Throughout Netflix’s Zero Day, George Mullen spends his leisure time documenting his life and experiences for a memoir, but by the end of the political thriller series, he ultimately decides to destroy it. Starring Robert De Niro, Zero Day focuses on a cyberattack that takes place across the United States; while the attack only lasts for a minute, it causes the nation to fall to a complete standstill and leaves thousands dead. De Niro’s character, George Mullen, is called out of retirement to take control of the Zero Day Commission and find who was responsible for the attack.

The cast of Zero Day includes Lizzy Caplan, Gaby Hoffman, and Matthew Modine, playing characters that are eventually revealed to each have a connection to the cyberattack. While Zero Day received mixed reviews, it garnered praise from critics for its performances, consistent twists and turns throughout the investigation, and depiction of the themes of mystery, family, and betrayal. As the series progresses, George Mullen must deal with his declining health, blackmail, past trauma, and betrayal that eventually lead him to destroy what was originally meant to define his legacy as a U.S. political figure.

George Mullen Burns His Memoir Manuscript At The End Of Zero Day

George Mullen Worked On His Memoir Throughout the Series

In episode 1 of Zero Day, George Mullen meets up with Anna Sindler (Hannah Gross), a journalist who inquires about the progress of his pending memoir. In the opening scene, Anna arrives at Mullen’s office and discovers a shelf filled with labeled journals that document every event that took place during Mullen’s time as President of the United States; Mullen explains that his journals help him “see something in a way [he] had missed or in a way that never even occurred to [him].” During their discussion, Mullen assures Sindler that “the draft is coming very soon” in terms of his memoir’s progress.

While investigating the cause of the Zero Day Attack, Mullen is shown spending time alone reading the draft of his memoir and reflecting on what happened during his time as president. It’s revealed that Mullen is behind on submitting the draft, which he explains to Sindler is partially due to his grief over his son’s death, which haunts Mullen through the “Who Killed Bambi” song in Zero Day. In a call before her death, Sindler states that “[she doesn’t] believe he has it in him to finish,” a statement that proves true when Mullen burns his memoir manuscript at the end of the series.

The Meaning Behind George Burning His Memoir

George Burning His Memoir Means He Is Letting Go Of His Legacy

Throughout Zero Day, it’s shown that Mullen was a popular figure during his time as U.S. President. During their meeting, Sindler states that Mullen was “the last president […] to consistently rally bipartisan support” and that his memoir could “make a real difference” within the nation and solidify his legacy. But by Zero Day‘s ending, Mullen realizes that any impending legacy that he hoped to leave behind has no meaning, due to his decision to go against protocol and tell the truth to the public by naming everybody involved in the cyberattacks. Burning his memoir shows that Mullen no longer cares about preserving his precious legacy.

In an interview, Zero Day‘s creator, Noah Oppenheim, explains that Mullen’s decision to burn his memoir means that he understands that everything that he has endured means his draft is “obsolete.” Mullen is at a point where he has lost everything; his son and bodyman are dead, his secret daughter with Valerie (Connie Britton) has been revealed, and his daughter, Alex (Lizzy Caplan), has been arrested. By unveiling all the names at the press conference, Mullen understands he has nothing left to lose and would rather tell the truth than leave an undoubtedly doctored legacy behind through his memoir. Mullen’s decision allows him to return to retirement knowing he did the right thing, ending Zero Day on an inspiring note.