ZERO DAY Review, PARADISE Review — Tandy vs Lisa on The Hollywood Beat
Lisa Johnson Mandell
In their Paradise review and Zero Day review, Tandy Culpepper and Lisa Johnson Mandell give their takes on two TV dramas that are already getting Emmy buzz.
High concept. It’s a compound adjective used to describe certain film and TV projects, and it’s defined as “a simple, easily grasped idea or premise that forms the core of a story.” Such is the case for two political thriller series featured in this episode of the Hollywood Beat: Paradise and Zero Day.
Zero Day review — Thumbs down from Tandy, thumbs up from Lisa
zero day review paradise review
Zero Day arrived on Netflix with all the makings of a prestige political thriller: a star-studded cast led by Robert De Niro, a ripped-from-the-headlines premise, and the weighty direction of Leslie Linka Glatter (Homeland, Mad Men). Created by journalists Eric Neumann, Noah Oppenheim, and Michael Schmidt, the series aims for relevance and immediacy in an age of rising digital threats. Tandy believes that unfortunately, it collapses under the weight of its ambition.
De Niro plays George Mullen, a former U.S. president reluctantly pulled back into the spotlight by current President Evelyn Mitchell (played with gravitas by Angela Bassett) after a catastrophic cyberattack devastates the country, killing thousands. The fictional “Zero Day” references a real-world cybersecurity term for an undiscovered software vulnerability — a nod to precedents such as the 2010 Stuxnet worm used against Iran’s nuclear program.
The show assembles an impressive ensemble cast: Joan Allen as former First Lady Sheila Mullen, Lizzy Caplan as Mullen’s daughter and congresswoman Alex, Connie Britton as his steely ex–Chief of Staff, and Matthew Modine as the calculating Speaker of the House. With these performances, Zero Day promises a taut, emotionally resonant exploration of power, grief, and responsibility in a digitally fraught America.
But while the premise is timely, the execution falters, according to Culpepper. Despite a gripping setup, the narrative drifts, bogged down by exposition and flat dialogue. Rather than building tension, the six-episode arc sags in the middle and ultimately fizzles in its final act. The climactic revelations lack the impact the series clearly aims for, leaving viewers with more questions than catharsis.
Lisa agrees, with some of these assertions, but believes but isn’t as bothered by them, and thinks that the performances, production qualities and original plot make up for those short comings. It’s not the perfect political thriller, but is well worth the watch.
One particularly jarring creative choice is the show’s use of real news anchors — Jake Tapper, Wolf Blitzer, Tucker Carlson, Nicolle Wallace — woven into the fictional world. Instead of adding authenticity, these cameos feel gimmicky and break the immersion, according to Tandy. He feels they blur the line between fiction and reality in a way that’s more distracting than provocative.
Lisa on the other hand, liked the use of real TV personalities—she feels it brings authenticity to the story, and gives audiences more to relate to.
Zero Day had real potential — not just as a political thriller, but as a cultural commentary on America’s digital vulnerabilities and the erosion of public trust. Instead, it’s a high-profile letdown: all signal, no payload, says Tandy.
On the other hand, Lisa says that although the series didn’t reach its true potential, it’s not without entertainment value, and it does indeed provide an interesting look and insight into a semi plausible future.
Paradise review — Tandy and Lisa agree
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Meanwhile, on Hulu:
In the saturated world of political thrillers, Paradise carves out—both figuratively and literally—its own bold space. Created by This Is Us mastermind Dan Fogelman, the series takes place in a lavishly constructed underground city carved into the Colorado mountains, designed as a last refuge for 25,000 select citizens ahead of an unspecified cataclysm. Anchored by strong performances and a tantalizing central mystery, Paradise is an ambitious blend of speculative fiction, political chess, and human drama.
James Marsden plays President Cal Bradford, The President of the United States when all hell breaks loose. His murder in the opening episode sets the series’ central mystery into motion. Enter Sterling K. Brown as Secret Service Agent Xavier Collins, a loyal protector and close confidant of the president, who finds his friend’s lifeless body under baffling circumstances. There are no signs of forced entry. No clear suspects. Just one burning question: who killed the President in a bunker sealed off from the world?
Fogelman’s skill with character-driven storytelling is on full display, most notably in the complex relationship between Xavier and Cal, and in the slow-burning arc that reveals Xavier’s personal loss: a wife left stranded on the surface during the catastrophe. That emotional through-line helps ground the show amid its grander sci-fi elements and plot twists.
But Tandy thinks the real scene-stealer is Julianne Nicholson as Samantha “Sinatra” Redmond, a billionaire power broker who operates with steely precision behind the curtain. Part tech mogul, part political puppet master, she embodies the unsettling truth that wealth and influence often survive—and thrive—even in the apocalypse. Lisa is not as sold on her performance.
What sets Paradise apart isn’t just its performances or storytelling—it’s the world-building. The underground city, inspired by the very real Cheyenne Mountain Complex, is a marvel of visual and conceptual design. With artificial skies, simulated weather, and all the amenities of a functioning metropolis, the setting is both awe-inspiring and claustrophobic. It asks a haunting question: how much comfort is enough to make people forget the world they left behind?
Told through flashbacks and real-time developments, Paradise keeps viewers guessing not only about the identity of the killer, but about the true nature of the “event” that forced humanity underground. The show doesn’t reveal all its cards in season one, but offers just enough: a voice recording suggesting survivors on the surface, and a final scene that sends Xavier off in a desperate, hopeful search for his wife.
Renewed for a second season, Paradise proves to be a gripping ride—part mystery, part sci-fi, part political parable. It’s an expertly paced thriller that rewards patient viewers with tension, emotion, and questions that linger long after the credits roll.
Watch Lisa and Tandy reveal fascinating facts in their Paradise review and Zero Day review below:
