The Republic of Sarah Review: Power (Season 1 Episode 2)
The unique spirit is still intact on The Republic of Sarah Season 1 Episode 2, “Power,” as is the preposterous premise.
This would not be such a big problem if the episode were not in such a rush. Watching scripted TV requires us to suspend disbelief all of the time. It’s part of the deal. But The Republic of Sarah is in a huge rush to get somewhere too fast, and suffers for it.
We begin the episode with Sarah in jail for treason to the U.S. — obviously a federal crime. We know her mother Ellen was a wealthy senator, so the fact that she makes bail is not an issue.
However, Sarah making bail exactly 1 minute and 13 seconds into the episode (minus 42 seconds of recap) is blasphemy.
We’re not watching a prison drama, so let that step get crossed off the list, fine. This story is about a town’s struggle to become a country. So, why are we only told about Sarah’s trial through TV newscasts?
Isn’t the legal battle to become emancipated a huge part of Greylock’s journey?
The Republic of Sarah doesn’t think so. Sarah is on the court steps a free woman and Greylock its own nation exactly three minutes and 18 seconds into “Power.” All of that before the title card drops!
Sarah doesn’t want to be the “leader” of this new Greylock nation. She says once again that all of the “new nation” business was meant to be a tactic to stall Lydon Industries.
The Republic of Sarah itself seems to forget Greylock is a country. Residents say “the town” more than once.
We have a reluctant leader (who is also meant to be championing independence…it’s confusing) and the town forgets it’s a country. But as if by magic, it is one.
It’s natural to ask: “What’s the point?” as the title card disappears.
Once the power goes out, the lightbulb clicks in my head that if The Republic of Sarah slows down from here on, there is a fresh idea underneath some confusion.
Sarah’s fight with the governor of New Hampshire and struggle to find a way to bring power to her nation is less compelling than the tension her solution creates in her relationship with Grover.
We now know that he built his house for his late wife Patience as a wedding gift. So, now his emotional tie to it (while predictable), makes sense. Grover’s reaction to Sarah deciding to work with Lydon Industries and Danny and tear his house down is totally valid.
(Though, how convenient for the plot that this mine has to be built on Grover’s land…but TV needs plotlines, even if they are forced sometimes).
Sarah’s decision is valid, too. She’s the damn leader of a nation, partially against her will. She was a history teacher a few months ago. Any solution she can come up with to keep Greylock going that hurts the fewest families is a good one.
I also love that Grover is even madder at Sarah when she makes all of the legal maneuvers to turn the park where Grover and Patience made memories into private land.
The Republic of Sarah is not looking for quick fixes to the characters’ personal struggles. I’m invested enough in Grover and Sarah that I’m ready for this slow burn as she fumbles her way through being a “president.”
It’s absolutely unnecessary to turn Danny and Corinne’s story into a love triangle. (Note to TV writers: We never need another love triangle). But I’m even invested enough in them.
The Republic of Sarah‘s biggest issue is the teenagers. She’s not a teacher anymore, so why are they there?
Initial descriptions of the premise made it seem like the kids were the ones to help her find solutions to Greylock’s original problem and help run the country. That is not what happens.
Bella, Tyler, and Maya are cool enough, but their issues are totally extraneous.
Even if there are potential lessons to be learned from the kids, the execution is poor.
Maya tells Bella she is rude to her because Bella does not act when her friends and ex-boyfriend make fun of Maya. The lightest issue there is complacency with bullying. The heaviest is complacency with racism.
The fact that Bella’s “solution” to someone explaining her complacency to her is to go help Ms. Cooper communicate with the windmill farm guy in Quebec is blasphemous.
It’s awesome that Bella knows enough French to help Sarah do this. But rebelling against her dad to help her former teacher run Greylock does not at all help address the problem with complacency with bullying/racism. Bella says she’ll do better in the future so we have to take her word.
But poor execution of plots that are hard to care about is a waste of screentime that no show can afford so early in its tenure.
The Republic of Sarah still has something good at its core. If it slows down and gives the kids less screentime, it will become easier to believe in Greylock nation.
Notes
- The Republic of Sarah‘s teens feel superfluous because they are — the original version of the show was an unaired pilot for CBS starring Sarah Drew and James Lesure. The kids were added for the CW remake, but we’ll always want to see the original.
- Who teaches the kids history now?
- Where the heck is Luís? A small-town show needs the diner owner in every episode, thank you very much.
- More AJ, please.
What did you think of this episode of The Republic of Sarah? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Republic of Sarah airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Esme Mazzeo
Esme Mazzeo is a lifestyle and entertainment journalist from Long Island. When she's not writing for work, she's writing for fun, or searching for something to satisfy her sweet tooth. She thinks rainy days are the best kind of days. Certified night owl.