This is a fascinating story to tell, with so many famous women all working together and against each other at such a defining point in history, while also allowing the story to sadly mirror the present day in many ways. Despite this, it could very easily have been told recklessly, but the team here get the balance just right.
The story is predominantly focused on Cate Blanchett’s Phyllis Schlafly
The cast is absolutely extraordinary (and I imagine they will sweep the Emmy nominations in a couple of weeks), and the most interesting thing is that it is made up of entirely women: Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson, Elizabeth Banks, Margo Martindale, Tracey Ullman, Uzo Aduba, Kayli Carter, Ari Graynor, Jeanne Tripplehorn, and Melanie Lynskey (with John Slattery the only man in any sort of significant supporting role).
Cate Blanchett, as we all already know is one of the finest actresses of the past century, but hear she gets to show off her villainous side again (whilst also trying to maintain humanity) in what could’ve been an entirely thankless role but one Blanchett turns fascinating due to the Schlafly’s strong Right-Wing beliefs that seem to be entirely opposed to the free working woman she is underneath it all trying to become.
Sarah Paulson is also superb here, bringing real heart to another character that on the surface is a really bad person, and in episode 8 in particular she gives a performance that may put her in awards consideration yet again.
However, the beat thing about the show for me was Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem. Byrne has being working for decades now, and is only finally becoming appreciated as the incredible dramatic and comedic performer she is (and both aspects are on show here). She totally embodies Steinem both physically and in the way she acts.
Steinem operates in many ways as the opposite to Schlafly, and seeing her personal battles and the way she was a key part of the ERA at the same time Schlafly was rising is fascinating. They humanise Steinem in many ways, letting us see her many great attributes and also not shying away from her flaws. To her friends she is just a normal person and to her opposition and fans she is a sort of mythical celebrity, which is such a clever way to present someone most of the world knows about without truly knowing them.
The show also acknowledges the in-fighting and downsides of the ERA, and the fact that it was essentially entirely white feminism with little inclusion.
‘Mrs. America’ also has some of the best and most entertaining opening credits that I can remember for a long time, with the disco inspired music and visuals giving real energy to the start of the show.
Overall, this was a really fun and important show that told a very particular and open ended story, and used an incredible cast of actresses to pull it off. The show is the brain child of the likes of Dahvi Waller, Anna Boden/Ryan Fleck (Captain Marvel), and Blanchett herself, and they all really delivered.
Rating = 4/5
Howe's World of Film and TV 