The Politician: Season 1

METASCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 32 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

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6.4

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6.4	Your Score
6.4	User Score Generally favorable reviews based on 40 Ratings

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The Politician

Now Playing: The Politician

Season Details & Credits

Netflix | Season Premiere Date: September 27, 2019

Summary: Saint Sebastian High School student Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) has dreamed of becoming the President of the United States since he was seven-year-old. To attain his goal first he has to become Student Body President and get into Harvard in Ryan Murphy's satirical dramedy.

Genre(s): Comedy, Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E8. Vienna
Air Date: September 27, 2019
tbd
S1:E7. The Assassination of Payton Hobart: Part 2
Air Date: September 27, 2019
tbd
S1:E6. The Assassination of Payton Hobart
Air Date: September 27, 2019

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

The Telegraph Helen Brown

Jan 3, 2020

Although the relentless superficiality of the characters gets tiring, it allows you to keep laughing as they double cross and second guess each other at a turbocharged pace. There’s fun to be had at the expense of the premise of the school as a microcosm of American society. Read full review

Dave Nemetz

Sep 23, 2019

The Politician provides plenty of laughs and on-target jabs at our current political moment — but it’s the battered yet still-beating heart found in Platt’s performance that ultimately has us pulling the lever for this one. Read full review

Kelly Lawler

Sep 27, 2019

The sharp dialogue and great casting help "Politician," but its success rests mostly on the shoulders of Platt, who carries a big role admirably. ... "Politician" suffers whenever it wanders from Payton. ... But despite its occasional flaws, "Politician" is a relief to watch, because it manages to make fiction stranger than life once more. That is no small achievement in 2019. Read full review

Richard Roeper

Sep 24, 2019

Farcical, snarky, admittedly creative but at times irritating and off-putting series. Read full review

Matthew Gilbert

Sep 26, 2019

With these juicy themes in play, the first season of “The Politician” is nonetheless a mixed bag. ... And yet it’s highly watchable. Read full review

Dan Fienberg

Sep 23, 2019

With a wandering focus and an erratic sense of tone, The Politician simply doesn't come together as a clean vision. It remains generally watchable throughout thanks to a great cast and fleeting moments of inspiration and it actually teases a promising second season. Read full review

Collider Allie Gemmill

Sep 23, 2019

I see a lot of half-baked ideas about politics as a means of change, about the harmful dividing lines of class and privilege that separate potential allies, about the importance of the caring and keeping of your mental health, and so much more. But at every turn, The Politician chooses an artificial, inauthentic way of expressing these ideas, of prioritizing the drama for the truth, and opting in for skating by with little else to offer but something superficially indulgent to lose yourself in for a while. Read full review

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6.4

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User Reviews

khia22

Nov 18, 2019

Amazing, bright, funny, witty, different. I love every second. Ben Platt is now my new favourite person, Ryan murphy has amazing range I hope he never stops making his art.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

asmanraj

Mar 21, 2020

If you are a Ryan Murphy fan like me, you will probably love this show, but if you are not, you will probably hate it. The most pleasant surprise in the first episode was a musical performance by Ben Platt. The show is darker and less comedic than I thought it would be, but still veryIf you are a Ryan Murphy fan like me, you will probably love this show, but if you are not, you will probably hate it. The most pleasant surprise in the first episode was a musical performance by Ben Platt. The show is darker and less comedic than I thought it would be, but still very entertaining. Also, I wonder if Payton Hobart's character was inspired by the lives of Ben Platt and Pete Buttigieg?… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

