If you’re Gen Z or a Millenial then you probably grew up watching Nickelodeon or Disney movies and shows like Victorious or The Descendants. When I saw this was coming out, I was super excited, as I haven’t seen either Dove Cameron or Avan Jogia act in anything recently, and this show is something far removed from the beginning of their acting career.

I first stumbled upon the trailer for 56 Days when on YouTube one day, and was thoroughly impressed with the quality. It was the first trailer I’d seen in a while that was all vibes and didn’t give away any important plot points. Most trailers now (especially for streaming service shows/movies) reveal a little too much, and although it makes you want to watch it, it also detracts from the excitement. You already know too much going in. The trailer for 56 Days, however, gives nothing away.

Immediately, the show starts with the reveal of a body in a bathtub in Oliver’s (Avan Jogia) apartment. However, the body is dissolved in acid, which makes it impossible to recognise – so who is it? Naturally, we assume that the body will either be that of Ciara (Dove Cameron) or Oliver as the entire story centres around their 56-day relationship.

There’sa dual timeline; one in the present day and the other that follows the story from day one. We slowly see the events that led up to a dead body being found in a bathtub…

It’s a story that is both relatable to many people who have dated in their twenties, but also shows a much more sinister side. A relationship between two (very good-looking) people, that quickly grows into something intense and serious, whilst both hiding secrets. But how dangerous are those secrets, and is it real love between the pair?

I think what surprised me the most was how well thought-out the story was. Looking at IMDB, the reviews aren’t great, so I assumed that meant it would be predictable, but it’s not. There are a lot of layers to the story, which are drip-fed throughout every episode. The best part? The ending ties up all parts of the story perfectly. It’s not until the very last few minutes that the story is closed, which is how a thriller should be.

In terms of cinematography, there’s a lot of use of dramatic lighting and colour grading to set the mood. After all, it is supposed to be a more sensual thriller playing on mind games more than anything else. You have two people who both seem to have toxic pasts, and these moods are shown in the way it is filmed and edited.

There are some beautiful shots throughout that help make it clear whose perspective we are seeing things from. For example, in the first shot where the two meet, we see Oliver’s reflection as Ciara is browsing for groceries. The shot was designed to show his interest in pursuing her. Many of the shots are mirroring those we would see in a rom-com, but altered slightly to make us feel on edge. When they are walking, there is a distortion of the background. When they are talking face to face initially, the camera angle is looking up at them slightly, making the viewer feel small.

The only real negative that I found was that there were some very slow parts. It wasn’t as captivating as a thriller should be, especially considering the whole thing is centred around a whirlwind romance. Perhaps the chemistry is lacking in some parts, or there isn’t enough plot to keep you hooked. The main reason you stay is to find out who is in the bathtub.

Overall, it was a really enjoyable show that had me guessing the whole way through. Every time I had a question or suspicion, I was given a piece of the puzzle to paint a clearer picture. It’s not something groundbreaking, but it’s something I’d be happy to watch again, as it’s an enjoyable journey to discovering the truth. Amazon Prime Video have definitley upped its game.