ZERO DAY. America Loves Conspiracy Theories

It is pure pleasure to watch Robert De Niro play a former president facing the biggest terrorist attack the U.S. has ever experienced. Fortunately, that’s the case because Zero Day feels somewhat forced and too formulaic as a response to the current political climate in the United States. The series is highly watchable thanks to its compelling execution, but it lacks innovation. A cyberattack, the Russian and Ukrainian angle, espionage, political power struggles, and a congressional investigation led by De Niro—all of these elements are familiar. We know this American storytelling style, where the plot unfolds at the highest levels of power, and the president is one of the main or the central character. No other cinema glorifies the highest office in the country in this way, almost as if it were a monarchy—though the U.S. is, after all, a democracy. But is it really? That’s the most intriguing question posed by Zero Day, rather than the actual ideas about destroying the U.S. through attacks on its digital infrastructure.

I must admit, I never imagined Robert De Niro as a U.S. president. I didn’t even believe he had the acting range to pull it off and avoid the grandiosity that often seeps into American productions about the end of the world. Zero Day isn’t about a global Armageddon but rather an attack on the United States, which for Americans feels like the end of the world. Their patriotic consciousness is shaped by the belief that their nation’s superpower status is an integral part of their civic identity. When that power is threatened, everything collapses—especially a particular vision of reality that the American Dream has failed to fulfill. Americans are increasingly aware that their global dominance is slipping away, and Donald Trump promises to restore it in a tangible, everyday sense. Of course, Zero Day doesn’t mention the current U.S. president, but the storyline exudes an atmosphere of uncertainty—both about America’s global future and its internal struggles. The show’s creators astutely suggest that the biggest threat doesn’t have to come from Russia, though Russia certainly wouldn’t help the U.S. either. The danger may be lurking within, and not just since Trump’s first election. He was merely a symptom, a prelude to the next chapter of America’s decline. Ironically, Trump now has a chance to pull the U.S. out of the mess it has been sinking into for decades. But this won’t be pleasant, nor will it be good for the rest of the world. And that is the real danger.

So, Zero Day crafts an intriguing plot, but it relies on fairly conventional elements. At times, it feels like the story takes place at such lofty heights of power that the self-importance becomes exhausting. In this aesthetically unremarkable world, De Niro is a saving grace, though he is surrounded by rather dull bureaucrats. The most tedious subplot involves a congressional investigation scrutinizing another congressional investigation, along with the endless political maneuvering for poll numbers. This detracts from the tension of another looming attack in Zero Day, pulling the viewer away from the story’s suspenseful core. Even if the plot is predictable, the series is so well-executed that one eagerly awaits the finale, hoping for a wild twist. I won’t spoil whether that happens, but I will say that De Niro delivers an outstanding performance. His portrayal is the main reason to watch this show, and after a string of forgettable “grandfather” roles, the Taxi Driver legend has finally found his place in a demanding dramatic production.

America loves conspiracy theories. Zero Day serves as a reminder that we’ve reached a stage in civilization where bombings are no longer the greatest threat to nations. Instead, it’s the subtle, technological manipulation of societal chaos. If someone were to cut off our electricity, block our bank accounts, and cripple transportation and communication networks, we wouldn’t just turn against one another—we would also fulfill the terrorists’ main objective: to rise against a government that fails to protect us. The series does an impressive job of portraying this social unrest and the delicate role of leadership in maintaining order. Overall, Zero Day is a solid production—about a 6 out of 10. However, its conventional approach and overstretched political subplots can be exhausting. One final detail worth noting is George Mullen’s behavior. It might just be the key to the entire plot. His interactions with De Niro demanded serious acting skill, sparking some intriguing associations and even hopes that the series might take an unexpected turn. See for yourself.