Day 5 (2016–2017) User Reviews

Its a post apocalyptic nightmare, without the nightmare?

[helle-jr · 8/10 · 13 July 2016]

So, Day 5. What could be said about this quite unknown show, I for one stumbled over it on YouTube by mistake. I then proceeded to see the first episode, and after that I was addicted.

The plot, without spoiling to much is basically "Dont sleep". That's it, simply don't sleep. As long as you stay awake, you stay alive. Our group of misfits go on a journey to find what started this plague, and perhaps find out how to stop/cure it, while themselves getting drained by the crude state of not sleeping. Since most of human kind has died, there's a very post apocalyptic feel to the whole thing. And as the days pass, those who don't sleep get even more insane and violent.

It's really a great jewel of a show.

Starts Slow, Leaves A Lot of Loose Ends, But Intriguing As Hell...

[meddlecore · 7/10 · 19 September 2016]

"Day 5" is an intriguing little apocalyptic horror/sci-fi/thriller/dark comedy, that must have been released onto some online platform, because I'm not exactly sure where it first aired (I downloaded it).

Though, it seems to have been shot, and take place, in Texas.

It's basic premise centers around the sudden onset of an apocalyptic phenomenon, whereby- for some unknown reason- every living and breathing thing on Earth, ends up fully and completely dead...if it happens to fall asleep.

We follow a number of survivors, as they wander through the streets of Texas, warding off sleep by any means necessary. They are struggling to figure out what the hell just happened...while trying to retain their sleep-deprived sanity...and not die.

This main group of survivors includes a pilot; a drug addict and his young friend; a radiologist and one of the members of her crew; an insomniac and the woman he adores; a couple who received a "warning call" prior to the onset of the phenomenon; that woman's brother; and one of his D&D playing friends- along with a few other groups, and individuals they happen to cross paths with along their way.

Not only are they each, individually, battling the onset of sleep; they are collectively working together to try and figure out what, in fact, is really going on. Eventually, they manage to deduce Dallas to be ground zero- based on the location of the "warning call" and how the phenomenon spread.

Now, they must navigate a world inhabited by a bunch of insane, sleep deprived, self mutilating psychopaths- who are hellbent on killing everyone they come into contact with.

Not everyone is bad though, and those who have survived thus far, are starting to look like the "chosen ones"- whose purpose is to repopulate the Earth....granted they can survive the psychopaths, and make it to the 5th day, that is...

The introductory season of this series is only 6 episodes long.

The first couple episodes start off a bit slow, but it picks up as things move along, and by the end, you are right into it... trying to figure out what is going on for yourself!?

However, by the end of the 6th episode, you aren't any closer to piecing things together or understanding the truth behind the mystery.

In fact, it ends so abruptly, with a whole lot of loose ends: like what happens to the insomniac guy who can't fall asleep?; who the sniper woman actually is- and what her role in these events truly are?; what happens to the pilot, radiologist, and drug addict dude; what becomes of those they meet along the way, as they seek out an answer or cure to whatever the hell is going on...or whatever the hell is ailing them...

This is all a bit frustrating, but f*ck if I'm not anxious as hell for the next season to begin already- so I can become privy to what is happening in this topsy turvy world of the pre-to-post apocalypse.

Overall, I really enjoy the concept of this series, and there is just enough gore to keep the horror buff in me satisfied. I'm fully stoked for the next season to begin so that we can all learn more and see where it's going to lead.

Fans of shows (that slowly reveal elements of their plot lines over multiple seasons) like The Returned (FRA/US-remake) or The Kettering Incident (AUS), will surely enjoy this series. Definitely recommended!

7.5 out of 10 (a rating that will surely go up, as loose ends are tied up in future seasons).

Cool Show

[TexasTempest · 7/10 · 19 January 2019]

I was surprised by this series. It was so much better than I'd expected because, in my experience, straight-to-YouTube programming is often indicative that a TV show sucks. So, although I expected a low budget disappointment, I found that "Day 5" is just as good as any big studio produced sci-fi series on TV. In fact, my primary criticism of this show is that it's not available on a cable channel like Syfy. It would reach so many more people if it were.

My other criticism of "Day 5" is in regard to gore. At times the gore just seems silly and gratuitous, and I find myself rolling my eyes, ready to disengage and turn my attention elsewhere. But the program still keeps me intrigued, and I want to see what happens next, so I continue to tune in.

