Zero Day Series-Premiere Recap: Who Killed Bambi?

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The political backdrop in “Zero Day,” Netflix’s latest limited series, mirrors our present-day issues: the decline of public trust in protective institutions, the rise of conspiracy theories to explain widespread disillusionment, and a longing for a time when things seemed simpler and better. In this show, Robert De Niro portrays George Mullen, a former U.S. President who, unlike many others, could reliably gather bipartisan support. His unblemished record serves as a symbol of a time when people felt secure in their leader’s decision-making abilities.

George is deeply committed to documenting his part in history, with a particular focus on himself. In his peaceful Hudson estate, his study houses an extensive collection of black Moleskines, neatly organized by date and topic. However, as his publisher sends him a young assistant, Anna Sindler, to aid in transforming these notes into a memoir, a crisis arises at the same time – just when he doesn’t want to discuss his past with her questions. When she briefly mentions his son’s untimely death and decision not to seek re-election again, he insists he doesn’t require her assistance; he intends to submit the memoir draft himself, without any help.

George leads a secluded existence in Hudson, spending his days swimming, running, and playing with his beloved Golden Retriever, Del. His daily routine also includes medication for high cholesterol. He shares a warm bond with his wife Sheila, now a federal judge, although they sleep separately. Their daughter Alex, a congresswoman, prefers to avoid discussions with her father, especially on non-political topics. The general impression is that, having lived honorably and stepped away from public life gracefully, George has primarily focused on himself. However, the Zero Day cyber attack that claims Anna’s life during his meeting with her serves as the catalyst pulling him back into the public eye.

This will happen again.” At that moment, Anna was looking at it when a train crashed into her car at full speed. We later find out from a news broadcast in George’s home that the transportation sector was one of the main targets of the cyber attack. Trains derailed, planes crashed, and subways collided across the country. This event is called “Zero Day,” which refers to a cyberattack exploiting unidentified weaknesses in software systems. Although I’m not sure about the technical meaning of these terms, it’s clear that the situation is catastrophic.

A previous employee named Roger Carlson, portrayed by Jesse Plemons in an engaging manner, pays a visit to George’s house. He shares that the White House has requested George to travel to an ongoing rescue site in Manhattan, where he can greet first responders, offer support, and boost morale. Initially hesitant, George is swayed by Roger’s emphasis on his leadership skills and ability to make people feel less isolated.

At the site, George uses these abilities when a man’s claims about crisis actors, insurance fraud, government agents, and socialist infiltrators spark an argument. With a stern yet reassuring tone, reminiscent of a beloved teacher scolding misbehaving students, George addresses the crowd. Although it’s a sentimental moment, with emotional music playing in the background as he appeals to “true patriotism,” it proves effective –– the speech quickly becomes national news before George has even returned home.

Alex disapproves of this situation entirely; she contacts Roger to accuse him of exploitation. It’s not the White House, but rather Roger himself who had the idea to send George to the site. Given that every political narrative is a game of seizing opportunities, I anticipate an interesting confrontation between these two as they vie for prominence.

During this interim period, President Evelyn Mitchell, who is open to opportunities, invites George to the Oval Office. The invitation comes after a viral event, where she offers him the position of chairman for a special investigatory commission. This role comes with unique powers in terms of surveillance and jurisdiction, designed to unravel the mystery behind recent events. She emphasizes that while speed is important, a trustworthy outcome is even more crucial. Interestingly, George and his partner, Sheila, had already made up their minds against re-entering the political scene at the national level. George’s strong reputation is partly due to his absence since the end of his term, and returning to a changed landscape might tarnish his image. The current status of Sheila’s career as a public servant is briefly mentioned but not elaborated further.

So far, the show had kept me hooked – I was genuinely interested in George’s predicament, the design of the cyber attack, and the intricacies of his personal life. However, a couple of things piqued my curiosity even more. Firstly, when George directed his driver to take a detour to Langley, Virginia, and later learned that Bill Camp was going to portray Jeremy Lasch, the C.I.A. director. This twist caught my full attention. Jeremy informed George that things were far worse than he imagined, but right before revealing specific details, the walls of their conference room became soundproof and obscured. This secretive conversation left us in the dark, which felt like a bit of a cheat. Still, we knew things must be truly dire because upon returning to the car, George appeared shaken. In an unexpected move, Roger handed him a fresh Moleskine notebook and said, “Someday, the rain will wash all this filth from the streets,” though humorously, he was only joking.

