X
- 2020
- TV-MA
- HULU
- 2020
- TV-MA
- HULU
Summary Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett) seeks to stop the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment championed by feminists such as Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Betty Friedan (Tracy Ullman), Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba), Bella Abzug (Margo Martindale) and Jill Ruckelshaus (Elizabeth Banks) in the limited series created and written by Dahvi Wa...
Created By: Dahvi Waller
- 2020
- TV-MA
- HULU
- 2020
- TV-MA
- HULU
Mrs. America
Season 1 Premiere: Apr 15, 2020
7.3
Where to Watch
Summary Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett) seeks to stop the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment championed by feminists such as Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Betty Friedan (Tracy Ullman), Shirley Chisholm (Uzo Aduba), Bella Abzug (Margo Martindale) and Jill Ruckelshaus (Elizabeth Banks) in the limited series created and written by Dahvi Wa...
Created By: Dahvi Waller
Where to Watch
All Seasons
Top Cast
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 42 Critic Reviews
87
95% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
5% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
Based on 42 Critic Reviews
87
95% Positive
40 Reviews
40 Reviews
5% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Each of the nine episodes tells a different woman’s story. The second focuses on Steinem, played with sensitivity by Byrne. ... The script revels in these ironies, and they pile up to form a picture of a messy, conflicted battlefield, where interests and ideology are rarely in perfect alignment. It’s testament to Blanchett’s performance that although she’s firmly an anti-hero, with views on abortion and gay marriage and ethnic minorities that will appal many viewers, she never feels like the villain. The all-round intelligence and wattage of this series means that a back-and-forth over legislation never feels dull.
A nine-episode limited series worth the investment. It’s easily the best new series this year.
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 112 User Ratings
7.3
79% Positive
88 Ratings
88 Ratings
5% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
16% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
User Score
Generally Favorable
Based on 112 User Ratings
7.3
79% Positive
88 Ratings
88 Ratings
5% Mixed
6 Ratings
6 Ratings
16% Negative
18 Ratings
18 Ratings
An excellent series. Sad that it's a limited one. But everyone's performance are lovely that every single actresses deserve a prestigious award. **** that Rose Byrne and Sarah Paulson who ate their respective roles were snubbed by the Emmys. Eh, the Academys are a scam anyway.
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Mrs. America has zip to spare, bounding along on a ‘70s soundtrack, limning complex history, ideas, alliances, and personal dynamics with assuredness, tact, and insight. ... The concise episodes are more effective than the diffuse treatment the show gives Steinem, who is by far the most famous figure but who never comes quite into focus. ... Ullman, Paulson, and Martindale all stand out, but Blanchett most of all. She brings all of her tremendous skill to bear on Schlafly, with a level of precision that makes her ring as clear as a bell.
The scripts are detailed and informative, but don't think this is a dry history lesson. There is wit, levity and propulsion to the episodes, which zip by after the slow opener. The cast offers an embarrassment of riches.
[An] intensely psychological portrait of Phyllis Schlafly, the godmother of the modern anti-feminist movement, played with frightening, actressy charisma by Cate Blanchett. A nervy, nine-episode period piece. ... The feminist fighters, drawn with less specificity and more reverence, are inevitably less interesting.
While it can sometimes get bogged down by too many extraneous details, the story of “Mrs. America” is intriguing. First- rate performances from a stellar cast bring a divisive time in America’s political history to life.
Despite being careful to balance the screen time between factions, “Mrs. America” isn’t nearly as convincing, or even half as energetic, in its depiction of the Republican grassroots movement than it is in its liberal counterparts. The series may be fascinated by Schlafly and her various arms of power, but it never quite proves that it understands them.
A masterpiece. Important subject, and must see. And of course, Cate Blanchett is best actress of all time.
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Absolute masterpiece, from the brilliant performances, the well constructed narrative, and the disturbingly relevant storytelling. One of the best shows of the year, no doubt.
