’56 Days’ sometimes forgets it’s a thriller, but detectives keep the story afloat

by

The new Prime Video series “56 Days,” based on Catherine Ryan Howard’s 2021 novel, is being advertised as an erotic thriller. This means the show will feature occasional sex scenes – in places like cars, alleyways, or bedrooms – though these are brief and more focused on suggestion than explicit detail, with limited nudity. It’s not overly graphic for those expecting that.

The story begins with a shocking discovery – a body found in a bathtub – before flashing back to the start of Oliver and Ciara’s relationship. We first see them meeting at a grocery store, and it quickly becomes clear their encounter isn’t a coincidence, though who brought them together remains a mystery. Their awkward attempts at flirting feel unnatural – it’s hard to tell if this is how people their age actually talk, or if it’s simply poor writing and acting. However, this oddness might be intentional, hinting that something isn’t right. We soon discover that neither Oliver nor Ciara is being truthful about who they are, and Oliver is particularly desperate to escape a troubled past, despite seemingly living in plain sight.

They’re presented as complete opposites who are drawn to each other. He works a support job at an architecture firm, while she’s in the IT field. His apartment is sleek and modern but feels cold and impersonal, whereas hers is a bit run-down and clearly well-lived-in. He struggles with insomnia and tries to manage it with various remedies, while she’s comfortable and casual, often sporting a Future Farmers of America sweatshirt. He’s physically fit and has a beard, a stark contrast to her delicate appearance and dark, striking look. She’s the more laid-back one, while he tends to get anxious and overthink things. He projects success and wealth, and she comes from a family facing financial hardship. Despite their differences, they both dislike kombucha and share a fascination with space, though she’s clearly been brushing up on the subject.

In the present-day scenes, Detectives Lee and Karl are investigating a body found in a bathtub. The body is badly decomposed due to something the killer added to the water, making it difficult to determine if it’s a man or a woman. However, through quick cuts to other scenes, we learn the bathtub is located in Oliver’s apartment.

Stories that jump between past and present aren’t new, but the series “56 Days” really emphasizes this technique, using day numbers as titles to show where we are in the timeline. It’s a clever idea – viewers can try to solve the mystery by watching events unfold in the past, while the detectives in the present deal with the consequences. While I haven’t read the original book, it’s clear the series takes significant liberties with the plot and adds a lot of extra storylines. Like many streaming shows these days, it feels a bit overloaded with content.

The show feels like two separate stories – one set in the past, and one in the present – with very different styles of filming, acting, and even how the characters speak. While a few characters from the past reappear in the present – including Oliver’s psychiatrist, a determined journalist, Ciara’s edgy sister, and Oliver’s understanding boss – the central characters from each timeline, Oliver and Ciara, never interact with Lee and Karl.

It’s likely the film’s ‘erotic’ elements will attract more attention than its thriller aspects. Thrillers are common, and often described as harsh, but this film isn’t really like that – it’s more visually appealing than bleak. The camera lingers on the young characters, focusing on their looks and intense expressions. However, this focus on sensuality sometimes feels a bit over the top – which often happens when a film tries to be ‘erotic’, leading to awkward dialogue like, “We’re just going through the motions, aren’t we?” There’s even a scene with large fans that intentionally echoes the famous pose of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet on the Titanic.

The show isn’t bad, and I especially enjoyed the detectives and their straightforward approach to solving crimes. They methodically investigate scenes, offer theories (often incorrect ones), and interview suspects – with a dry wit and a relatable impatience, like simply wanting to get a search warrant so they can eat. The supporting characters have their own personal dramas, likely to create balance with the main couple and emphasize the show’s focus on relationships, trust, and mutual support. It could also just be a way to extend the runtime, but the actors pull it off well.

Souza (known from “Home Economics” and “How to Get Away With Murder”) gives a particularly strong performance, conveying a lot with subtle expressions and feeling genuinely real – something not all the characters achieve. Missick is a perfect match for her. It made me wish these detectives could star in their own series, like I’ve hoped for with other limited series characters before.

Read More

2026-02-18 14:31