Elect THE POLITICIAN

Article first published as TV Review: THE POLITICIAN on Seat42F.

Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan, the minds behind FOX’s former shows Glee and Scream Queens, have re-teamed for a new Netflix drama entitled THE POLITICIAN. Like their previous efforts, this one centers on young people who act in hyperreal ways, working hard towards single-minded goals with little regard for who they hurt. These kids act like unscrupulous adults, but the show doesn’t prove they aren’t, instead existing within the high stakes laid out by the protagonists, no tongue in cheek wink that the real world will make this all seem trivial in retrospect.

There is a particular style and tone to THE POLITICIAN. Murphy and Falchuk work with high production concepts in American Horror Story, Pose, and their other television series. But this one is a bit different. It’s more like a Wes Anderson flick than their usual work, down to the young, precocious male lead, characters standing stock still in specific places, and the occasional shot of a furniture description page. THE POLITICIAN’s characters aren’t as odd as those in an Anderson work, and it can sometimes take a viewer out of the story here. But overall, it’s mostly a quality work.

Ben Platt (Pitch Perfect) stars as Payton Hobart. Adopted by the ultra-wealthy Georgina (Gwyneth Paltrow, Avengers) and Keaton (Bob Balaban, Gosford Park), Payton feels less valued than his parents’ biological twins, Martin and Luther (Trevor and Trey Eason). Perhaps to make himself noticed, Payton makes it his mission in life to become president of the United States. His immediate focus: win the presidency of his student body. Which is easier said than done with pretty boy and popular kid River Barkley (David Corenswet, Moe & Jerryweather) standing in his way.

There are others involved, of course. Payton wants cancer patient Infinity Jackson (Zoey Deutch, Ringer) as his running mate to get the sympathy vote, not being aware of what Infinity’s Aunt Dusty (Jessica Lange, American Horror Story) is up to. River’s girlfriend, Astrid (Lucy Boynton, Gypsy), is a serious impediment, and Payton’s girlfriend, Alice (Julia Schlaepfer, Charlie Says), might be one, too. Payton’s advisors, McAfee (Laura Dreyfuss, Glee) and James (Theo Germaine, Adam), don’t always see eye to eye.

Yes, Payton has advisors. The election is treated almost as seriously as an adult campaign would be, and the stakes are just as high if Payton wants to achieve his dreams.

Platt is perfectly cast, playing a role so close to his Tony-winning turn in Evan Hanson. There’s even a dead guy and a crisis of conscience for him to play off of. The rest of the cast seem similarly well suited to their roles.

If I have one complaint about THE POLITICIAN, it’s that it seems very convoluted. There’s a lot going on, and circumstances change quickly with each new twist, of which there are many. Plenty of small moving parts could blow up and derail things at any time. However, other Murphy projects have been similarly dense and came out pretty well, so I think it’s best to have patience and wait. Besides, the character study of Payton seems rich on its own, at least from the first couple of episodes, and may be worth it even if the overall plot is less than satisfying, as has been the case on a couple of seasons of American Horror Story.

If you like Ryan Murphy and flair, you’ll probably like THE POLITICIAN. If you don’t like his other work, don’t expect anything too different here. Not that Murphy is one-note by any means, but he does what he does very well, and this is another variation on those themes.

THE POLITICIAN’s eight-episode first season is available now on Netflix.

Ringer retorts "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me"

     In the mid-season finale of the CW's Ringer, "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me," Gemma's (Tara Summers) fate hangs in the balance. Charlie, a.k.a. John (Billy Miller, The Young & the Restless) grows impatient with the lack of resolution. Siobhan (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who hires Charlie in the first place, offers to pay him if he will let Gemma live. When she isn't fast enough with the money, Charlie asks Bridget (also Gellar) for a ransom. Even though Bridget tries to pay, Charlie gets spooked, and gos ahead and kills Gemma. Siobhan is angry, and takes out Charlie in revenge.

     The death of Gemma in "That's What You Get for Trying to Kill Me" is both interesting and disappointing. Viewers are believing Gemma is dead for weeks, only to learn she is merely Charlie's captive. Then there is a completely contrived, terrible scene in which Gemma somehow survives a shot to the head (Charlie's aim is bad at THAT range!?), almost escapes, and learns that Siobhan is still alive. Yet, Charlie recovers from the blow she gives him in time to kill her before she can tell anyone. The whole sequence is handled so poorly, one almost forgets how cool it is that Gemma's murder is unexpected, especially after she is given a vital piece of information. Thus, the entire thing is a mediocre wash, that with a little better plotting, could have been really awesome.

