Mrs. America Review: Reagan (Season 1 Episode 9)

The story comes to a close with the ending already written in the history books on Mrs. America Season 1 Episode 9, “Reagan,” but the fight for women’s rights marches on.

It is a bitter pill to swallow seeing the ERA movement defeated knowing how hard these women fought. But not even to the victor go the spoils—the titular opposer, Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), is left behind in the kitchen while men continue to call the shots.

Mrs. America Season 1 Episode 9, “Reagan,” is a series of setbacks and small victories for all parties involved as well as a wrap-up of the major players’ stories. It’s a finale so that much is to be expected, and after suffering such a loss, some sense of closure is welcomed. 

It is the brilliant final scene that sticks with you, though. 

Phyllis successfully began a counter-campaign and ran it for seven years, she took and passed the bar exam, becoming a lawyer in her fifties, but in the end winning doesn’t look much different than what her life as a homemaker was before. 

She is not in Washington, she does not hold a cabinet position in Reagan’s administration, she does not practice law. She is in her kitchen, wearing an apron, preparing an apple pie to be ready for dinner at six.

It’s always at six.

That single tear that rolls down her cheek before she looks forlornly out the window and utters this oft-said sentence to her husband is perfectly timed and truly heartbreaking even when taking into account all that she has done in opposition to the rights of women. Blanchett’s power is shown here—her ability to make you feel sorry for her villainous character, to make your feelings complicated, and to challenge your empathy. 

Phyllis has been used by men, like a marionette with internal patriarchal strings that she mistakes as her own free will. President-Elect Reagan even admits as much to her. “You fought an important battle,” he says, “but sometimes the battle follows us home.”

Home. That place where men believe women belong and where Phyllis is at the end of this story.

Bella Abzug (Margo Martindale) and Phyllis shared a campaign slogan: “A woman’s place is in the House.” From the opposing side of the women’s movement, Phyllis believes that women should have a voice in government. But she fought hard against legislation that could help women achieve that.

It’s very fitting that the final shot is Phyllis by herself in a deafening silence once the (very fitting) song ends.

She has won, but she has lost. And she lost a true friend in Alice (Sarah Paulson) as well. Their final parting is an effective capper to that plot.

Alice: It’s empowering.
Phyllis: You used to feel empowered by me.
Alice: I used to feel scared.

Phyllis did resort to bullying often, and within her own camp, too—it’s no wonder it tainted friendships. There is much less of that on the other side. The women resigning in solidarity with Bella is a satisfying moment.

The women’s liberation movement suffers huge losses, but they come together and keep fighting. That is what is shown as the story comes to a close and it is in contrast to Phyllis’ ending.

Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne) still leads the charge for women’s rights, continuing to speak to the masses.

We are dealing with 10,000 years of patriarchy and racism, but we must continue to move forward in waves. What will keep us going is the revelation of what we can be, what the people around us can be without the crippling walls and prisons into which we’ve been forced. […] And no matter how long the revolution may take, there can be no turning back.

What did you think of this finale episode of Mrs. America? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Mrs. America Season 1 is streaming on FX on Hulu.

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