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When a dead body appears in an apartment complex in Boston, detectives Lee Reardon (Karla Souza) and Karl Conolly (Dorian Missick) are responsible for the case and start investigating. Meanwhile, we explore the romantic relationship between Ciara Wyse (Dove Cameron) and Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia). The murder mystery thriller 56 Days alternates between unraveling the identity of a recently discovered body and revisiting the relationship between the two protagonists, who consequently also are the crime suspects.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Mystery
The murder is the hook that keeps the audience engaged. Definitely, we want to know who that body was, who killed them, and most importantly, why. The mystery is well expounded and written beautifully. Every detail has a reason to be there. You will not be able to predict correctly until they want you to actually know what happened.
The show alternates between two timelines: the detectives investigating the crime and the couple beginning a relationship 56 days prior to the body's discovery.
The detective duo is a delight on your screen. Their chemistry is unmatched, and their storyline is a very intriguing twist on the detective duo trope. Both of them have their own events happening in their personal lives, and now they find themselves getting everything mixed up with their professional lives.
The show skillfully crafts each suspicion. It is an incredible game of guessing. Every character we get to know is a perfectly competent suspect. Everyone has an equally impressive motive for killing or why they would be killed. Some even have both. Everyone seems to have done something. I promise you will be on your tippy toes trying to point out who the murderer is.
Cinematography doesn't stay behind on this project. The use of music is a highlight of the watching experience. Lighting, music, and tempo make the atmosphere constantly uneasy. The framing on many of the shots enhances the uncomfortable sentiment. It almost feels like you're there with the characters.
The Relationship
Oliver and Ciara meet each other merely by chance at a supermarket, and they start dating almost immediately after that. It seems like fate to meet someone so unexpectedly, but soon we will discover that both of them have something to hide.
This couple is particularly intriguing. They move ahead into their relationship so quickly that it's almost... sketchy? We see their relationship from both perspectives, and each episode reveals something new that builds on the anticipation. Both, Oliver and Ciara, unveil their secrets slowly, and it only leaves the audience wanting more.
The character exploration and development is incredible. Throughout the show we learn more about who Oliver and Ciara are and what their motivations are. This is accompanied by Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia's acting, which is very multifaceted and enhances the experience by portraying how disturbed and agitated these characters are.
The eroticism within the couple is one of the main promotional points that has driven audiences to this show. I would say they were very accurate about their marketing. The fast-paced evolution of the couple seems justified because of the inevitable desire they have for each other.
The rushed, dark, and questionable nature of their relationship provokes mixed emotions. But as soon as those steamy scenes come in, you forget all about it. They have strong chemistry, which makes the scenes a little addictive. The scenes are more suggestive than some had anticipated, yet their intensity compensates for it.