     Siobhan's emotional attachment to Gemma is somewhat unexpected. Up to this point, Ringer paints Siobhan has a cold, heartless bitch. Of course, she must have been nice at some point, or Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd) would never have married her, and Gemma wouldn't have been her friend. That empathetic side of Siobhan is shown briefly, as she kills Charlie.

     Bridget and Andrew are now a firm couple. It's a little icky, since Andrew is Bridget's twin sister's husband, and Andrew thinks Bridget is Siobhan.  But since the two are such a good match in personality, and they are both happy together, that kind of overrides the gross factor. As long as one doesn't think too hard on it. Of course, it can't last. Siobhan is back in town, and she probably won't be please that Bridget is 'fixing' her life. So poor Andrew, brought even closer to Bridget by recent tradgedy, faces a betrayal that might prove impossible for him to get over.

     Henry (Kristoffer Polaha) is just a big ball of mad these days. He hates Bridget, whom he thinks is Siobhan. He blames her for Gemma's death, and mucking up the ransom, eevn though it is Henry that spooks Charlie. His rage needs some focus, and it's a mystery who will get the brunt of it. Look for Tyler (Justin Bruening) to be a very similar character once it comes out that Siobhan's baby isn't his.

     The coolest part of "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me) is when Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell) unmasks Jimmy (Darren Pettie, Mad Men), as a mole. Machado is a heck of a detective, and puts together the most obscure reference to do so. With smarts like these, it shouldn't take Machado too much longer to realize that Bridget is posing as Siobhan, especially with the real Siobhan back in town. Wonderful character who deserves more screen time!

     Also, kudos for the great Amber Benson (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) guest appearance! Too bad it is so short, and she is murdered, so can't return in any part of substance.

     The final story in "That's What You Get For Trying to Kill Me" is the least satisfying. Juliet (Zoey Deutch) puts the moves very hard on Mr. Carpenter (Jason Dohring), only to be rebuffed. Then she claims that he rapes her. Carpenter is pretty mad at Juliet, but given his professionalism thus far, it seems unlikely he would commit such a heinous act. It's possible, but more likely, Juliet is lying because she is hurt at being rejected. Not really interested to see how this plays out, but hope it resolves quickly.

     Ringer will return to the CW in January.

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     Read every Ringer review I've ever written.

     Catch up with Ringer streaming episodes by clicking here!

"The Poor Kids Do It Everyday" on Ringer

     Six episodes in, the mysteries on the CW's new drama Ringer keep coming. In this week's episode, "The Poor Kids Do It Everyday," Bridget (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and Henry (Kristoffer Polaha) both wonder what happen to Gemma (Tara Summers), wondering if each other engaged in foul play. They seem to come to an understanding, but then Bridget calls in an anonymous tip to the police on the crime scene evidence that Henry cleaned up, and leaves her own fingerprints on the weapon. Also, Machado (Nestor Carbonell) searches for the also missing Malcolm (Mike Colter), and Juliet (Zoey Deutch) finds an ally in Mr. Carpenter (Jason Dohring, Veronica Mars, Moonlight) at her new school.

     In Ringer, the viewers get the important clues long before the characters do. By this point, audiences can assume that no one is trying to kill Siobhan (also Gellar) because the man that Bridget killed in self-defense was sent by Siobhan, though he carried Siobhan's picture, not Bridget's. This means it is likely that Siobhan wanted everyone to think she is dead, and by Bridget taking over her life, Bridget ruined Siobhan's plan. Or at least a part of it. It's why Siobhan wanted to kill Bridget. It's also why she has Gemma taken out, probably, as Gemma knows about the twin sisters, and also knows that Bridget has taken Siobhan's place.

     But is Gemma maybe somehow still alive? If not, why not show her body?

      Why does Siobhan want everyone to think she is dead? It's obviously something she plans for, setting aside money that Bridget also unwittingly takes, and heading to Paris. It's interesting that Ringer shows so much, but explains so little. Though fans know what Siobhan is doing, the why has not been covered for any of it, leaving as more questions that the series is answering.

