Prime Video's 8-Part Psychological Thriller Is the Best Binge for 'Tell Me Lies' Fans

Published Apr 15, 2026, 7:49 AM EDT

Through eight episodes, 56 Days depicts the erotic romance between Ciara Wyse (Dove Cameron) and Oliver Kennedy (Avan Jogia), which, after 56 days following their initial meeting, results in a decomposed body found in their high-end, fancy Boston apartment. So, who was killed, and who is the murderer? That’s the enthralling mystery that is portrayed across eight slow-burning episodes. A meticulously planned thriller, 56 Days takes the toxic relationship from Tell Me Lies and turns the dial all the way up.

'56 Days' and 'Tell Me Lies' Satisfy Viewers' Needs for Watching Toxic Relationships

Arriving as a single drop, 56 Days is a gripping eight-part erotic thriller that chronicles the intense relationship between Ciara and Oliver. One of which is built entirely on lies and manipulation. Bouncing back and forth from the present and the past, in which detectives Lee Reardon (Karla Souza) and Karl Connolly (Dorian Missick) investigate the inexplicable body in the tub, and the 56 days leading up to the pivotal moment. Through the intertwining timelines, major secrets and revelations are unearthed, creating a wider web of mystery.

In both the past and the present, nearly every individual keeps something from their partner, manipulating the situation to keep the secret at bay. Like Tell Me Lies, secrets are crucial to character-building, though in 56 Days, they emerge in order to further the story. Tell Me Lies puts the lies out in the open, with the aftermath dictating the action. The two thrillers are similar in their obvious exploration of toxic relationships, but differ in their flashbacks told through unreliable narrators. Tell Me Lies showcases our main characters in the present, giving viewers a clue as to where they will end up. 56 Days keeps the two potential suspects-slash-victims out of the present to keep the mystery alive. If they're not there, they still might be the body in the tub, or the person who placed it there.

Like Tell Me Lies, 56 Days dives deeply into the impact of messy, psychologically intense relationships that become addictive. Both Ciara in 56 Days and Lucy (Grace Van Patten) in Tell Me Lies are stuck in obsessive relationships that they can’t live with or without. Ciara needs it for a con, while Lucy needs it because she’s been gaslit into believing it. Ciara is very much in control of her fate, while Lucy is a moldable damsel.

With Oliver and Stephen (Jackson White), both men are masters at deception and keeping deep-rooted secrets hidden for as long as possible. They both seek safety from their past by manipulating the present, hurting anyone who stands in their way for their own protection. With Oliver, though, the more you learn about him and the major mistake he made in his past, you gain more empathy for him. That is absolutely not the case with Stephen. Finding any semblance of redeeming qualities in him is like finding a needle in a haystack. You root for Ciara and Oliver over time, but you pray that Lucy escapes Stephen's grip. However, the more she turns into him, the more she gaslights and manipulates everyone around her.

'56 Days' Is a Gripping Mystery First and Foremost

While Tell Me Lies is straightforward, using flashbacks as a framing device, 56 Days goes further in its concept, adding an investigation element in the present. As Lee and Karl uncover clues that lead to the culmination, this helps inform the storytelling of Ciara and Oliver’s relationship. But they're not just partners in the investigation; they engage in their own work-related manipulation and gaslighting that threatens their working relationship as well as the case. By giving time to Lee's secrets she's keeping from Karl, 56 Days showcases that the same toxicity found in a romantic and sexual relationship can seep into other types of relationships. Suffice it to say, both timelines are equally important to further the themes of the series.

As the Tell Me Lies finale showcased, all it takes is one post-wedding toast to burn it all to the ground. 56 Days maintains a thrilling, slow-burning pace where the truth about Ciara and Oliver's true identities and connections makes their manipulative relationship even more compelling. Knowing what we know, should they be together? All signs point to no, but 56 Days skillfully shows that when two toxic individuals engage in a dysfunctional relationship, they'll continually be drawn to each other like moths to a flame. 56 Days is as high-stakes as it can get. It’s messy and thrilling, showcasing what not to do in a healthy relationship. If you loved the mess that Tell Me Lies made, 56 Days makes it look like a bloody massacre.

56 Days is available to stream on Prime Video.