Zero Day recap guide: All 6 episodes explained

So many TV series, limited or ‘"unlimited," are dubbed as binge-able, something the viewers can gulp quickly, often in a single go, but really have the plot, tension, or execution (or neither of those) to deserve the epithet.

Well, if you are seeking one that you can easily muster in one go (with the usual breaks), then Zero Day, the six-episode limited series starring Robert De Niro and a quite stellar cast that just started showing on Netflix is certainly the one for you. Actually, it is a worthy watch, whether you want to binge on it or not.

An intriguing (horrifying) idea is developed into a tense, gripping plot with a number of streams that, in the beginning, pose more questions with possible puzzling answers that slowly unravel with a number of surprising answers that are kept hidden almost or fully to the end.

Zero Day is definitely one to watch on Netflix

At the same time, the cast led by De Niro includes the likes of Jesse Plemons, Lizzy Caplan, Angela Bassett, Mathew Modine, and others, who are able to carry the plot and, at times, some riveting action to its conclusion.

So, what is the Zero Day about? George Mullen (De Niro) is a former one-term president who is tasked to lead a special investigative commission into a massive cyberattack that has serious and horrific consequences.

Through a series of false and not-so-false leads, actions, personal crises, and relations, Mullen concludes his investigation with a number of twists. Recapping the six episodes without giving too many spoilers isn’t easy with this one, but here is the gist of all the six episodes that present quite a gripping watch.

Episode 1

Secluded in his residence somewhere in New State, former one-term president George Mullen is leading a quiet life with all the privileges a former president gets. His attempt at writing a memoir is not going well, as a meeting with the publisher’s representative shows, and it turns out that the problem seems to mainly stem from the fact that his son died during his presidency.

As the representative leaves, a quick, horrific cyberattack ensues, and it seems that the representative is among thousands of victims. The sitting president, Evelyn Mitchell (Angel Bassett), wants Mullen to head the investigative commission into the attack, which would give it unprecedented powers.

After deliberating the offer with his wife Sheila (Joan Allen) and his former aide Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons) giving him a go-ahead sign and his daughter Alexandra (Lizzy Caplan), a current congresswoman, opposing it, Mullen accepts, but a number of intriguing questions open as the episode winds up.

Episode 2

The commission starts its work focusing on the possible involvement of Russia in the cyberattack through a hacking ring that possibly involves the NSA in the whole thing.

A number of intriguing questions open up - from the dilemma of whether the U.S. should immediately act upon the possible Russian involvement to Mullen himself's unidentified health issues to the involvement and role of a shady businessman who is trying to exert his influence through Carlson, who is again Mullen’s aide in the commission.

Episode 3

After the initial arrests and investigations, a set of negative public and official reactions set in, spearheaded by a conspiracy theory TV journalist Evan Green (Dan Stevens), and Richard Dreyer (Matthew Modine), speaker of the house, who wants to be involved in the process though an oversight committee, to which he appoints Mullen’s daughter Alex, which is actually supposed to investigate Mullen.

At the same time, Mullen’s wife Sheila involves Valerie Whitesell (Connie Britton), his former chief of staff (and, it turns out, also his former lover) in the whole investigative commission.

Episode 4

Another cyber attack ensues, this time on a financial institution, handing Mullen and his investigation new setbacks, with another name getting prominence- that of Monica Kidder, a tech mogul that can both hinder or help.

At the same time, Mullen is trying to unravel two more mysteries -whether the publisher’s representative is really dead and what lies behind the mysterious term of Proteus. His somewhat sidelined aide Clemons (who turns out to be his daughter’s secret lover) is put in front of an extremely difficult choice.

Episode 5

Things are still going downhill for Mullen; as he arrests and releases Green, a memory of his son’s death sets in, followed by another tragedy. At the same time, Dreyer’s push to discredit and replace Mullen is in full swing, with Dreyer banking his attempts at a testimony Mullen’s wife Sheila has to give before Congress. Suddenly, things start to open up.

Episode 6

Slowly, all the questions start to get their answers, partly through another tragedy that previously ensued. All the participants in the plot are discovered, as well as who is openly or not so openly supporting Mullen.

The former president gets his answers, without liking quite a few of them. In writing and presenting his final report, Mullen is faced with an excruciating dilemma, that would be life-changing both for him and for others.