By DoingBoing
Netflix’s new political drama Zero Day ended its season after finally exposing who is responsible for the country’s cyberattack and the deaths of over 3,400 Americans.
The electrifying drama is headlined by Academy Award winner Robert De Niro in his very first television series playing charming former U.S. President George Mullen. George retired from politics after the fatal loss of his son but is recalled to duty to head the probe into the fatal cyberattack. As chairman of the Zero Day Commission, George is given sweeping and Constitution-flouting authority by incumbent President Evelyn Mitchell (played by Angela Bassett) to discover who was responsible for the destructive attack and neutralize them before they can do it again.
This political thriller, “Zero Day,” has won over viewers with its gripping depiction of a country under cyber attack. The six-episode show, which came out on February 20, 2025, is Robert De Niro’s first starring role in a TV show, with him playing former U.S. President George Mullen. The story focuses on a disastrous cyberattack that disables national infrastructure and claims thousands of lives, forcing Mullen to take the lead in heading the Zero Day Commission as they try to pinpoint the perpetrators.
Zero day cast is populated by starring actors like Lizzy Caplan playing Mullen’s daughter, Congresswoman Alexandra Mullen; Jesse Plemons as Roger Carlson, Mullen’s ambitious chief of staff; Angela Bassett as sitting President Evelyn Mitchell; and Connie Britton as Valerie Whitesell, Mullen’s past chief of staff. The series delves into the intricacies of interplay between family relationships, political authority, and moral choices amidst periods of crises for the country.
To give a realistic presentation of political happenings, the series employed Eric Schultz, a former senior advisor to President Barack Obama at the White House. The contribution of Schultz towards making the show deliver Oval Office and Congressional scenes realistically was vital, further contributing to the show’s realism. The attention to detail that the team had in the production impressed him, and he mentioned that the show has a chilling reality because it is so real.
Where does George go from?
With his part of the work for the Zero Day Commission done and the actual culprits of the attack revealed George passes the task of taking them to justice to President Mitchell. With the bombshell news out of the way, he goes back to his house in upstate New York, which is dark and vacant. George returns to his office, where he sets fire to a copy of his untitled memoir. leaving behind the work he had been doing before the Zero Day attack. While the political thriller starts as the nation is thrown into chaos and disaster, it concludes with a peaceful moment as George stops running his dog in the morning to look out over the Hudson River and think.
Zero Day reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising its suspenseful storyline and interesting characterizations. Film critic Peter Travers referred to the series as a “suspenseful nail-biter,” praising its timely topic of cyber warfare and political gamesmanship.
De Niro, during a recent interview, disclosed his enthusiasm for the project, quoting that the complexity of George Mullen and the touch of contemporary affairs that the series brings made him embrace the role. He also praised the unity of the set environment as he noted the collaborative effort in bringing the captivating story to life.
“Zero Day” is not just exciting but also provokes the audience to think about the weaknesses of modern societies in the era of cyberattacks. As the series continues to stir controversy, it is a stark reminder of the actual implications of cyber warfare.
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