The Politician: Review

Ryan Murphy is fast becoming the go-to for a bingeable series. With American Horror Story becoming a streaming sensation, Pose being a trailblazing success and Glee being... well Glee... the writer/ director has become a TV powerhouse.

Murphy is one of the first directors to be bought exclusively by Netflix with a compensation of $300 million to make content exclusively for them for five years. While this might seem like a wild move on Netflix's part it actually makes a lot of sense. Murphy hits the perfect demographic for their platform. Not only are his shows slick, witty and crazy enough to stir media attention, they are also diverse, current and targeted specifically at 15-30 year olds who are the social media savvy, content hungry generation Netflix bank on coming back for more. Murphy has the young adult market wrapped around his little finger at this point and his upcoming series Hollywood looks like it's going to be just as popular as his other exploits.

The Politician, like a lot of Murphy's work is a marketing dream with talented young actors, an interesting premise and the cinematographer of Peaky Blinders Simon Dennis but does the show live up to its impressive campaign?

1. Plot

Ever since Payton Hobart was seven years old his dream has been to become the President of the United States. Every decision he has ever made in his life, every penny his uber rich adopted family has spent on his education has been in pursuit of his ambition. Together with his devot group of supporters Payton has figured out the stepping stones that need to happen in his life in order to get him into the White House and untouchable. One of those steps is winning his High School election to become school president.

However, disaster strikes when Payton realises he's running against his best friend and ex-lover River. Through a string of shocking twists and turns Payton's campaign is plagued by bad decisions and unchecked ambition leading to sabotage, betrayal and even murder played out against the gaudy backdrop of extreme wealth.

The idea of real politics playing out in the low stakes environment of a school election is something I found really appealing and entertaining. The wealth of the characters explains their erratic and egotistical behaviour leading to character clashes at the highest level. While episode one didn't do much for me I found myself coming back for more. By the end of episode two the show had me in it's highly produced clutches no matter how dumb I found some of the story decisions.

2. Is it actually good?

Honestly, I couldn't tell you if this show was good if you pointed a gun at me. I know that I got swept up in its bizzarity. That I enjoyed the performances especially Ben Platt as the calculating yet vulnerable Payton and Julia Schlaepfer as his stoic First lady to-be Alice Charles.

Every frame of this show is brimming with sharp style and colour which suited the show to a T and Murphy's signature quick dialogue is a joy to listen to as the plot unfolds.

However, this show is, in many ways, a huge mess. We spend way too much time with over-acted side characters and the show often loses sight of its core message about being a human instead of a Politician. Early episodes are full of useless and awkward scenes which grind the momentum to a halt.

One of the key problems I had with the series was how little backstory we had for Payton, River and Astrid's complex three-way relationship. With River disposed of very early on in the series, Astrid coldly steps up to take his place in the presidential run only to spite Payton but we're not given any context for what ended their relationship or why Astrid resents Payton so much. Perhaps this will be something further explored in season 2.

If I had to define my feelings towards this series I would say it's entertaining but it's not necessarily good. A lot of dumb decisions are made, a lot of characters underdeveloped, a lot of very attractive actors talking in massive stylized mansions and I'm not sure if it does everything its premise promised. While it's a clever observation on how contrived and marketed politics are in America today it doesn't go all-in on this idea as its theme, creating a tone which feels confused, like it wants to be a comedy, crime drama, musical which also wants to take itself too seriously.

But... I watched it all within two days and am now readily looking forward to the second season... because I'm the demographic this show is made for and I fell for it hook line and sinker. It's certainly a unique series and I'm a sucker for diverse casts, interesting characters and rich people stabbing each other in the back... it's just good entertainment.

Looking for a polished "mean-girls with murder" series to binge over a few days in lockdown?

The Politician is perfect for you.

Want a consistent series that knows what it is and delivers on a smart concept?

Maybe look elsewhere.

This show is the very embodiment of made for marketing and as cool and fashionable as it is there's nothing new in here that is worth anyone obsessing over.

Except for Ben Platt's singing... that man has the voice of an angel.

6/10