The trailer for Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia’s 56 Days, an erotic crime thriller, left us waiting to see their chemistry and the whodunnit unfold. Directed by Alethea Jones, Shana Stein, and Lauren Wolkstein, the eight-episode series on Prime Video is finally out, and I’ve binge-watched the whole thing. So, here’s my honest take on what’s good, what’s not, and if it’s worth your time. Read on!
Plot Of 56 Days
Dove Cameron plays Ciara Wyse, a woman who meets Oliver Kennedy, played by Avan Jogia, by chance at a grocery store and sparks instantly fly between them and they jump into an intense relationship. Then, 56 days later, police find a badly damaged body in Oliver’s bathtub. Due to the condition, no one can tell right away if it’s Ciara, Oliver, or somebody else. The show switches between two timelines and in the present one, two detectives, Karl Connolly (Dorian Missick) and Lee Reardon (Karla Souza), try to solve the murder. They look into the duo’s lives and dig up dark and shocking secrets.
Performances
Dove Cameron is really the best part of the whole show. She makes Ciara feel very real and interesting. Ciara looks sweet and friendly at first, but there’s something dangerous hiding underneath, and Dove Cameron shows this through her expressions and body language. She brings energy and keeps the series alive.
Avan Jogia does a good job as Oliver too. He plays the character who is anxious and full of tension and he shows it genuinely through his eyes and body language. However, their chemistry doesn’t always land as powerfully as it should.
Verdict:
The mystery at the centre of the series is quite strong to make you crave the whos, whys and hows. Since I haven’t read the book, I kept wondering who’s really guilty. At moments, I felt it was Ciara, Oliver, both of them, or maybe neither. It provides hints that keep you guessing.
However, I expected more because the idea of two people hiding their dark sides while they’re in love sold me but it didn’t quite deliver. The visuals look nice too because of the moody lighting, clean shots, and the vibe. But the chemistry between Ciara and Oliver doesn’t hit as hard as it should during a few scenes. Let’s be honest, they’re both very good-looking and attractive, but the spark never fully catches fire. It doesn’t feel natural and their scenes don’t feel steamy or emotional. They end up feeling flat, which weakens the “erotic” part of the show.
Also the investigation part falls short. The two cops Karla Souza and Dorian Missick, have their own drama, but it feels thin, doesn’t work smoothly and doesn’t add much to the main plot.
The pacing is another problem. The show feels too stretched, and it’s disappointing because it starts off strong and exciting but turns slow and boring in the middle episodes. By the time you’re waiting for the big revelation, it doesn’t hit as hard as it should.
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Even with these issues, 56 Days is still watchable. The setup is good, the mystery keeps you curious, and the lead actors Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia carry it. So, if you are someone who is a fan of series showing messy relationships, dark secrets, and “who did it” questions, this one delivers enough to keep you watching till the end. It’s not perfect, and the romance/chemistry doesn’t burn as hot as promised, but the performances by the leads make it worth a binge.
It’s currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video!