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Loved it , loved it! Great acting, great music! This really showcased many of the major players for and against the ERA movement. It humanized what would normally be a villain in another story and also showed the true struggles of the weaving through politics to get anything done (nothing has changed there)
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Mrs. America on Hulu takes place between several years and presidential administrations looking at the fall of the once likely ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment. It follows the rise of Phyllis Schlafly (played by Cate Blanchett) and her Eagle Foundation as she fought against the amendment in the cause of social conservatism. The irony is that she constantly argued for old fashioned values and being a housewife while herself being a career woman. Meanwhile,we see the various famous feminists, such as Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), trying to get the amendment passed. I found this to be a really, really good miniseries.
This was a fascinating show to watch. Though I've heard of the failed amendment, it's not like I know a lot of details. This does a great job of offering an eye into the context of the times. It looks at what women at the time had to deal with and the various political machinations behind everything. Also, this is about the beginning of he Republican party becoming the party of social conservatism and the party lines divide. Today it almost feels alien to see a world where a Republican president created the environmental protection agency, Republican swere united by just primarily the belief in limited government and could hold socially liberal positions, and conservative Protestants and Catholics only just started getting along in the name of a common cause.
One of the best parts is seeing the multiple feminist heads interact. They all have strong personalities and, though having the same goals, they have different ways of pursuing them, such as Bella Abzug's more politically pragmatic approach versus Betty Friedan's take-no-prisoners attitude. You also see Schlafly's shrewd poltiical maneuverings as a woman who was originally best known for her views on national defense rise up the political chain on the back of the pushback against the rise of social liberalism in the 60's/70's.
I must warn you that the weakest part was the first episode. The show thrives when it looks at the various colorful figures, but the first episode mostly just focuses on Schlafly. Since her world is less colorful than the 70's feminists, this episode feels too restrained, plus it doesn't help that there is a lot of setup. The episode also includes the biggest mistake in the show. They took a liberty with Schlafly and her husband that has no validity in reality that is a step too far. (The outrage against this show was strong enough that Hulu started putting disclaimers at the beginning of the episodes by the time the fourth one aired.) Most shows or films based on real events and people take liberties. However, there are lines. There's a difference between, say, making a film critical of Nixon and and a film critical of Nixon in which he kills his neighbours' pet because he was slighted.
The acting in this is insane, a practical who's who of big name or veteran actresses, including Margo Martindale, Tracey Ullman, Sarah Paulson, Elizabeth Banks, Uzo Aduba, Niecey Nash, and Melanie Lynskey among others. I don't have time to go into how good they all are. However, I will give a shot out to one of the few unknowns in this. Cindy Drummond (who played the mother in that Geico secret agent/squirrels commerical) gives a heck of a performance in her limited time as Texas Biblethumper Lottie Beth Hobbs. I hope this gives her career a boost.
My congrats to whoever chose the song selection for this, really accentuate parts.
Overall, I highly recommend this. If you liked American Crime Story: The People Vs. OJ Simpson, you may like this because it is another type of multiple viewpoints/complex historical issues-type shows.
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Wew. Literal left wing propaganda. Full of lies about Phyllis Schlafly, and tries to paint her in the worst way possible. They often have her doing horrible things that her OPPONENTS did in real life. The actors and writers of this show have zero credibility and zero ethics.
A piece of trash that will only be enjoyed by a left wing fool who knows nothing about the actual history of any of the individuals involved, and who is happy to remain ignorant and be spoonfed by equally ignorant and malicious actors.
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Production Company:
- Shiny Penny
- Gowanus Projections
- Federal Engineering
- FX Productions
- Dirty Films
Initial Release Date: Apr 15, 2020
Number of seasons: 1 Season
Rating: TV-MA
Awards
Golden Globes, USA
• 1 Nomination
Online Film & Television Association
• 1 Win & 18 Nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards
• 1 Win & 10 Nominations
