The Politician Season 1 Review: Ambitious But Fails to Garner Our Full Support

(Warning: This review contains spoilers for Season 1 of The Politician.)

Much of Ryan Murphy’s work (think Popular, Glee, Scream Queens) share some DNA.

Often, his shows are aesthetically beautiful with satirical plot lines bordering on the absurd. Deep within them, however, lie insights into the human psyche and a slew of ambitious ideas and observations just waiting to be released.

Murphy’s work is almost always ambitious in aim but too often its messages get muddled in execution.

Sometimes this is a matter of inconsistent plotting, and other times, it’s a result of misguided instincts to go too broad or an inability to edit and focus the storytelling.

The Politician Season 1 looks and feels like a Murphy show in all respects, right down to the reasons it falls short. At some point or another, it suffers from almost all of the aforementioned afflictions but somehow, like a true politician, none of this really sticks to it.  

Despite an uneven, and often maddening season, it ends on a high note, and I found myself eagerly awaiting Season 2. Truly, I’m surprised as anyone.

The show’s credit sequence, set to Sufjan Stevens’ song “Chicago,” is an absolute work of art and begs watching and rewatching (resist the urge to press the skip button when streaming; you’ll thank me later).

While the song’s lyrics won’t fully make sense for the story until later on the show, it illustrates how Payton (Ben Platt) has meticulously built himself to be the seemingly ideal candidate and achiever.

Beyond the overarching metaphor that Payton is hollow, made up of awards and accomplishments instead of organs, curiosity, or a beating heart, there’s a slew of other Easter eggs to delight in.

The camera pans over books, patches, tchotchkes and report cards that symbolize how Payton became who he thought he needed to be: it’s a succinct character study.

If only the entire series was this smart with how it used all of its screen time for maximum effect.

There is far too much happening on The Politician and it’s telling that the season’s sole bottle episode, The Politician Season 1 Episode 5 “The Voter” is one of its strongest.

The remaining seven episodes strive to cover far too much ground and as a result, its episodes feel crowded. Everyone is moving — and speaking — at a heightened pace.

There’s the election itself plus a slew of storylines about affairs, struggling marriages, suicide, runaway (teens and brides), Munchausen’s, assassination plots, comas, and truly, the list goes on.

There’s inexplicably a plot line that involves Martina Navratilova as a horse trainer, which seems designed solely so Martina could come hang out on set for a day.

It’s excessive and it detracts from the stories that are more relevant and compelling.

That’s not to say it doesn’t succeed in some respects.

 The Politician features a ridiculously talented cast. Ben Platt, in particular, is extraordinary, and he should receive the bulk of the credit for what makes the show actually work. 

While his Tracy-Flick-in-hyperdrive act is fun to watch, it’s Payton’s eventual breakdown in The Politician Season 1 Episode 7 “The Assassination of Payton Hobart: Part 2”  and Episode 8 “Vienna” that prove to be the best showcase for Platt, and the most interesting Payton is the entire show.

The show runners also wisely leverage Platt’s vocal prowess (he is a Tony winner, after all) and have him sing several times throughout Season 1.

While this sometimes feels shoehorned in, it works beautifully in both the pilot and the season finale.

In fact, of all The Politician Season 1, I predict that it’s the minutes where Platt sings a cover of Joni Mitchell’s “River” in honor of his deceased friend/lover/enemy, River, that people will remember the most.

Rightfully so. It’s moving from a story and character perspective, and Platt simply nails the number.

Photo Courtesy of Beth Dubber/Netflix

Gwyneth Paltrow, who plays Payton’s adoptive mother, Georgia, is also a highlight (again, I’m surprised as you are). While she appears far less in the show than the marketing would have you believe, her Georgia is tender, wise, and loving.

Despite her limited appearances, she’s a fully drawn character and represents an interesting and vital perspective about the complicated sacrifices mothers make for their children. Exhibit A:

Payton: Why are you crying?

Georgia: Because I love you so much. And I know I’m going do whatever it takes to help you get what you want. And I’m sad for the person that’s going to turn me into.

Judith Light as State Senator DeDe Standish and Bette Midler as her longtime Chief of Staff Hadassah Gold, don’t appear until the final episode of the season, but make a huge impact.

If the finale sets us up for what’s to come in Season 2, we’re likely in for a treat as these two are far more watchable than characters Season 1 spent time following (sorry, not sorry, Jessica Lange and Zoey Deutch).

Additionally, amidst the noise and chaos of The Politician, there are moments where it feels poised for greatness. It has some compelling things to say about image and privilege.

This pops up several times throughout but one of the most interesting moments is in The Politician Season 1 Episode 3 “October Surprise” when Payton petitions Harvard to admit him outright based on his merits, rather than have him pay his way in.

He can’t fathom the idea that his privilege or family money could have anything to do with doors opening for him. Over and over again mentions his humble beginnings as the biological son of stripper and recounts his slew of accomplishments. He earns everything he has.

This is a common argument you hear from those in the upper echelons of society, at selective universities, and in prestigious jobs. Nevermind that they have generational money, access, or connections that paved their paths in gold and silver, they insist that it’s their merit that gets them everywhere.

When The Politician starts to poke fun or comment on these ideas, it’s at its best, but it gets derailed too often by other things.

Overall, like real-life politicians, the show has ambitious and inspiring aims, but these often get lost in a sea of pretty packaging and amongst efforts to be too many things at once. 

The finale, however, is focused and clear, almost to the point where it feels like the entire rest of the season was just context-building to lead up to the good stuff: Payton’s redemption, a battle of new blood vs. establishment, an earthier, more grounded (but still weird!) show.

Despite my disappointment in Season 1, I’m optimistic about what’s to come in Season 2. After all, this is American politics. We love a comeback kid and a redemption story.

What did you think of this season of The Politician? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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The Politician is currently available to stream on Netflix.

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