Overall "Day 5" is entertaining and fun, and has a fresh, kinda hipster feel to it. My favorite actor from the series is Katie Folger. She's a standout from the cast. Clearly she's a talented young artist and I love her wickedly cool delivery and performance as Meredith. If a futuristic thriller is a film genre you'd enjoy, then "Day 5" is definitely worth checking out. Glad to see there'll be a Season 3.

Good news...

[duckboy-94171 · 10/10 · 5 September 2018]

Season 3 has been confirmed from rooster teeth productions, I don't know about everyone else but I can't wait for season 3 it's a fun show with good caracter development and a fast paced storyline.

Funnier and better than Walking Dead.

[andrejsristic · 9/10 · 11 November 2016]

Think Walking Dead back in the time when WD wasn't just a torture show (Neegan). That level of engaging, both characters and story. A really funny show (on a quest for cure for sleep sickness, a dungeons&dragons enthusiast declares, "this is precisely how one feels saving the Earth, I've experienced this emotion three times already"). Just with smaller budget than WD it relies on humour to succeed.

I read in the reviews that it is badly acted. It is acted better than almost any sitcom I've ever seen. And I assume that these guys were paid much, much less. There is enough twists and turns to keep you off your seat. There is the same concept as in W D that major characters die off, same type of worldbuilding and character development.

Fresh take on an established genre

[Griever_2112 · 9/10 · 21 February 2018]

We have all seen some kind of "End of days" movie or TV show or even a video game. With the causes range from nuclear fallout to zombies to global war to a worldwide pandemic, the list goes on... but what would happen if out of nowhere, sleep... yes, sleep just became lethal... I've been a fan of Rooster Teeth for years, and while they are more known for comedy, this is by far one of the best things they have ever produced. The mystery at start has you questioning what is going on, then the jump to Day 5 of the... whatever you want to call this and seeing what people will do to stay awake is quite interesting. If you like this type of genre, or just curious as to how is this different. I strongly recommend this.

Keeps you thinking

[rickirozai · 7/10 · 9 April 2019]

I only watched the first episode and half of the 2nd, so I am not ready to rate this, but so far, its promising. I did not expect much coming in, and at times the lines and acting seem corny, but the ideas are worthy to keep you interested. So far the characters did pretty much what I would do, except I know about a couple of devices that are meant to keep you from falling asleep, some you connect to your ear lobes and they give you small electric shocks. I did some night driving and falling asleep behind the wheel was my biggest fear, and let me tell you, pulling a nose hair out does more then 2 cans of red bull and half a pack of cigs.

I find it weird that there are basically no insomniacs left, they have a pretty good chance of "breezing" past the first 5 days given that they were well rested when this thing started.

Hmm.. will keep you guys updated.

--- Finished season 2: Pretty munch binged it, plot does not advance as quickly as you would wish (or expect considering the premise that they only have days if not hours left), some things are still not explained, like at all, I can say the junkie guy seems more real and other characters begin to actually bring something, but I feel it did not capitalize on that potential I saw in the beginning. Charters die, time passes, we are left just as clueless as before. Who did this? Why? How? These questions are left completely unanswered as the director goes on wacky road trip through laughable physios breakdowns (why did we need ponoko?), parody level encounters (braindead sergeant bullet surgery, really?), and goofy couple looking for cup cake valhalla. Yeah, it gets slow and pretty tiring and if you nod off IRL you might miss random crap they seemingly just threw in for shock value (last episode in season 2 with its choice of 3 paths, one literally covered in chunks of gore after chainsaw massacre incident, that leads to a couple of of characters so unbelievable I thought the group finally started having hallucinations, but no, they were real, and completely pointless to the overall plot and merely used as a C4 and drone dispenser.

Solid 6, maybe a 7 on a good day.

up to S2E8:good low budget apocalyptic

[surfisfun · 8/10 · 25 September 2017]

worth 6.8 +.

acceptable low budget.

interesting story.

some scenes are so so cheap or not that well thought But the overall show compensate for those moments.

recommended, I enjoyed this better then the last season of The walking dead.

it like the little brother of Z nation :)

A little gem of a show

[Rob_Taylor · 7/10 · 30 September 2017]

Day 5 is a post-apocalyptic TV series with the simple premise that if you fall asleep, you die. Hence the title which is a reference to the time people can stay awake without dying.

