The Republic of Sarah Review: Two Imposters (Season 1 Episode 12)
Greylock has a pile of money to contend with on The Republic of Sarah Season 1 Episode 12, “Two Imposters.” Instead of solving all of Sarah’s problems it multiplies them.
But let’s not bury the lead, because only Sarah is responsible for her gigantic, unforgivable lie to Corinne.
It’s not exactly the biggest shocker that Danny is Josh’s father — I knew Sarah lied from The Republic of Sarah Season 1 Episode 9, “Sons and Daughters.” And let’s be honest, our collective intuition knew the truth of Josh’s DNA from The Republic of Sarah Season 1 Episode 1, “Pilot.”
The fact that Sarah’s mic is still on is the interesting detail, here. Finally, the citizens of Greylock know what I’ve been saying with a high degree of certainty all season — Sarah is an unfit leader.
I’m not saying this to be mean. I love Sarah Cooper the character. Watching her slowly and carefully rebel against New Hampshire to save Greylock would have been satisfying, but that is never what The Republic of Sarah offered.
“Two Imposters” suffers for the same reason that all of the worst episodes of the season do: way too much happens in 40+ minutes for our brains to process it.
Sarah’s friends and colleagues throw a million opinions about what she should do with the surplus money at her, AJ won’t be able to support her dad’s facility soon, Sarah’s parents are at each other’s throats, Grover hits a bump in his grieving process, Bella gets an internship, and Greylock is announcing itself on the world stage.
We have not even factored in all of Corinne’s contentious scenes with Adam before the final bomb drops. The Republic of Sarah, can we breathe, please?
The best high-stakes dramas know when to slow down and give us memorable moments. Yet despite being a show about building a country, The Republic of Sarah has never been high-stakes or even remotely political.
It promises small-town charm and often takes itself too seriously to be able to authentically deliver.
We do need to talk about Corinne because Adam is an abusive person and this divorce can’t come soon enough.
I can’t imagine the emotions that someone would feel after discovering that their spouse kept an ornament as a memento of an affair with their high school sweetheart.
But no matter what the law says, driving your child to another country without telling their other parent is emotional and physiological abuse.
Even before he really snaps, the way Adam acts while he and Corinne are out to dinner is a red flag. A mature person would hold themselves together.
It’s a shame that The Republic of Sarah thinks it needs to move so fast. The sheer speed of the episode makes the fact that Adam has forbidden Corinne from speaking to Sarah a moot point almost instantly.
Some of The Republic of Sarah‘s nuance is so good, but we are never allowed to sit with any of it long enough for it to sink in.
If we just had an episode or two more to watch Corinne live with the extreme consequences of her cheating, Sarah’s lie would pack a more powerful punch.
It’s hard to slow down and The Republic of Sarah doesn’t have enough time in the season.
I want to say it deserves a second chance next season, but Sarah is at her lowest point as a leader. Is there any point in continuing this story if she doesn’t shape up?
Notes
- Grover and Patience have the sweetest moments together in Tyler’s film. That scene is the loveliest scene.
- The scenes between Paul and Ellen are so pointless. That time could be dedicated to making “B” storylines stronger.
- Where is Tito? I need the dog on every episode.
- I’m so proud of Grover’s growth and apology. But Tyler is out of his mind to think that he could just take someone’s private films without asking first.
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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.