Zero Day: Who Controls Society? A Series That Will Make You Think

I prefer TV series that don’t have too many episodes. Zero Day, a new series starring Robert De Niro, fits exactly into this category. Moreover, it masterfully addresses one of the most pressing issues of our time—disinformation and its impact on society.

The World of Disinformation and Oligarchs

Today, we live in an era of oligarchs and technocrats who are gradually consolidating their power. They control social networks, manipulate public opinion, and systematically discredit political opponents. They seek to undermine the system of checks and balances. These tech oligarchs own social media platforms, through which they can shape public opinion, spread false videos and misinformation about political opponents and law enforcement officers, solely to discredit them and ensure that their allied politicians—who serve their interests—come to power. We see this happening in real-time—the suppression of unverified information on social media under the guise of protecting free speech. While we argue about what the truth is, we are missing critical facts about the direction our countries are heading.

In my previous blog, I wrote about truth and our responsibility toward it. This series only reinforces how important it is to know the facts and not be misled by manipulations. Today, truth can be easily bent and distorted to maintain power in the hands of those who have already seized it.

Political Capital and Power Games

One of the most powerful themes in Zero Day is the mechanism of political capital. Every politician or party has a group of supporters behind them who helped them win elections. Naturally, these supporters expect something in return. The system is an intricate web of relationships and obligations, where in the end, it’s always about power. The series presents this with such conviction that even I found myself confused at times about who was really pulling the strings.

In their quest to discredit political opponents, these forces have absolutely no boundaries. They have no shame in digging up dirt on their opponents' families and close associates just to destroy them. We see this happening in real-time in our own country. What surprises me is that people don’t seem to find it suspicious.

Breaking Rules and Boundaries

Zero Day does an excellent job of exploring the theme of crossing boundaries—whether it’s violating laws or suppressing free speech. We see characters who deliberately lie and instill fear in the public solely to gain massive viewership and make money. On the other hand, we also see characters who break the law to force a confession from a suspect or catch a criminal. This raises an important question: Is guilt determined solely by an action, or should we also consider its intent and purpose?

If someone lies to instill fear and profit from it, it is inexcusable. If someone breaks the law to prevent a greater evil, it becomes a moral dilemma. Zero Day presents these contrasts without imposing an answer on the viewer—and that is precisely its strength.

De Niro as a Guarantee of Quality

There is no need to discuss Robert De Niro’s acting skills—they speak for themselves. Zero Day only reinforces this fact. I recently rewatched Taxi Driver, and I must say that his ability to portray psychologically complex characters is truly fascinating. In this series, he brings weight and authenticity to the storyline, drawing the audience into the narrative. I love when he delivers that cold, intense, and focused stare.

Autocracy as a Solution to Chaos?

The series also touches on a dangerous idea: that chaos is best resolved with a firm hand. The root causes of crises are swept under the rug until a so-called savior emerges, claiming to have all the answers. However, history has repeatedly shown that once a country falls into autocracy, it is incredibly difficult to return to democracy. What remains are ruined lives.

Zero Day is not just an excellent political thriller; it is also a testament to what true freedom of speech means—when art can openly highlight societal problems without fear of censorship or repression. In an authoritarian or dictatorial country, such a series would never be produced. Robert De Niro, who is not only the leading star but also the producer, uses the series to articulate what he has spoken about publicly for years—the dangers of disinformation, political manipulation, and corruption at the highest levels of power.