Who would have thought Disney star Dove Cameron and Nickelodeon star Avan Jogia would come together to make the highly anticipated series “56 Days?” A psychological thriller with a romance centered plot, the series was produced by Atomic Monster and Amazon MGM Studios. All eight episodes released on Feb. 18 on Prime.
The storyline follows the intense relationship between Oliver Kennedy and Ciara Wyse.
The story truly begins when a dead body is found in their shared apartment after 56 days of a tumultuous yet passionate relationship, leading to a murder investigation.
The episodes themselves alternate between past and present. Scenes from the past show events within the last 56 days of the relationship, while the present shows the murder investigation.
The story originated as a novel published in 2021 by Catherine Ryan Howard. As with most adaptations, production takes creative liberties.
Screen Rant noted an immediate setting change from the book’s Dublin to the show’s Boston. A more significant change is why Kennedy and Wyse move in together. In the novel, Kennedy and Wyse move in together due to COVID-19 lockdowns.
But the show removed the pandemic plot and instead frames it as an impulsive decision between the individuals. The show also added the character Dan Troxler, Kennedy’s therapist and makes alterations to Kennedy’s character, with Kennedy being worse in the book.
The cinematography work was top notch. Despite being categorized as a thriller, the show is often described as sultry, portrayed with the dark lighting of the show.
But Why? Tv.Net described the show as “Messy, Convoluted and Sexy” right from the first episode, despite not giving the show a good rating overall.
Both the leads exude an aesthetic that make them well-suited for dark and sultry roles.
Their performance helps the audience better visualize the characters, especially to those that read the book before watching the show.
Overall, this show is for people who like thrillers and dark romance. It is an interesting yet fitting contrast to see the stars that Gen Z grew up with moving on in their careers. “56 Days” is a must-watch for those with time to invest.
