Zero Day Ending Explained: Who is Behind the Cyber Attack and What Happened to George Mullen?
CARE, SPOILER ALERT. Zero Day, a Netflix political thriller, follows respected former President George Mullen (Robert De Niro), who after a devastating cyber attack that caused chaos and thousands of deaths in the United States, is appointed head of the Zero Day Commission. Their mission is to find the authors and the truth, but in the process, they discover a vast network of lies and conspiracies. Furthermore, he must face his dark secrets. Who was responsible? Next, I tell you what happened to the protagonists. The series was created by Eric Newman (“ Griselda”, “The Watcher”, “Narcos”, “Narcos: Mexico”) and Noah Oppenheim (“Jackie Retirement” The Thingibera While his wife Sheila (Joan Allen) supports him, his daughter and congressman Alex (Lizzy Caplan) oppose his father’s return to politics, especially at the head of the commission that represents the largest attack on civil liberties.
Although the population seems to appreciate George Mullen’s intervention, detractors soon emerge as several arrests are ordered amid an investigation by a network of hackers called Reapers. Despite the reports of the protagonist of “Zero Day”, evidence points to the Russians and President Mitchell (Angela Bassett) considering retaliating. Mullen finds something important before the last thing happens. How to say: the fantasy that surpasses reality. Or, it is the reality that surpasses fantasy. The fact is that if we live in strange times, it is even more strange that an actor like Robert De Niro cannot have his say during an interview. But let’s go in order: in Zero Day, in which he plays a former President of the United States, the truth is the red thread that binds the six episodes, culminating precisely with a revelation capable of leaving shocked. And no, if we were to have our say, the Netflix series created by a couple of journalists, or the correspondent of the New York Times Michael S Schmidt and former NBC producer Noah Oppenheim could easily be considered as a miniseries, without a possible continuation in one second season.
Zero Day Season 1: Plot Summary
In Zero Day final on Netflix, they come those behind the cyber attack are exposed which caused more than 3,000 deaths. The plot begins with the incident, following which President Evelyn Mitchell appoints former President George Mullen to head the Zero Day Commission. In this way, the latter can work alongside Roger Carlson, Valerie Whitesell, Carl Otieno, Melissa Kornblau, Tim Pennigton, Angela Kim, and other officials from various intelligence agencies to find the culprits. Meanwhile, Richard Dreyer (president of the Chamber) and Alexandra Mullen (deputy and daughter of George) are at the helm of the Supervisory Committee to monitor the situation. In the end, here we find out that Dreyer, Alexandra, Monica Kidder, Robert Lyndon, and various members of the United States Congress are behind the attack. Dreyer was convinced that the US was now close to collapse.
For this reason, he and his other allies have decided to shake the population, putting a stop to the devices they usually use to give life to their opinions on the country’s problems. In this way, Dreyer had the purpose of making all of them understand that their requests were not of great importance in the face of the unity and sovereignty of the United States. He thought that after a few days of controlled attacks the system would start working again and the Zero Day Commission would no longer be necessary. At the same time, however, he was aware within him that the Commission would become a permanent body. But fortunately, George Mullen managed to expose Dreyer in front of the House of Representatives.
Zero Day Ending Explained: Who Was Behind the Attack?
Throughout the investigation, Mullen discovers that the attack was not the work of a foreign enemy, but of an internal conspiracy led by Richard Dreyer, the president of the House of Representatives, in collaboration with Congresswoman Alexandra Mullen (daughter of George). , tech entrepreneur Monica Kidder, and financial magnate Robert Lyndon. Their goal was to provoke a controlled collapse of the system to justify the creation of an organism with absolute power over the nation. Dreyer believed that the US was on the verge of collapse due to the extreme polarization of society. According to him, the only solution was to take a hit that would make people abandon their ideological disputes and submit to strong leadership. He planned to use the Zero Day Commission as a tool to eliminate anyone he considered an obstacle to his vision of the country. Mullen, however, was unwilling to allow the tragedy to be used to consolidate an authoritarian regime. Despite pressure and betrayal within his team, he manages to expose the conspiracy in Congress, presenting irrefutable evidence that unmasks Dreyer and his group.
What Happened to Roger?
Although he has a chance to steal his boss’s agenda, Roger decides not to and confess his guilt to Alex, with whom he has a romantic relationship. Of course, that has consequences. Men enter his apartment, drug him, and drown him in the bathtub. Police believe he died of an overdose, affecting Mullen, as his son died in similar circumstances. After Roger’s funeral, the protagonist of “Zero Day” discovers that he left a confession and clue in his diary. Thanks to this, they learn that those responsible for the cyber-attack communicate by CB radio. With the correct frequency, it doesn’t take long to crack your code and set up a trap for one of its members. After arresting him, they reach tech billionaire Monica Kidder (Gaby Hoffmann).
Who Killed Monica Kidder and Roger Carlson?
Monica Kidder, CEO of the Panoply company, was key in executing the attack. Its technological platforms were used to deactivate the country’s security systems, facilitating cyberattacks. But when his involvement was exposed, Dreyer decided it was a risk to the conspiracy and ordered his death. Kidder appears “committed suicide” in his cell, but everything indicates that it was an undercover murder to prevent him from speaking. Roger Carlson, Mullen’s trusted man, also ended up being a victim of the conspiracy. When he became suspicious of Dreyer and his allies, it became a problem. Robert Lyndon poisoned him and drowned him, pretending that he had committed suicide so as not to expose his boss.
