Alright, folks, buckle up, because Netflix has just dropped a political thriller that’s so eerily relevant, you might start questioning your Wi-Fi security. Zero Day, the latest addition to the streaming giant’s ever-growing list of star-studded dramas, gives us Robert De Niro as a former U.S. president caught in a nationwide cyber-attack—which, let’s be honest, is already more believable than half of what we see in the news these days.

But is Zero Day a pulse-pounding, edge-of-your-seat thriller, or just another overhyped political drama that takes itself too seriously? Let’s dive in.

The Plot: When the Screens Go Dark, So Does America

Picture this: one random day, the entire country’s power grid blinks out for sixty full seconds. Just one minute of total darkness, but in that time, traffic lights shut down, hospital machines glitch, and a wave of pure, unfiltered panic sweeps across the U.S. But the real kicker? Just before the power returns, every screen in America flashes the cryptic message: “THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN.”

Cue mass hysteria.

Enter President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), a retired but once-beloved leader who stepped away from politics after a personal tragedy. When the crisis hits, he’s pulled back into the game to lead a commission investigating the cyberattack. But there’s one little problem—Mullen’s sharp mind isn’t what it used to be. He’s battling hallucinations, memory lapses, and an unsettling mental soundtrack featuring the Sex Pistols’ “Who Killed Bambi?” on a loop. (Yes, really.)

As Mullen races against time to figure out who’s behind the cyber-attacks and what their next move will be, he’s also facing his own internal struggles, the weight of past decisions, and a rapidly unraveling government.

Because, you know, that’s exactly what we need right now—more political instability. Thanks, Netflix.

The Cast: A Powerhouse Lineup

If you’re going to build a show around a legendary actor like De Niro, you better surround him with an A-list supporting cast. Zero Day delivers on that front:

✅ Angela Bassett as the current U.S. President Evelyn Mitchell. You already know she’s bringing that no-nonsense, powerhouse energy.

✅ Lizzy Caplan as Mullen’s ambitious congresswoman daughter, Alexandra, who is not thrilled about her father getting sucked back into the political machine. (We stan political family drama.)

✅ Jesse Plemons, Connie Britton, and Joan Allen round out the ensemble, each adding their own gravitas to this high-stakes drama.

With a lineup like this, even if the script was a total mess, the acting alone could probably save it.

Is Zero Day Actually Good?

Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re a political thriller junkie who loves government conspiracies, cyber warfare, and men in expensive suits making Very Important Phone Calls™, then yes, you’ll probably eat this up.

But if you’re expecting an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat thriller with explosions, shootouts, and De Niro throwing hands, you might want to lower those expectations. This show is more about paranoia, power struggles, and the slow unraveling of truth rather than non-stop action sequences.

What Critics Are Saying

🟢 The Guardian calls it “an astonishing amount of fun”, praising De Niro’s performance and the show’s sharp writing.

🟡 Vulture is a little more skeptical, dubbing it “a centrist fantasy” that might not fully grasp today’s political landscape.

🔴 Vanity Fair thinks the show’s message gets lost in its complex, layered plot, making it hard to fully latch onto the story.

So yeah, reviews are all over the place, much like the American political system itself.

The Big Question: Should You Watch Zero Day?

✅ Watch it if:

✔ You love Robert De Niro and want to see him flex his acting chops in a completely different kind of role.
✔ You’re into political dramas that lean heavy on realism, tension, and cyber warfare paranoia.
✔ You want a show that feels eerily relevant in today’s world of digital warfare and misinformation.

❌ Skip it if:

✖ You were hoping for a James Bond-style thriller with high-speed chases and big action sequences.
✖ You don’t have the patience for slow-burn political storytelling that demands full attention.
✖ You’re looking for something light and fun. (This show is many things, but “fun” isn’t exactly one of them.)

Final Verdict: A Thought-Provoking Thriller or Just Another Political Drama?

At the end of the day, Zero Day is intelligent, timely, and filled with powerhouse performances, but it’s also dense, complex, and not exactly an easy binge. If you’re up for a cerebral, slow-burning political thriller that explores cyber threats and government secrets, this could be your next obsession.

But if you’re here for action-packed, adrenaline-fueled espionage? You might want to fire up Mission: Impossible instead.

Rating: 7.5/10 – Great performances, strong storytelling, but requires patience.

Streaming now on Netflix. Just make sure your cybersecurity settings are updated first… you never know who’s watching.