Angela Bassett sitting in the Oval Office in 'Zero Day.'Image via Netflix
By
Liam Gaughan
Published 11 minutes ago
Liam Gaughan is a film and TV writer at Collider. He has been writing film reviews and news coverage for ten years. Between relentlessly adding new titles to his watchlist and attending as many screenings as he can, Liam is always watching new movies and television shows.
In addition to reviewing, writing, and commentating on both new and old releases, Liam has interviewed talent such as Mark Wahlberg, Jesse Plemons, Sam Mendes, Billy Eichner, Dylan O'Brien, Luke Wilson, and B.J. Novak. Liam aims to get his spec scripts produced and currently writes short films and stage plays. He lives in Allentown, PA.
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Politics may be more divisive now than they have ever been before, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t serve as inspiration for electrifying entertainment. Homeland was often in the headlines for the ways in which it drew from hot-button topics of discussion to create unpredictable twists and turns, and one of the show’s primary directors, Lesli Linka Glater, is responsible for one of Netflix’s biggest hits of 2025. Zero Day was a captivating miniseries because it presented a realistic scenario about an American response to a terrorist threat and explored the multiple players that would seek to benefit from the crisis. Although the show only debuted in February, it has already begun to feel a bit eerie given how closely it's predicted recent news stories.
Netflix has earned some criticism for the way that it releases its “limited event” shows; some feel like they originated as film scripts and were expanded into multiple episodes, while others (such as The Perfect Couple and Untamed) were renewed for second seasons. However, Zero Day has enough plot to justify being told over six episodes, but also features the type of definitive conclusion that would prevent it from ever earning additional seasons. It's unlikely that such an expansive cast of A-list stars would be willing to sign on to a show that lasted for several years, but the fact that they all managed to make time for Zero Day is a testament to just how strong the writing is.
What Is 'Zero Day' About?
Zero Day takes an unusual approach to examining the crisis of leadership in the United States, as it follows the perspective of two different Presidents of the United States. Although it is President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) who is commander-in-chief at the beginning of the series, Robert De Niro stars as the former President George Mullen, who is brought in to assist after a devastating cyberterrorist attack damages the nation’s infrastructure. Even if it's a work of escapist entertainment that takes more than a few liberties with the facts, Zero Day is surprisingly authentic in analyzing the ways in which the federal government would have to respond to such an unseen and deadly threat. Most critical is the way in which the series questions the weight of responsibility that comes with making decisions that impact countless innocent lives; although Mullen might be the best and most experienced person to be tasked with this role, accepting such a seismic position of power does mean that he could compromise some aspects of democracy.
Zero Day hinges on the idea that a former President could have regrets about what was achieved during his tenure, as Mullen is revealed to have exited the office prematurely after a personal tragedy. De Niro gives one of his best performances in years, proving that he shouldn’t have been discounted just because he took the occasional paycheck role in Dirty Grandpa or Little Fockers. It’s easy to empathize with Mullen’s rage, particularly during a scene in New York City where he rails against the public for not showing the qualities of fairness, respect, and humility that define being an American. At the same time, putting so much power in the hands of an unpredictable leader does become dangerous, especially when Mullen begins using his espionage network to attack those whom he has held a personal grudge against. De Niro is also able to depict the challenges that come with growing older and dealing with physical and mental challenges in a respectful way that does not feel exploitative.
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Let's get dangerously diplomatic.
Posts By Remus Noronha Apr 6, 2025‘Zero Day’ Has One of the Year’s Best Ensemble Casts
Although the fascinating dynamic between De Niro and Bassett results in some of the most thought-provoking segments of Zero Day, nearly every role in the show is played by an acclaimed actor, ensuring that even the most procedural scenes are fascinating. Jesse Plemons had previously worked with De Niro on The Irishman, but he shares even more scenes with the legendary actor in Zero Day because he plays Roger Carlson, a political consultant and aide to Mullen. Although it is eventually revealed that Carlson does have some blood on his hands, his earnest desire to protect the personal and professional reputation of the former President makes him one of the show’s most admirable characters. He’s also given a more emotional crisis given his secret romance with Mullen’s daughter, Alexandra (Lizzy Caplan), who is helping to stand on a committee led by Speaker of the House Richard Dreyer (Matthew Modine) to ensure that the Zero Day Commission is not abusing its power. Making the series about both Mullen’s political and familial vulnerabilities was a smart way to make the character more relatable, particularly due to the strong chemistry De Niro has with Joan Allen, who plays his wife Sheila.
Zero Day does examine the flaws that exist within the American infrastructure, but it also identifies the caustic dissenters that have plunged the nation into further chaos. Zero Day has some of the most memorable villains in recent television history because they each feel like they could easily exist in real life. Dan Stevens sheds any of his inherent charisma to play Evan Green, a radical conservative conspiracy theorist whose criticism of Mullen empowers hate speech throughout the country; although Stevens has a scene-chewing, nasty performance, Clark Gregg is almost just as detestable as the Wall Street billionaire Robert Lydon, who uses his power and influence to sway industry and politics. As powerful as it is to see how these selective antagonists are responsible for innumerable national issues, Zero Day is smart in not painting many of its characters as completely righteous, as everyone seems to exist in a moral grey area. While it edges toward reality in ways that some may find uncomfortable, Zero Day is so effective in depicting the honest rage, trepidation, and confusion of the current American moment that it is absolutely one of the most important programs to air in 2025.
Zero Day
TV-MA
Drama
Thriller
Release Date
2025 - 2025-00-00
Genres
Drama, Thriller
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