Zero Day, The Ending: The Truth at Any Cost
As already told in our review, Zero Day starts from a catastrophic attack hacker: the United States collapses in seconds, after a sudden technological blackout. A series drenched in politics, therefore, which sees De Niro in the role of Robert Mullen, a former president much loved by the people (the dowry? Empathy), put in charge of the commission of inquiry investigating the attack. President Mitchell (Angela Bassett) directly appointed him, intent on finding the culprits as soon as possible. Also, hackers seem to have promised a further attack. If the scapegoat can be easily identified in the Russians, Mullen chooses instead to deepen, discovering an explosive conspiracy: behind zero-day there are governmental officials flanked by powerful entrepreneurs.
We find out that it is Zero Day the title is linked to the app developed by Monica Kidder (Gaby Hoffmann), then killed (or committed suicide?) in prison. Despite not having found all the culprits, Mullen started from the ultra-right conspiracy trolls to trace those key figures convinced that global instability leads to one new rebirth of America (what does it remind you?). On balance, many characters were aware of the attack even before it was carried out: among them, twist, his daughter Alexandra Mullen (Lizzy Caplan), a member of Congress, and the White House spokesman Richard Dreye (Matthew Modine). All this is accompanied by the finances of the investor Robert Lydon (Clark Gregg), capable of modeling the markets. At the end of Zero Day Mullen holds a press conference and decides to go against the president’s diktat – “Truth is truth, but it’s not always the most important thing” – revealing, in fact, the reality of who is behind the attackers. After all, as Mullen says, “Choosing to do the right thing is an opportunity to save the country”. There is no better explanation.
What Did Proteus Mean? Was it Real?
One of the most disturbing elements in history is the mysterious “Proteus”, a top-secret project developed during Mullen’s tenure as president. This experimental program consisted of a neurotoxic agent designed to deteriorate the minds of government enemies without them being aware of it. Although it had officially been canceled, Mullen began to experience symptoms similar to the effects of Proteus, leading him to suspect that someone was using it against him. However, the truth is more tragic: Proteus was a manifestation of his guilt. Mullen was being consumed by the ghosts of his past, especially the death of his son Nick. His paranoia was not the result of a chemical attack but of his conscience, haunted by the decisions he made throughout his career.
What Happened to Alexandra Mullen?
Mullen’s daughter Alexandra was part of the conspiracy in the belief that the attack would help unify the country. In his mind, people would put aside their differences and work together to rebuild the nation. But when the magnitude of the tragedy became clear and he saw how far Dreyer was willing to go, he realized that he had made a fatal mistake. Knowing that he could not escape justice, he wrote a letter confessing everything and accepting his destiny. She was arrested along with the other conspirators, marking the final fall of Dreyer’s plan.
George Mullen’s Sacrifice: Why Did You Burn Your Manuscript?
After exposing the conspiracy, Mullen had achieved his goal: to clean up the government of corrupt elements and to prevent the country from falling into authoritarianism. But the victory had a devastating personal cost. His wife abandoned him and his daughter was in prison. He realized that, despite his efforts to save the country, he had lost his own family. Before all this, Mullen had been writing a memoir explaining his vision of politics, democracy, and his legacy. But in the last symbolic act of the film, he decides to burn the manuscript. He understands that his story need not be told or justified, because his true legacy is not in the words, but in the actions he took. By destroying the book, you accept that your role has ended and that your only option is to live with the consequences of your decisions.
Conclusion of “Zero Day“
Zero Day is a political thriller that exposes how the true enemy is often not outside but within the system itself. With an ending full of betrayals, redemption, and sacrifice, the film makes it clear that the fight for democracy never ends and that every decision comes at a price. George Mullen manages to prevent the country from falling into the hands of the conspirators, but in return, he loses everything that matters to him. The message is clear: politics can devour those who are too immersed in it, and in the end, justice does not always mean victory. Zero Day reminds us that power is a beast that is never satisfied and that even those who seek to do the right thing may end up being devoured by it.
How Zero Day Ends: Explanation of the Ending
Meanwhile, there is Alexandra Mullen, George’s deputy and daughter who believes that Kidder and Dreyer devised the Zero Day attack to allow people to listen to each other instead of making conspiracy theories. He believes that what happens is not a new type of fascism and that they are not harmful to democracy. Indeed, believes he is right and that George is wrong. Only after Roger and Kidder’s death, Alexandra begins to understand and ask her father for help. George is well aware that to make justice prevail he should indict his daughter with Dreyer, Jerry Benson, Barbara Rollins, Max Trillin, and Pat Bishop.
His wife Sheila and President Mitchell advise George not to act. Alexandra knows that it would be difficult for her father to incriminate her, so she decides to leave him a letter to let him know that she is willing to pay for what she has done and confess everything. When Mullen finishes speaking in the House of Representatives, using this letter, a newsletter announces that Alexandra has been arrested and that the FBI is organizing a task force to investigate Dreyer and all the names revealed in the letter. At this point when the truth has surfaced, George should feel like a hero, but it is not so. Mullen lives with guilt over the suicide of his son Nick, who was accused of his absence. And now she feels she has failed further by seeing Alexandra as a traitor to the nation. Meanwhile, his wife throws him after his daughter’s arrest. In Zero Day final George brings the truth to light but is not satisfied. He has lost his family and now lives his life with the weight on his shoulders. In the end, he even burns his autobiography. It is not known if everyone will pay for what has been done, as we are talking about powerful people who can act as they prefer. However, what matters is that they have all been exposed.
Will Zero Day 2 Be Done? What is Known About the Second Season
There is no official news on the Zero Day renewal for a second season. Netflix presented the TV series with Robert De Niro as a limited series. So it seems it is a miniseries without a continuum. It must also be said that if the results were to satisfy the streaming giant, a second season could come. All that remains is to wait to find out.
