Zero Day

Opens well, gets the hook sequence underway quite quickly, but then subsides into the standard formula of who was it and conspiracies that are going to play out til the last episode. It's slick but not intelligent. There's enough to keep you watching to see where its going, De Niro is great, but it just feels too cheesy. I'm impressed by location shots and I get it references current political sentiment in a benign sort of way. It also is an easy one to see telegraphed character moves.

Some scenes are a bit altruistic, which don't seem to gel with the real worlds happening of the story, but overall it's one of they few new stories that you will keep going until you while the mystery of who done it, and the key characters multiple facades come undone.

...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.

The series starts well but loses its pace soon after in the name of investigation. The audience keeps wondering when the actual investigation would take place, as it focuses on everything from personal demons to surrounding pressures except the core investigation. It takes until Episode 5 (out of 6 episodes) for the series to truly get going, and the last two episodes are undoubtedly the best of this series.

Robert De Niro excels, and I think there's no doubt about his acting prowess. However, I feel a powerful actor like Angela Bassett was underutilized, and somehow her performance isn't up to the mark, possibly due to a sub-par script and weak dialogues.

Overall, it's a slow, uneventful series that has a very interesting and engaging plot on paper, but the makers fail to capitalize on it. It only truly excels because of the powerful acting and the strength of its final two episodes.

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.

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.