'Zero Day' review: A glitchy political ride

Former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro) is on a mission — find out who’s behind the cyberattacks crippling the US. With lies, conspiracies, and his own aging mind to battle, can he pull it off? The current President (Angela Bassett) seems to think so. That’s the setup for Zero Day.

Created by Eric Newman of Narcos, Noah Oppenheim and Michael Schmidt, this six-episode political thriller boasts a top-tier cast: De Niro, Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Joan Allen, Connie Britton, and Bassett. And, of course, it takes place in Hollywood’s favourite city — New York. With a mix of Die Hard 4.0 vibes and recent thrillers, the show stretches like a gooey New York pizza — sometimes tasty, sometimes just messy.

The idea is exciting. An ex-president coming out of retirement to stop digital terrorists after a massive blackout? Sounds fresh — like an athlete coming back from retirement. But after a strong start, the show loses its way.

At 81, De Niro steps into his first limited series with Netflix, but the script barely gives him or the rest of the talented cast room to shine. The story rushes through events, skipping over important details. By the final episode, it feels like a theme park ride that started off exciting but ends up looping aimlessly. And just when it seems to find its footing again, it abruptly wraps up, leaving more questions than answers. Despite its powerhouse cast, Zero Day struggles to hold our attention and never fully delivers on its promise.