Many shows revolve around criminals, murders, killers, assailants hiding behind shadowy alleyways unbeknownst to their victims, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Contrastingly, there are also many films that explore love, connection, and relationships. But how many movies or shows can combine both of these genres?
“56 Days” is a newly released series that explores crime, thriller, and romance all at once. Co-stars Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia are both former teen stars who broke out on the rival networks of Disney and Nickelodeon. The show was released on Feb. 18 on Prime Video.
The film, set in the city of Boston, begins with a body in a bathtub. Viewers then meet Ciara Wyse (Dove Cameron), a young woman with seemingly nothing to her background but a NASA canvas bag and a newly-leased, termite-infested studio apartment. She then is introduced to Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia), a well-off architect isolated in his luxury apartment complex. Their relationship unravels into a whirlwind of lies, deceit, stalking and obsession. “I thought that the whole show was really cool,” junior Mahi Sharma said. “I basically binge watched the entire thing because the cliffhangers were so good throughout each episode, and I was really curious who the killer was going to be. I was so shocked when they revealed it, I was at the edge of my seat.”
What I enjoyed most about this film isn’t the theatrical antics of the wide variety of characters, nor is it the usage of a non-chronological timeline, which counts down from Day 1 to Day 56 (which is when the murder takes place). Although these aspects of the film contribute to the overall vibe of the series, what I like most is the power dynamic between the two main characters. For most thriller and psychological films, it’s either one person in the relationship who stalks the other, like the popular thriller TV series “You,” starring Penn Badgley.
In 56 Days, both protagonists have their own unique flaws and issues, which they eventually learn is what makes their dynamic so complex and seamless. “I really liked ‘56 Days,’ mostly because I’ve never watched a thriller where you don’t really know who the bad guy or the good guy in the relationship is,” junior Edlawit Abebe said. “I thought it was a very modern take to make both sides of the couple (Wyse and Kennedy) have their own problems and make bad decisions, so it’s more balanced. It made for a really complex storyline.”
I also enjoyed their portrayal of both romantic and platonic male and female relationships. Along with the main protagonists, the show offers a parallel perspective into the lives of Lee Reardon and Karl Connolly, two police detectives tasked with uncovering who the body in the bathtub is and what exactly happened leading up to the murder. Throughout the show, their dynamic is similar to that of Wyse and Kennedy; both individuals having their own flaws and opinions. This repeated theme of contrasting relationships sheds light on a dynamic, both romantic and platonic, that is more realistic than having a protagonist and an antagonist in a relationship; instead, both characters are able to acknowledge their own separate issues.
“56 Days” offers a unique take on the classic Bonnie and Clyde scenario, where both protagonists are able to understand their own personalities and accept each other’s flaws and ultimately work together for a common goal. “I haven’t watched anything like it before,” junior Hailey Goldberg said. “It was very suspenseful to watch but I also found it very unique that both of the characters have their own issues and are able to look past them for each other.”
