The new Netflix comedy series, “The Politician,” is the type of show that causes viewers to wince, draw breath through gritted teeth, and exclaim dismay at the dog’s dinner of themes and tones before their eyes. Creator-Producer Ryan Murphy’s latest bundle of satirical joy – born of his longstanding creative partnership with Brad Falchuk and Ian Brennan – is centered on the all-consuming political ambitions of one Payton Hobart (Ben Platt), with each season set to follow the go-getter across a different election in his career. Season 1 focuses on the would-be POTUS during the first of his future campaigns, a cut-throat race for Student Body President at the prestigious Saint Sebastian High School. Despite the smart ideas filling this first batch of episodes, they’re overwhelming, ardently competing for our attention in a hectic ball pit of melodrama.
Right out of the gate, “The Politician” is both excruciatingly tiring and testing, demanding as much patience and tolerance of its audience as the crafty bombast of any well-versed political candidate. All the same, Platt (“Run This Town”) remains a pleasure to watch from start to finish, adding an unexpected touch of humanity and vulnerability to his near-Machiavellian character. The talented actor swings effortlessly between the humble child of a lowly cocktail waitress, totally overshadowed by his entitled frat-pack brothers Luther (Trey Eason) and Martin (Trevor Eason), and the power-hungry, adoptive son of billionaires Keaton (Bob Balaban) and Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow), rolling from his Santa Barbara palazzo to his top-shelf private school in a vintage convertible.
We’re left to suffer through an abundance of conflicting themes, needlessly grandiloquent production value, a truly raucous score, and about every American high school trope that exists. All the while, Payton takes no prisoners as he lurches steadfastly towards his goals, running against popular hunk River (David Corenswet) and a handful of further rivals. This is one kid on a mission, allowing nothing to stand in his path to success, and although the interim objective is a position conferring little power, it’s an important step in obtaining the White House keys.
Mum’s the word as to the exact ins-and-outs of the Student Body Presidential race, but let’s say you certainly won’t be short-changed by Payton & Co’s tactics, nor by the razor-sharp social commentary Murphy steeps them in. As expected, there’s a shedload of calculated skullduggery along the way – the nature of which changes as the story progresses – but the effort here to squeeze a real-world election scenario into an angsty, Gen-Z educational setting feels awfully square-peg-round-hole. The juxtaposition is occasionally great but largely off-target, leaving viewers wishing the show leaned further towards a parodic teenage take on “House of Cards.”
As in any campaign, errors are both thick on the ground and incredibly destructive. Payton’s biggest mistake is imprudently adding wide-eyed, cancer-ridden student Infinity (Zoey Deutch) on his ticket, but it’s up to you to find out why. Permitting the young careerist to make such a grave blunder works to Murphy’s disadvantage as the subplot hogs the limelight. It does speak to the ubiquitous duplicity coursing through the hallways of contemporary politics, but if it weren’t for this, on top of Infinity’s wonderfully unscrupulous grandmother Dusty (Jessica Lange at her wicked best and sporting that Southern drawl we all know and love) bursting into our lives, the storyline’s intrusion into core narrative elements would be far more offensive than it is.
While “The Politician” isn’t the huge triumph everyone hoped for, we can celebrate a few small wins. Most of these are found tucked away after the midway point, but even taken alongside all the double-dealing and the deliciously acid-tongued Dusty, they lack the strength to give the series the major kick up the butt it needs to earn a comfy place in the annals of Netflix history. The season finale – just as distracted as preceding episodes – confirms such a verdict, giving rise to an audience underfed, disinterested in the next (already confirmed) installment of this corny satire, and desperate for Murphy & his sidekicks to get back to the anthology-style shows they do so well. [C]