The wait is over for fans of psychological thrillers. Prime Video’s new series 56 Days, starring Dove Cameron and Avan Jogia, has officially arrived. The eight-episode adaptation of Catherine Ryan Howard’s bestselling novel dropped on the streaming platform on February 18, 2026, and is available for viewers around the world to binge-watch right now.
The show has already started generating buzz, earning a “fresh” rating of 75% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics . Some reviewers praise the lead actors’ chemistry, while others find the pacing slow. But one thing is clear—this erotic thriller is getting people talking.
What Is 56 Days About?
The series opens with a shocking image. Homicide investigators force their way into a luxury Boston apartment and discover a brutally murdered, intentionally decomposed body in a bathtub . From there, the story jumps back 56 days to when two strangers first crossed paths.
Ciara Wyse (Dove Cameron) and Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia) meet randomly at a grocery store. Their connection is instant and intense. What begins as a chance encounter quickly escalates into a whirlwind romance. They move in together at lightning speed . But beneath the passion and attraction, both carry secrets.
The series splits between two timelines. One follows the escalating intimacy between Ciara and Oliver—their flirtation, their growing obsession, the subtle shifts in power. The other tracks detectives Lee (Karla Souza) and Karl (Dorian Missick) as they investigate the murder . The central question keeps shifting: Who is the victim? Who is the killer? And was this a love story that turned toxic, or was something darker brewing from day one?
Streaming Details: Where and How to Watch
All eight episodes of 56 Days are now streaming exclusively on Prime Video . Amazon MGM Studios produced the series along with Atomic Monster, the production company of horror maestro James Wan .
Global Release Timings
Prime Video released the full season on the same day worldwide. Here is when viewers in different regions can start streaming :
- United States: 12am PT / 3am ET
- Canada: 12am PT / 3am ET
- United Kingdom: 8am GMT
- India: 1:30pm IST
- Singapore: 4pm SGT
- Australia: 7pm AEDT
- New Zealand: 9pm NZDT
The platform opted for a full-season drop rather than a weekly release schedule. This means subscribers can watch the entire story in one sitting if they choose . For those who prefer to avoid spoilers, it might be wise to stream sooner rather than later, as social media discussions are already revealing plot points.
The Cast and Characters
Dove Cameron leads the cast as Ciara Wyse. Known for her roles in Disney’s Descendants franchise and Apple TV+’s Schmigadoon!, Cameron brings a layered performance to the thriller genre . Her character appears vulnerable at first glance but carries a calculated edge that keeps viewers guessing .
Avan Jogia plays Oliver Kennedy. The actor, recognized from shows like Orphan Black: Echoes and Victorious, portrays a wealthy architect whose charm masks deep instability . Jogia’s Oliver is twitchy, secretive, and prone to emotional spirals—even calling his therapist during a date .
The supporting cast adds depth to the investigation :
- Karla Souza (How to Get Away with Murder) as Detective Lee Reardon
- Dorian Missick (All Rise) as Detective Karl Connolly
- Megan Peta Hill as Shyla, Ciara’s friend who senses something wrong with Oliver
- Jesse James Keitel in a supporting role
Lisa Zwerling and Karyn Usher created the series and serve as executive producers. Catherine Ryan Howard, the original author, joined as co-executive producer to help adapt her work for the screen .
Critical Reception and Early Reviews
The early critical response to 56 Days is mixed but leans positive. With a 75% score on Rotten Tomatoes, the series has landed in “fresh” territory . However, reviewers seem divided on whether the show delivers as a thriller.
Some critics appreciate the slow-burn approach. Vinamra Mathur from Firstpost noted, “56 Days is not great. It’s not the kind of a show that has a twist thrown in every second. But it does tempt you to know more about these deceptively complex characters” .
Matthew Rudoy from Screen Rant offered a balanced take, writing, “As an entertaining thriller that sticks the landing and has enough twists and strong performances to keep things entertaining, 56 Days is worth binge-watching, despite some of its shortcomings” .
Other reviews are less kind. M.N. Miller from FandomWire was blunt: “The new Prime Video erotic thriller series 56 Days is sexy but, frankly, stupid. The adaptation of Catherine Ryan Howard’s novel is contrived and boring. Some of the performances are truly awful, wooden, and make each syllable seem like hazard pay” .
Martin Carr from CBR felt the adaptation played it too safe, calling it “a middle of the road ensemble piece with brief flashes of brilliance at best” .
Chemistry vs. Story
A common thread in reviews is praise for the lead actors’ chemistry. India Today noted that Cameron and Jogia “generate a combustible dynamic that elevates scenes that might otherwise feel repetitive” . The Times of India echoed this, stating the show “thrives on this ambiguity” created by the two leads .
However, some critics argue the romance itself doesn’t fully land. The Times of India review pointed out, “The series asks viewers to believe that genuine feelings might develop beneath layers of manipulation and secrecy. But because both characters remain emotionally guarded for so long, their vulnerability never fully lands” .
Tech Advisor was even more critical, giving the show a negative review with the headline: “It felt like 56 days passed watching this show.” The review stated, “56 Days gets the blood pumping in its salacious moments, but the central mystery at hand is a snooze. You won’t remember this drawn-out erotic thriller one day after it’s finished, let alone 56” .
What the Creators and Stars Say
The creative team stands behind their work. Lisa Zwerling and Karyn Usher, the show’s creators, spoke about casting Cameron and Jogia. “Their chemistry leaps off the screen. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re two of the best-looking humans on the planet,” they said .
Dove Cameron offered insight into her character’s mindset. She described Ciara and Oliver as “two deeply lonely people who are not just attracted to each other, but trauma-bonded.” She added, “Their romance is a chemical reaction fueled by obsession and the hope of being understood. So the speed and intensity of their relationship felt emotionally truthful to play together on screen” .
The creators also acknowledged the source material. “We got to be great friends with author Catherine Ryan Howard whose book gave us a sexy, emotional, thrill-ride of a show where everything pays off in the end,” Zwerling and Usher said .
How 56 Days Differs From the Book
Fans of Catherine Ryan Howard’s novel will notice one major change. The book was originally set during the COVID-19 pandemic in Dublin, using lockdown as a reason for the characters to isolate together. The series drops this backdrop entirely, moving the action to present-day Boston with no pandemic in sight .
This change makes the story more accessible to global audiences but removes the sense of confinement that made the novel so tense. The series also expands the detective characters’ roles, giving them personal subplots that weren’t as prominent in the book .
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Should You Watch 56 Days?
The answer depends on what you want from a thriller. If you enjoy slow-burn psychological dramas that focus on character dynamics rather than rapid-fire twists, this might be for you. The show prioritizes atmosphere and the push-pull between its two leads over conventional whodunnit structure .
If you’re looking for something fast-paced with shocking reveals every episode, you might find the pacing frustrating. Some critics argue the story would have worked better as a feature film rather than an eight-episode series .
But for viewers who appreciate strong lead performances and don’t mind a measured pace, 56 Days offers a sleek, visually controlled thriller that sticks with you—even if the mystery itself isn’t the main draw .
The series is now streaming in full on Prime Video. All eight episodes are available with an active subscription.
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