I'm not sure if I'm alone on this, but Ryan Murphy's Netflix show The Politician is a weird one for me. Like, half of me likes it and half of me finds it hella problematic, which I guess reflects how the first season was a critical flop but a popular hit. Anyways, here are my thoughts:
1. The sexually fluid characters in the show are an obvious win.
2. But the way the entire series sort of glorifies how the privileged set can and do gain a leg up in the political world, is a little tone-deaf to me.
3. The cast is straight-up amazing, and features a host of proper superstars as well as a myriad of lesser known but equally brilliant actors.
4. But I'm sorry, when are three students as sharp and assiduous as Payton, McAfee, and James?
5. You know what is undeniably great though? Gwyneth Paltrow's kaftans.
6. And Judith's hair.
7. And Bette's incredible timing and physical comedy, which recently earned her an Emmy nom!
8. But did the portrayal of the "throuple" annoy anyone else? Like, why does William turn on Dede and Marcus as soon as he gets out of a relationship with them? It's not like the desire to be polygamous is a tap you turn on and off.
9. And while we're on that, WHY was the throuple such a big deal?
10. I really like, however, the idea that River is this perfect, moral shining light... and he's not even real.
11. And the parody of Gwyneth's character, Georgina, almost being like a left-wing Trump is highly entertaining.
12. But the way Ben Platt's character Payton stands against Dede Standish like she's some corrupt tyrant doesn't make sense to me.
13. And WHY ON EARTH would nearly every prominent character from series one drop everything to help Payton run for state senate?
14. There's a frustrating scene in which Skye has to teach everyone about cultural appropriation.
15. But then there's also a refreshing scene in which Astrid and Alice discuss their respective pregnancies and what they want to do.
We all know that abortion can be a polarising issue, and this moment gave us two women choosing what to do for themselves and not for anyone else.
16. Infinity in season one and Infinity in season two seem to be completely different and unrelated people.
17. But we love to see her doing the absolute most for the environment.
18. The show is a little afraid to a call a bisexual... a bisexual.
19. Alice is waaaay too changeable and inconsistent for my liking.
20. And Andrew, a character with cerebral palsy, was painted to be the absolute worst.
21. But the way Infinity shut down Andrew's obsession with her was pretty inspiring.
22. We love to see the way the shows lifts up women – Dede Standish for Vice President and Georgina Hobart for President? YAS!
23. But I'm not sure about Payton's singing intervals. Ben Platt has a banging voice, but do we need all those musical numbers? I'm actually open for discussion on this one...
