The First Lady Review: Please Allow Me (Season 1 Episode 3)
The First Lady Season 1 Episode 3, “Please Allow Me,” focuses on the first step in becoming a First Lady—meeting their future husbands who were destined for the White House.
I appreciate the in-depth backstory here, but it would’ve been so much more effective to intercut the young women on the road to marriage with them navigating their role as wife and First Lady. The stars are absent from this episode with young Betty, Michelle, and Eleanor being portrayed by Kristine Froseth, Jayme Lawson, and Eliza Scanlen, respectively.
In my review of The First Lady Season 1 Episode 2, “Voices Carry,” I said it was the star power of Michelle Pfeiffer, Viola Davis, and Gillian Anderson that not only draws one in but keeps one hooked.
This episode relies on the younger actors to carry it, and while each of their performances are quite strong, the absence of Pfeiffer, Davis, and Anderson is acutely felt. By the time the episode reaches its end, there is a disappointment in realizing they won’t be showing up.
This rather large misstep calls attention to the show’s pacing and story structure issues. Again, this was a grievance I had from Episode 2. There is no common thread besides that of the characters meeting their future husbands and getting married.
The stories of the three women on this episode feels unbalanced. A lot of time is spent on Betty in particular, but this is the episode that would benefit from the screen time, or at least the sense of that screen time, being divvied up equally.
This uneven storytelling creates missed opportunities, unfortunately.
How great would it have been to cut from Eleanor talking with her girlfriends about Sapphism to a scene between Anderson’s Eleanor and her rumored lover, Hick, played by Lily Rabe?
Yes, these three First Ladies’ lives could not be more different, but there are plenty of connections to be made between them. Like Episode 2, Episode 3 lacks those vital connections.
Despite these shortcomings, though, Froseth, Lawson, and Scanlen are compelling. They’ve been able to match the vibes the older actors have already established as well as making the role their own with age-specific nuances. Scanlen shines as “plain” Eleanor, Lawson exudes Michelle’s cool confidence, and Froseth captures Betty’s agency.
The budding romances of Betty and Gerald (Jake Picking) and Michelle and Barack (Julian De Niro) are well covered, but Eleanor’s betrothal to Franklin (Charlie Plummer) is glossed over. Lawson and De Niro have a great chemistry, making their courtship charming and sweet.
The First Lady Season 1 Episode 3, “Please Allow Me,” leaves me wanting more, but not in a good way. Hopefully, with these backstories out of the way, the show will find its groove with its stars while still utilizing the young talent featured on this episode.
What did you think of this episode of The First Lady? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The First Lady airs Sundays at 9/8c on Showtime.
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Erin Allen
Erin is a former script supervisor for film and television. She's an avid fan of middle aged actresses, dark dramas, and irreverent comedies. She loves to read actual books and X-Files fan fiction. Her other passions include pointing out feminist issues, shipping Mulder and Scully, and collecting pop culture mugs.