‘56 Days’ Review: Dove Cameron Shines in an Uneven Prime Video Thriller
Prime Video’s new eight‑episode erotic thriller 56 Days, starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia, offers plenty of style and sexual tension — but ultimately doesn’t quite live up to its intriguing premise. Adapted from Catherine Ryan Howard’s best‑selling novel of the same name, the series blends toxic romance and murder mystery in a narrative structure that alternates between past and present.
A Captivating Lead Performance
At the heart of 56 Days is Dove Cameron’s performance as Ciara Wyse, a recent arrival in Boston who falls hard and fast for architect Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia) after a chance encounter in a grocery store. Cameron’s presence is magnetic throughout the season — her expressive face and emotional subtlety often conveying more than dialogue ever does. Reviewer Hunter Ingram of The A.V. Club suggests that this role reflects Cameron’s artistic maturation, highlighting her ability to carry a dramatic thriller with nuance and intensity.
Cameron’s Ciara is both observer and participant, watching the world unfold and choosing her moves carefully — a performance that elevates every scene she’s in. Meanwhile, Jogia brings an unsettling blend of charm and volatility to Oliver, creating a central mystery that keeps viewers guessing about his true motives.
Plot: Murder Mystery Meets Toxic Romance
The series kicks off with a grim discovery: a decomposed body in a bathtub in Oliver’s high‑end apartment, propelling homicide detectives into a tense investigation. From there, 56 Days flashes back to the couple’s whirlwind romance, unfolding over 56 days — hence the title — before returning to the present‑day questioning of what really happened.
Rather than unfolding as a straight mystery, the series leans heavily on narrative tension between Ciara and Oliver as secrets mount and trust evaporates. Despite intriguing twists, some critics feel the overall mystery lacks the heft and clarity necessary to fully justify the story’s dramatic weight, leaving key elements feeling underdeveloped.
Balancing Act: Strengths and Weaknesses
56 Days thrives in moments of character exploration and psychological tension. The show’s nonlinear structure keeps the pacing brisk and the suspense palpable, particularly in scenes where past infatuation collides with the cold reality of the murder investigation. Supporting performances from Karla Souza and Dorian Missick as homicide detectives add an engaging procedural element to the narrative.
However, some story beats stretch credibility, and certain plot twists feel perfunctory rather than revelatory. Ingram’s A.V. Club assessment emphasizes that while the leads share chemistry and complexity, the world around them sometimes lacks the narrative depth needed to sustain interest across all eight episodes.
Genre Expectations vs. Execution
As an erotic thriller marketed on steamy intrigue and psychological mystery, 56 Days delivers plenty of mood and style. But its pull toward melodrama — and occasional implausible character choices — can undermine viewer investment in the central whodunit. Even with its atmospheric tension, the murder mystery component never quite gathers the gripping momentum that many fans of the genre expect.
While some reviewers praise the show’s binge‑able qualities and sharp lead performances, others find that its structural imbalances leave it somewhere between compelling television and an undercooked thriller.
Final Verdict: Mixed but Entertaining
Overall, 56 Days emerges as an intriguing but flawed addition to Prime Video’s original slate. Dove Cameron’s commanding performance remains the show’s standout asset, even as the narrative struggles to match her intensity with equally substantive storytelling.
Fans of twist‑driven thrillers and psychological dramas will likely find elements to enjoy here — particularly in the rich portrayals and exploratory character dynamics — but the series stops short of being truly memorable.
56 Days is now streaming in full on Prime Video with all eight episodes available to watch.
