56 Days Review
Director: Alethea Jones, Shana Stein and Lauren Wolkstein
Date Created: 2026-02-18 13:47
2.5
56 Days Review: Directed by Alethea Jones, Shana Stein and Lauren Wolkstein, the Prime Video series stars Dove Cameron as Ciara Wyse and Avan Jogia as Oliver Kennedy, Patch Darragh as Dan Troxler, alongside Karla Souza, Megan Peta Hill, Dorian Missick and others and is based on Catherine Ryan Howard’s novel of the same name. The series consists of eight episodes that are about 48 minutes in length and attempts to bring together elements of erotic tension, mental manipulation, and murder mystery in one slow-burning package
56 Days Review
Prime Video’s 56 Days, the initial scene shows the main characters, Ciara and Oliver, running into one another at the supermarket, and the sparks fly. The chemistry between the two characters is undeniable. The show also jumps back and forth through the history of the two main characters and the mystery of the dead body in Oliver’s flat. From the first episode, the question on your mind will be: who died, who’s lying to whom, and who’s really behind all of this?
The premise of the series 56 Days is actually really interesting. The mystery of the dead person, Oliver’s history, and Ciara’s secrets all combine to create a really compelling mystery. There’s also a level of emotional depth to the mystery of who exactly Ciara really is and her relation to Oliver’s history.
Where the show really fails, though, is with the pacing. This is a big problem. It’s not the suspenseful moments, the ones where you’re on the edge of your seat and wondering what will happen as the mystery continues to be revealed. It’s the long looks, the long periods of silence, and the repetition of these moments. It almost seems as though the show could have been cut down to six episodes, not eight.
That being said, there are definitely thrilling moments between Ciara and Oliver. The chemistry between them has a restless, unsettled feel to it. Both characters have emotional baggage, and the edge to them gives the show an interesting twist from the normal love story. The show definitely explores the ideas of trauma bonding and manipulation, and the idea of identity. I, however, could not connect with the emotional heart of the show.
In terms of performance, Dove Cameron does a wonderful job of playing the cool, quiet intensity of Ciara. There’s a sense of measured strength and control to her character, which works well for a character always holding something back. There’s a sense of controlled, almost calculated composure to her movements. This works well for the show. Avan Jogia does a great job of playing the brooding, mysterious nature of Oliver. He looks the part and has the presence for the role. However, there are moments when the emotional depth of the performance feels a bit shallow. There are moments when a bit more vulnerability or raw emotion would have been nice. The reactions feel a bit muted.
The chemistry between the two lead actors works pretty well, particularly in the more intimate scenes. The sensuality of the Prime Video series 56 Days was handled in a relatively tasteful manner. The romance and the sensuality are not gratuitous. They’re a part of the show because of the intensity of the relationship. However, I wouldn’t call the show ‘steamy,’ at least in the sense of it defining the show. I think it’s a bit more psychological than erotic, even when it tries to combine the two.
Another part of the show that didn’t really work for me was the investigative side of the show. The show has a bit of a double narrative with the authorities. However, I just didn’t connect with the characters. They’re an important part of the show, but I didn’t feel a personal connection with them. Some of the scenes even made the show feel a bit slower.
The 56 Days series looks good, no doubt about it. The cinematography is all about cool, muted colours, which makes the show look quite chilly and unsettling. The scenes featuring Ciara and Oliver in intimate moments are well done, sensual without crossing the line into exploitation. These scenes are also not used to distract viewers, which I thought was good. The relationship is intense, to say the least, but also rather toxic, built on trauma bonds rather than actual love or trust.
As the story hurtles towards its conclusion, the twists and turns are all quite interesting, but not quite impactful enough, I thought. I felt mildly surprised, but not really shocked. For a show built on secrets and hidden truths, the payoff is slightly underwhelming, I thought. Not heartbreakingly so, but it doesn’t linger, I suppose.
Prime Video 56 Days Review: Summing Up
Overall, 56 Days is not a bad show to watch. It promises to be quite gripping, delivers on the acting front, and creates the atmosphere quite well. It also drags on a little too long, I thought, and could have exploded into something more, but it didn’t.