The characters in the show resort to all kinds of ways to keep themselves awake including drug abuse, self-harm and so on. That, in itself, may put some people off, but the increasingly desperate nature of the characters makes the show as interesting and dynamic as it is.

It isn't, of course, a big budget show. However, that works in its favour in so much as a lack of effects and big stars means the focus is more on the story and the characters, which is something that is often lacking from TV shows these days.

The characters are diverse not so much in gender or ethnicity, but in morals and behaviour. What is more is that these characters are forced together by the circumstances they find themselves in, leading to some interesting dynamics and some great character moments.

Of course, it isn't just about the characters trying to stay awake. There is a meta-plot hanging over the show involving the cause of the sleep epidemic and the characters eventually search for a cure (or at least just somewhere they can sleep safely).

Given the title, I wondered how long it would be before the show introduced a macguffin to allow the characters to sleep and I wasn't disappointed. However, it was done in a far better way than most such plot devices and didn't in any way lessen the threat of falling asleep inadvertently.

All in all, I'm favourably impressed with the show. Now, at the end of season 2, we have seen quite a bit of the characters backstories and the plot has moved along rather nicely - not too slow, not too fast. It has had its humorous moments as well as its grimmer, darker times. For those interested, it is no where near as grim as The Walking Dead, for example, but it is far more enjoyable than that show has recently become and much better paced.

I would recommend it to fans of the post-apocalyptic, survivor genre. The mix of darker and lighter moments, along with the character development make it a breath of fresh air compared to some of the stale old crap we get thrown at us.

SUMMARY: Enjoyable, off-the-wall post-apocalyse tale. Good character writing and a focus on the characters rather than the plot make it a worthwhile watch for fans of this genre.

Great cure for insomnia

[alfredsmith · 3/10 · 13 August 2018]

It's ironic that the premise of this show is that suddenly people are dying everywhere when they sleep. So basically stay awake to stay alive. Biggest problem is the show is so bad you will have trouble staying awake whilst watching it. Boring story line, bad acting and a cheap overall feel to the production all add up to make this series one to avoid.

A Thriller Done Right...

[bdragon-32237 · 10/10 · 6 August 2017]

Day 5, a rare success story of a work stuck in 'development hell' for years, not because the production studio couldn't get their act together, but because they wanted to be sure everything was done perfectly before putting it out, is Rooster Teeth's (RvB, Lazer Team) first step into the horror/thriller live action scene; and what a step!

Hands down, for me, better than The Walking Dead, because the show retains a focus beyond trying to top itself with mere gore and cheap 'tension'.

Nothing is handed to the viewer, leaving them forced to try and connect all of the various little tidbits together as both the viewer and the characters try to solve the mystery that the entire premise is built around. Characters are fleshed out wonderfully, piece by piece so as not to overwhelm with backstory, allowing for glimpses into how they came to arrive at where they are in the story, and what it is that keeps them going when so many others have given up.

If you're in the market for a new thriller that will keep you guessing with every episode, track this beauty down and enjoy the ride. Just be sure that you Don't Fall Asleep...

Uneven but entertaining enough - Spoilers Ahead

[tkell31 · 7/10 · 14 April 2022]

The challenge with a premise like this is how do you maintain that apocalyptic intensity as the days drag on and sleep deprivation is quickly driving everyone crazy? They do a good job developing the characters so they carry the show as it gets more and more convoluted.

Initially it's pretty straightforward as people struggle to stay awake while meeting and interacting with new characters. Right off one survivor succumbs to the urge to sleep and dies confirming that the event is still going on. I would say Season 1 is mostly about that struggle, but Season 2 quickly introduces religious type figures, crazy military personnel, and some weird super assassins. At times the "sleep is death" theme is so secondary to the struggle against other survivors that it disappears all together.

In many ways it takes on a cartoonish vibe with the arch villain responsible for this, and his super soldier assassins, working to stamp out the last vestiges of humanity. In fact Season 2 wraps up with one of the super assassins killing a Messiah like figure who had established a safe sleep zone. The Messiah had figured out that it was magnetic interference in the atmosphere that allowed people to sleep safely. Enjoying his new found worship he didnt share the secret with any of his followers so his assassination ended the safe zone and set the remaining group on a path for revenge and discovery.