manningn15

Jun 24, 2020

The Politician is my 2nd favorite new show of 2019, my 2nd favorite Netflix show, and one of my favorite shows of all time. Ben Platt's performance is outstanding, he gives a very emotionally powerful performances, he makes you go from laughing, to crying, to making you angry throughoutThe Politician is my 2nd favorite new show of 2019, my 2nd favorite Netflix show, and one of my favorite shows of all time. Ben Platt's performance is outstanding, he gives a very emotionally powerful performances, he makes you go from laughing, to crying, to making you angry throughout every episode. The supporting performances are stupendous especially from Zoey Deutch, Jessica Lange, Lucy Boynton, Gwyneth Paltrow, David Corenswet, Julia Schlaepfer, Benjamin Barrett, Dylan McDermott, Trevor Mahlon Eason, Trey Eason, January Jones, Theo Germaine, and Ryan J. Haddad. The writing was excellent, very witty and unique. The makeup and hairstyling was superb especially on Zoey Deutch, Jessica Lange, Ben Platt, Benjamin Barrett, Lucy Boynton, Julia Schlaepfer, Rahne Jones, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The costumes were wonderful especially the ones wore by Ben Platt, Lucy Boynton, Julia Schlaepfer, Zoey Deutch, Jessica Lange, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Rahne Jones. This first season was an A+.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

ozibuns

Sep 29, 2019

A light hearted, brilliantly entertaining and original series with a dash of cliche, caricature and panache. Watch it without expectation and you will not be disappointed.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

sarah2

Oct 8, 2019

Like the majority of Ryan Murphy's shows, The Politician has moments of brilliance, humour and (lots of) satire. On the whole, the cast is fantastic, and Ben Platt really shines in the main role. The show looks suitably lavish, with the direction and production highlighting the excessiveLike the majority of Ryan Murphy's shows, The Politician has moments of brilliance, humour and (lots of) satire. On the whole, the cast is fantastic, and Ben Platt really shines in the main role. The show looks suitably lavish, with the direction and production highlighting the excessive wealth that surrounds the majority of the characters. Unfortunately, the show's treatment of its characters and their relationships remain frustratingly inconsistent. Character moments and developments that the show wants you to be invested in do not earn their place. The writers really needed to show rather than tell in those cases. Some of the supporting characters deserved far greater development and screen time. However, the finale added another point to my score, as the episode sparks new energy (and sublime acting) into the show. This sets up what should ideally be a superior second season. Overall, the show is watchable yet fails to live up the potential it could have.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

HellonWheelz

Oct 6, 2019

Even with a stellar cast, a fast paced story and excellent production, the show can't mask it's lack of likable, interesting or even believable characters. When Ryan Murphy shows are bad, it's still never boring, but it's annoying. Characters are in service of the plot, they're almostEven with a stellar cast, a fast paced story and excellent production, the show can't mask it's lack of likable, interesting or even believable characters. When Ryan Murphy shows are bad, it's still never boring, but it's annoying. Characters are in service of the plot, they're almost caricatures. If this indicates the type of shows that Ryan Murphy are going to produce for Netflix; shows that might only appeal to a small audience, then Netflix just wasted a lot of money. (This review is based on the first three episodes.)… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Ecmmyers

Oct 7, 2019

I really enjoyed the disk satirical look at the electoral process- from the voters to the politicians- through the lens of a relatively inconsequential race like student president. They managed to include great black comedy moments in an otherwise frivolous show with some great dialogue andI really enjoyed the disk satirical look at the electoral process- from the voters to the politicians- through the lens of a relatively inconsequential race like student president. They managed to include great black comedy moments in an otherwise frivolous show with some great dialogue and character moments thrown in. Although some of the plot-forward moments were a bit contrived and the season stuttered a bit near the end, I found it a very entertaining watch due to the very evocative style and some very convincing performances by the main cats stuff high his HDTV it'd ruff St high HD GF… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Seasons & Episodes

62

Series Overview
Season 2

45
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: June 19, 2020
Season 1

66
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E8. Vienna
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E7. The Assassination of Payton Hobart: Part 2
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E6. The Assassination of Payton Hobart
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E5. The Voter
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E4. Gone Girl
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E3. October Surprise
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E2. The Harrington Commode
  Air Date: September 27, 2019
- tbd
  S1:E1. Pilot
  Air Date: September 27, 2019