That evening, during Sheila’s confirmation festivities, Alex confides in me that she intends to vote against the commission due to its fascist nature. While her concerns about the escalating abuse of power are valid, it’s clear she has her own motives hidden up her sleeve – ones we haven’t uncovered yet. She’s always muttering under her breath and receiving cryptic texts from unknown sources, and there’s no denying her past with Roger. As their playful banter reveals, she harbors a grudge against her father for not believing she was ready to run, despite her winning two elections. In a recurring theme that mirrors the show’s use of handheld camera movement and close-ups, she reminds Roger that the world has changed dramatically since his time in office, making any political comeback impossible “in this climate.” Sheila shares my concern; she calls the commission “the greatest threat to civil liberties our country has ever faced.” That’s why it’s crucial George leads it: he’s said to be incorruptible.

George has a confidential informant, someone named Natan who is also his friend. They maintain contact using a cover story as a dry cleaning business, but Natan cautions that there will come a point when he can no longer meet up. For now, Natan reveals that the Russian military intelligence agency GRU has been sponsoring hackers in New York to create chaos through ransomware and similar methods, with Felix leading this group. It’s possible that Felix is behind a data center in the Bronx powerful enough to initiate a large-scale cyber attack. This information seems credible because we’ve been tracking a Russian agent named Alexi Lebedev as he pressures a young hacker to disclose Felix’s new secure location. After successfully acquiring it, Alexi destroys a pile of papers, an action that appears completely innocent.

Three mornings following the Zero Day, George declares his acceptance for the position as commission leader, an offer that sailed through Congress with extraordinary bipartisan approval. Amidst the throng of journalists outside his home, he spots Anna Sindler, the author who visited him a century ago. This is one of several signs suggesting George might be unwell: occasionally, his sight clouds over, and sounds grow faint. The previous evening, the song “Who Killed Bambi?” by the Sex Pistols proved too intense for his senses, forcing him to ask for the music to be turned off. In his speech, George recalls his late friend John Flanagan, a fellow soldier whose senseless killing in Brooklyn motivated George to pursue a career as a prosecutor.

The tension escalates significantly as George prepares to leave for D.C., following some crucial phone calls from Natan during the night. George hastily scribbles down these updates in his notebook, which he later locks away in a safe. The episode starts with him struggling to recall the combination for the safe. A Secret Service agent knocks on the door just as a helicopter hovers overhead, urging George to retrieve the notebook since Natan had called again, stating the information could be “the key to everything.” However, when George finally manages to open the notebook, he finds it filled with questions like “Who killed Bambi?” and a chilling note saying “George killed Bambi,” eerily reminiscent of The Shining. Suspecting someone has tampered with his safe and replaced the notebook, George frantically searches his estate but fails to recognize Wayne, his house manager, who had been assisting him for the past hour under the name Hector, a detail Sheila reminds him of, as Hector actually retired five years ago. This is alarming because we’ve seen George interact with Hector throughout the episode.

President’s Daily Brief

In simpler terms, I found the first episode a bit too obvious in its message, but “Zero Day” could turn out to be enjoyable as it skillfully uses typical elements of the conspiracy thriller genre to keep you hooked. The dialogue may seem a bit silly, given the amount of exposition required. However, what really drew me in was Robert De Niro’s performance. At 81 years old, he is taking on a new medium with his usual style and finesse.

In this series, the news plays a dual role: it not only clarifies the current situation but also brings the narrative closer to our own world, which appears to align with one of the show’s primary objectives as stated. Eric Newman, a co-creator for the show, was previously a producer on Alfonso Cuarón’s 2006 film “Children of Men,” and like “Zero Day,” this film employs a similar narrative device and shares some similar themes.

Upon laying eyes on George’s collection of Moleskin books for the first time, I couldn’t help but think of Don DeLillo’s 1988 novel Libra, particularly his portrayal of the CIA’s library. “Nicholas Branch finds himself in a room filled with books, a room of documents, theories, and dreams…” Now seems like an ideal moment to dive back into that book once more.

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2025-02-20 12:54