So since there wont be another season I will put my take on events here. For whatever reason some diabolic group invented a "death ray" that would kill anyone who went to sleep, but the ray's potency was disrupted by magnetic interference allowing "safe" areas where naturally occurring events like that were common. The mastermind used his fanatically loyal assassins to stamp out those survival zones. We know this because of the Messiah's explanation to his assassin, and another assassin was found to have a device implanted in her brain that used magnetic fields to altar impulses. What we dont know, and never will, is the end game. What was the future plan for humanity? No idea. All we're left with is the arch villain had a traitor in his group and that is who our heroes were off to find when the season wrapped up.

Well worth a watch warts and all.

Hoping for improvement

[hsw8 · 4/10 · 12 September 2016]

As soon as i start getting in to the story and enjoying the show, Davi Jay opens his mouth. He is insincere and flat, and his bad guy image is laughable. I am going to keep watching and hope he falls asleep. So far, he has been the reason i have almost stopped watching several times. There is a great story somewhere in here. The first episode was a little hard to watch, but it appears that the cast is settling in to their roles. All but Davi Jay I am afraid. The reality is I am going to continue to watch in the hopes that the story line will proceed quickly and the mystery will be revealed soon. If Davi Jay doesn't get any better, his poor performance will be enough for me to delete the show from my pvr.

Is there season 3 ? i'm waiting for it

[persiantigerbf · 10/10 · 30 July 2019]

Its really good series , but i don't know why there isn't good news about it ? i hope there will be season 3 for it because its really have new idea If you just watch one or max two episodes you get addicated to it .

Great One! Please dont fall asleep!

[enjozsef · 10/10 · 28 April 2019]

Please continue this serial. i cant go to sleep without i know whats the end of the story.

Second Season

[johnelfrik · 9/10 · 18 September 2016]

I found this show here when i was looking for shows to watch and i was very surprised at how good it was. First off it is a Film about the End of everything with a nice twist. When i read the reviews i was a bit skeptical because everyone was saying about the end of Humand kind but it's all living things which makes it different on it's own. Then the problem of trying to find a solution while not Sleeping and getting more and more tired. The only thing that bothered me was the talk of how to stop the Virus, seriously any idiot should know that there is no way it could be a Virus as it happened all over the Planet at the exact same time and it would be impossible to create a Time activated Virus it has to be some kind of signal or Pulse. If you want to watch a Show where the Acting is actually quite good and the story is well written then this is the one it is one of the best Shows i have watched in the last few Months.

The show keeps you barely awake.....

[matthijsalexander · 6/10 · 15 September 2016]

After 5 episodes I am still undecided. Think it's going to be a thumbs down. Great shows you feel the desire to see the next episode, this one..... not so much. Couldn't care less. I sincerely doubt a second season will be produced. How freaking long can people stay awake right? I guess you either love or hate this show. Watching a bunch of people trying to stay awake, trying to figure out how to beat the 'virus'. Nice concept, but overall a mediocre production.

The acting is OK, the storyline OK, the characters OK but not captivating. Surely, you'd expect people to go into psychosis when sleep deprived. This show had more potential if the writers were just a bit more creative, it's a rather flat story and looking at people who look tired and sick all the time..... no wonder this show isn't that popular.

I don't think this show will become very popular, and if do you decide to watch this.....

Don't fall asleep!

a quiet sleeper(get it???)

[hollyho-13434 · 9/10 · 12 May 2017]

I like many happened to stumble on to this show.. Looking for something to binge watch. I was hooked by the end of the first episode. Day 5 has the potential to become a very good addiction if it were easier to actually find. Until today i had not even found the listing for it in IMDb, let alone wiki or TV guide. That's the only reason i've rated it a 9 out of 10 stars..

The plot of the story is the end of the world seemingly caused by everyone dying in their sleep. You sleep you die would be a perfect tag-line for it... Those who have managed to stay away now race to find a cure before their bodies and minds give out.. was this a premeditated global annihilation or a crazy act of god? So far no one knows. Looking forward to a second season and having major plot questions revealed.. Spread the word to all to see this show so we don't lose it before finding out WHY did the world end.

