Netflix – “Zero Day” series: Dark America

What would happen if all electricity is parked for a minute for a minute? Traffic lights fail, and there are massive accidents, trains derail, stock exchange courses rustle into the basement, aircraft crash on the landing approach, parts of the health system collapse briefly and thousands of people are killed in this one minute. At least that’s how this happens as a result of a cyber attack in the new Netflix series relief “Zero Day”, in which the now 81-year-old drama star Robert de Niro gives his series debut. He plays ex-President George Mullen, who has actually set to rest, likes to go jogging and swims his morning rounds in the pool. But President Evelyn Mitchell (Angela Bassett) relies on the popular and trustworthy Mullen, in view of the impending danger of a new attack, which is supposed to lead a freshly established commission to clarify the cyber attack. Because when the electricity fails for a minute, the message can be read on all cell phones: “This will happen again!” And the anti-cyber terrorism authority with the title “Zero Day Commission” has extensive skills, can access all data, link all security services and can override civil rights without judicial resolutions.

“Zero Day” plays an attack on the USA in the style of the 9/11 in the digital age. What else are democratic fundamental rights worth if an emergency situation occurs or is explained by the government? This question currently has many people in the United States in view of the broad and ruthless offensive of the Trump administration against all possible political opponents. In this respect, the gloomy and oppressive six -part has extremely explosive topicality. Shortly after the attack, conspiracy theorists also take to the streets and insult politicians and police officers as “socialist traitors”. George Mullen also gets plenty of trouble with his daughter Alexandra (Lizzy Caplan), a Member of Congress who publicly criticizes the radical fundamental rights reduction and becomes the sharpest opponent of the new commission. The overwhelming -looking George Mullen suddenly stands in the middle of the various, together competing security services, has the president on the back of the neck, who wants to present a guilty person as quickly as possible and sees Russia as the person responsible. Due to dubious channels, Mullen finds that a domestic terrorist group could probably be behind the attack.

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In addition to the political dimension, the thriller offers a multi -layered story with different tracks with a star bid, which are cleverly designed and create enormous tension. In addition to a hacker group from the Bronx, Russian secret agents who are active in the New York area, a domestic terrorist group, the advisor of the ex-President (Jesse Plemons), various intriguing politicians and influential journalists are also concerned with the tech billionaire Monica Kidder (Gaby Hoffmann) who interferes in the investigation. Who has what interests? Which dependencies exist, there are also various flashbacks. But suddenly George has Mullen -related dropouts, or may he suffer from hallucinations? Something is wrong with this ever dark story, in which more and more police and military lines the streets of Washington and New York. “Zero Day” in a disturbing way is the current concern before an increasingly blatant fundamental rights reduction in the United States in pictures. In the grand finale, which then seems a bit upset, the main question is how crisis-proof is American democracy and how political truths are made in socio-political debates and media. This means that “Zero Day” is very close to the American topicality.

“Zero Day” on Netflix