Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for Zero Day season 1.Jesse Plemons plays Roger Carlson inZero Day, and it’s a completely unexpected role for the actor. Since he had his breakthrough role inFriday Night Lightsas Landy Clarke, Jesse Plemons has had an impressive acting career. Plemons has taken supporting and main roles in popular movies likeThe Irishman, and he’s found huge popularity for his comedic abilities, which were on display inGame Night. There’s been a trend in many ofJesse Plemons' best movies and shows, however, and his character inZero Daysubverted all the expectations that trend set up.

Plemons' character, Roger Carlson, is one of the best in the entirecast ofZero Day. Roger is George Mullen’s (Robert DeNiro) assistant and longtime friend, and he takes on several important roles in the Zero Day commission’s investigation. He also, however, has a dark background and several skeletons in his closet, and is beholden to some less-than-reputable people like Robert Lyndon (Clark Gregg). In spite of his past and the blackmail he was faced with, Roger turned out to be a true hero by theending ofZero Day, which was unexpected for Jesse Plemons.

Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons) being drowned to death in a bathtub in Zero Day season 1, episode 4

Jesse Plemons Has Become Known For His Antagonist Roles

Some Of Plemons' Best-Known Roles Are Creepy Villains

The main reason Jesse Plemons' role inZero Dayis so surprising is because Roger is so different from the characters Plemons is known for playing.Ever since he played white supremacist and child killer Todd Alquist inBreaking Badseason 5, Plemons has earned a reputation for playing creepy villain characters. Since then,Plemons has played villains in everything fromCivil WartoKillers of the Flower MoonandBlack Mirror. Whenever a show or movie needs an antagonist to unsettle audiences, Jesse Plemons seems to be the go-to actor.

What Happens To Roger Carlson In Zero Day

Roger Was Murdered By Lyndon’s Men After Refusing To Betray Mullen

In spite of Jesse Plemons' history of playing villains, Roger Carlson was one of the biggest heroes inZero Day. Roger was being manipulated and blackmailed by Robert Lyndon throughout the show, and he coerced Roger to betray Mullen and the Zero Day commission. However, Roger finally stopped listening to Lyndon when it mattered most, and he even gave Mullen the key to cracking the AM radio codes that solved theconspiracy behindZero Day’s attack.For his heroics, Roger Carlson was drowned in a bathtub by some of Lyndon’s men, and his death was staged to look like a drug overdose.

Jesse Plemons Should Do More Of These Roles Going Forward

Plemons Is Great At Giving Roger Complexity & Playing A Flawed But Likable Character

Zero Dayand Roger Carlson were a surprising change of pace for Jesse Plemons, and they confirmed one thing: Plemons is so much more than a villainous character actor.Roger was an engaging and interesting character throughout his time inZero Day, and it was largely because of Plemons' acting. Plemons is just as skilled at playing a flawed but still likable character as he is at playing deeply unnerving antagonists. If there’s one takeaway from Roger Carlson inZero Day, it’s that Jesse Plemons should continue to play more heroic characters in the future.

Roger Carlson (Jesse Plemons) looks flummoxed in Zero Day

Zero Day official poster