Not

[Headturner1 · 7/10 · 15 February 2022]

Bad! I don't know why but I downloaded Tubi last night and saw this and gave it a go. I think it pretty decent. I don't know most of the actors( I've seen Jesse boyd in things) but him and Ryan Cooper. Ooh Ryan Copper! I'm glad the one small scene with him wasn't the only one. I don't like zombie stuff( can't stand Walking dead) and even with one f my fave actors in it Lennie James. I'm glad this isn't a virus or zombie thing! I've watched all f season 1 and "GASP" fell asleep on like the 3rd episode of season 2. I'll finish tonight and update if needed tho even if it's c**p I'll watch it just for Cooper!

Bottom-of-the-barrel Apocalyptic Garbage

[ah-28471 · 1/10 · 6 September 2018]

This is the stuff of desperation.

It starts like one of Uncle Stevie's worst novels - you know, the ones like Cell where he's simply looking for a new angle on well worn material, and has to crowbar his single interesting idea into a bunch of stuff other people have done before, and in a much better way.

This program is screaming, 'Hey, you guys, you'll all love this,' to the brainless masses who no longer have any interest in quality or original storytelling, but simply want to sit at the conveyor belt of crap that comes from their small-screens.

It wants to be the guy at the apocalypse party who makes people laugh, makes them think he's intelligent, that he has something interesting and unique to say, but really it's his talentless friend who creeps outside to ogle the naked hotties in the tub that were paraded shamelessly in episode one.

Sigh.

I gave episode two a go, but all I wanted to do was leave the party as quickly as possible. It wasn't intelligent, it wasn't dramatic, it wasn't funny. I hated everyone in it, and all I could hope for was that everyone died and left the world in peace.

If 'Dude, where's my apocalypse?' sounds like comedy gold to you, then I'd recommend it. If, however, you have an IQ, then don't. Just don't.

Nicely done show

[floodyaf · 9/10 · 6 October 2018]

Great show portrays the delirium of my youth very well.

Brilliant concept more than makes up for flaws

[vasiln · 7/10 · 21 August 2021]

Tired of zombies? Me too. Day 5 is a unique and inspired post-apocalypse, its characters slowly tweaking out as they go longer and longer without sleep. Production values are so-so, but much, *much* better than you'd generally see on Youtube; I'd say it's somewhere between Sci-Fi Channel and network TV. The concept is more than enough to make up for the occasional deficits. Sometimes I'm not sure whether something is bad acting or great acting, because people tend to act pretty weird when they've gone without sleep for five days. (Other times, like dream sequences, no, it's just bad acting.) Main characters are all good though.

Part drama, part comedy, but mostly The Odyssey. Infrequent gratuitous boobs, swearing that usually feels natural, some on-screen violence but only when called for.

First season *is* better than the second season, which sometimes felt formulaic. 8 stars for first season, only 6 for the second.

I really wanted to like this

[huntfishski-14345 · 5/10 · 18 May 2020]

I really liked the premise of this show. The idea is quite interesting, and I've been an RT fan for a while. I was underwhelmed after the first few episodes. The show was all over the place with bland characters that I ended up not caring about really. I'm glad I was doing other things while watching this show, because there's no way I would have finished it otherwise. I was hoping for a more intriguing story and more believable story progression, and it looks like we likely won't see how everything ends.

I would not recommend this show personally to anyone, but I also don't actively hate it either. I had a present time I suppose, but don't waste your time with season 2 if you didn't like season 1.

Loved it! Really sad it's discontinued

[miribee · 8/10 · 4 May 2021]

I saw this featured on Tubi so I gave it a shot. I landed up binging both seasons in 3 days. Afterwards I went to look up season 3 and unfortunately I found out it's on indefinite hiatus. That's so disappointing because it's such a refreshingly good series. Yes you have to suspend your belief a bit, but otherwise it's funny, heartwarming, tragic, and intriguing. Great acting, great characters. At least season two wasn't left on too dramatic of a cliffhanger, it just closes one door and opens another.

Here's hoping this series will resume one day :)

A Worthwhile Thriller and Mystery Series

[payasoingenioso · 9/10 · 19 April 2021]

After I finished the first season, I liked finally liked the series. It dragged, but the plot expanded enough into the Tales Of Zone.

The second season expanded heavily on what I incorrectly assumed was a limited plot.

Season 2 completely set us up for an excellent season 3 that apparently will not happen.