I began writing about The Walking Dead for Biff Bam Pop, I joined a prepper group called ZombieSquad.org
Several situations in the series remind us that our own government can be our worst enemy. My advice is to keep cash hidden in the house just in case there is a cyberattack on the banks. Stock up on water and survival items: rice, flowers, canned foods, peanut butter, beans, charcoal, can opener, matches, medications, and weapons. I think that you will agree with me after watching Zero Day.
