Entertainment

The Netflix show “Zero Day” is set in an era that didn’t occur after November 5, 2024. Given its release during a potential Democratic Party-controlled term, it seems like the co-creators Eric Newman, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt intended it as a comforting gesture. However, even if the series were creatively innovative or brilliantly acted (which it’s not), the plot revolving around an aged ex-president who may be dealing with severe dementia but conceals it following a cyberattack to preserve his powerful position while defending the U.S. against various adversaries (labeled as “radical leftists,” “tech types,” and internal political enemies) is a striking example of liberal arrogance and outdated.

As we witness our elected officials dismantling the country in real-time, the propaganda presented by “Zero Day” pales in comparison. Viewing it through this lens, the series appears as an endless loop of self-congratulation, which makes it particularly ill-timed escapism.

Previous sources have suggested tension between Barbara Broccoli and Amazon, which acquired MGM in 2021, including the Bond franchise. An article from the Wall Street Journal published in December 2024 quoted Broccoli calling Amazon executives “foolish.” Notably, no new James Bond actor or film has been announced since Daniel Craig’s last appearance in No Time to Die (2021). Known for her strong guardianship of the franchise, Broccoli has declined several opportunities for tie-in projects such as TV series and video games.

Intense, gruesome, and highly tension-filled, “The Pitt” retains a lot of its appeal thanks to its real-time narrative format. Borrowing from the structure of shows like “24“, this 15-episode season follows the events of an entire 15-hour shift in real-time. This approach adds a heightened sense of reality to the series, which has been so convincing that it’s sparked discussions online, and even praise from voices within the medical community for its authenticity.

In the TV show, what you see as just a phone is constantly being used by Reacher for chatter. Kicking off this episode, he immediately calls Duffy upon discovering Teresa’s earring in Beck’s carriage house. Based on an almost finished meal of food he had seen Duke carry out to this building earlier and the existence of a cot with a space heater, he deduces that Teresa’s captors might have moved her no more than a few hours previously. He swiftly dampens Duffy’s relief by stating, “If Beck is in cahoots with Reacher’s old adversary Francis Xavier Quinn, they aren’t keeping her alive and well for no particular reason.

On a cool April day, my mother traveled up from sunny south Florida to Chicago, and it was up to me to choose a suitable wallpaper-TV setup for her unique preferences. My Creole mom, fiercely rooted in the South, may not represent the typical palate that critics might consider when gauging mainstream American taste, but she has always served as a reliable gauge for me, especially for those who watch movies not as cinephiles, but simply for enjoyment. I would describe her tastes as quintessential American normcore.

I deliberated over true crime and romantic dramas that might appeal to her, before considering the popular streaming series Reacher, which had just wrapped up its second season. I’d been hearing a lot of praise for the show on social media – about its entertaining fun factor and the attractiveness of the lead character.

She admits to often showing appreciation for others, but during that specific instance, she clarifies that she didn’t consider it a special gift. Instead, she felt it was something one should expect, given the effort and time invested.”

The following year, Bassett was honored with an honorary Oscar at the Governors Awards.

However, the appearance of the Reapers unsettles him deeply. This domestic threat, rather than one from Russia, aligns better with the story’s reasoning: If the Russians were behind Zero Day, George’s moral quandary would not be affected by the commission’s powers. He holds the gun; will he pull the trigger? In their pursuit of the Reapers, the commission is detaining individuals left and right. Recalling the previous episode’s “history is watching” theme, George stresses the need for search warrants, causing Carl’s irritation, although these warrants hold little weight in light of the baton. The police are seen rounding up people and storming homes as Evan Green portrays the Reaper narrative as a “tall tale,” a fictitious “scapegoat being peddled to keep us quiet.

On his initial day at his new position, George is predominantly occupied with recalling the details Natan shared with him by mentally revisiting their conversation setting. Unfortunately, Natan is currently absent. The intensity of George’s focus can only last for a limited time due to an abundance of distractions, such as President Mitchell’s urgent plan to retaliate within 72 hours at the latest. Additionally, a ConEd server code spelling “maidan” in Cyrillic, related to a Ukrainian revolution, intensifies everyone’s suspicions towards Russia. Moreover, George wonders if he can rely on his own senses: he requests Roger to verify Anna Sindler’s death. Did she truly die on Day Zero? Roger consents to investigate without hesitation.

Isn’t it surprising to find Reacher, known for his minimalist lifestyle with only a passport, toothbrush, and the essentials he carries on his Mt. Rushmore-like frame, selling vinyl records? It seems incongruous that a man who cherishes mobility and self-reliance above all else in his wandering existence would opt for the bulkiest, priciest, most fragile, least portable format of music storage.

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.