     In "The Poor Kids Do It Everyday," the series does the same with Bridget. We see that Bridget implicates herself in the possible murder of Gemma, but it is not clear why. This gets Machado's attention, of course, as he has Bridget flagged. But for now, everyone except the missing Gemma assumes that Siobhan is still living her life, and if they even know who Bridget is, thinks she is the one missing. Without knowing that Siobhan is still alive, Bridget thinks that will be no suspect to be found for Gemma. It keeps Henry and Siobhan, meaning her, since she's taken Siobhan's place, clear of any suspicion. But, still, setting up herself is a big risk. Why not find a bum in the alley to get prints from? If Machado realizes the rouse, then he might think Bridget did something to Gemma, creating even more problems.

      Malcolm's capture and torture by the men looking for Bridget is a big complication that will have to be resolved soon. Given the CW's penchant for killing off main characters, his number might just be up. After all, he is certainly the most expendably of the main characters. Bridget already has a new sponsor, and Machado is only looking for Malcolm because he has information on Bridget. If Malcolm dies, Bridget's secrets are protected a bit longer. Hopefully, Ringer will find a new and interesting twist to keep Malcolm around, but it seems unlikely. Unless Gemma is really dead, and Ringer doesn't want to off two characters so soon.

     Also, is it really a coincidence that Bridget finds a new sponsor so quickly in Charlie (Billy Miller, The Young and the Restless). Is anyone fooled? Who is he working for, and why is he there?

     It also seems odd that Juliet gets any plot at all. She isn't a main character, nor is she paramount to what is going on with Bridget and Siobhan. This isn't exactly a complaint, since following Juliet to schools opens up the door to see Dohring back on television. However, her scenes seem out of place, especially coming after so little independent development for the character in the first few episodes.

     Is Bridget sleeping with Siobhan's husband, Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd)? She would have to, to completely sell the charade, especially since Bridget is determined to fix the marriage, but the series shies from showing this explicitly. Probably because of the gross factor involved in sleeping with one's own brother-in-law. If one stops and thinks about it, Andrew is living a common male fantasy, and not even getting to enjoy it. But, more likely, he will be morally offended when the truth comes out. Or he'll choose Bridget over Siobhan since Bridget is actually good to him. It sure seems like Bridget might be falling for Andrew, though whether that's because of the life she has with him, or because she genuinely cares, is uncertain.

     Ringer airs Tuesdays at 8 p.m. ET on the CW.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

     Catch up with Ringer streaming episodes by clicking here!

Sarah Michelle Gellar's a dead "Ringer" for... Sarah Michelle Gellar?

     Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) returns to series television with the CW's Ringer. In "Pilot," which aired last night, Bridget Cafferty (Gellar) is found to be in the protective custody of Victor Machado (Nestor Carbonell, Lost) after witnessing a murder committed by a very dangerous man. Scared she isn't safe, even with Victor, Bridget flees to her twin sister, Siobhan Martin (also Gellar). But then Siobhan disappears while the two are on a boat, and Bridget assumes she is dead. In a panic, Bridget assumes Siobhan's identity.

     Fitting in as Siobhan is not as easy as Bridget hopes. For one thing, Siobhan is in a loveless marriage with Andrew (Ioan Gruffudd, Fantastic Four), living with a bratty stepdaughter named Juliet (Zoey Deutch, The Suite Life on Deck). Soon, Bridget discovers that Siobhan is sleeping with her best friend, Gemma's (Tara Summers, Boston Legal, Damages), husband, Henry (Kristoffer Polaha, Life Unexpected). And Siobhan also has someone trying to kill her. Plus, it doesn't take long for Victor to show up and ask "Siobhan" where her sister is.

     Oh, and by the way, Siobhan isn't dead; she's just hiding in Europe.

     Does Ringer sound deliciously complex enough to herald a Gellar return to TV? It should. It's got dark and twisty mysteries, concerning both sisters, and enough characters to spur some viewers to begin a cork board to keep track of all the connections. With the twists in the first hour alone, Ringer clearly establishes itself as a very adventurous show, in for many surprises as the weeks go by. The message? Don't trust anything you hear or see, because there's probably more going on than is shown. Which sounds just fine for an avid TV watcher tired of predictable procedurals.

     Gellar shines in Ringer, of course, both as the seemingly heartless, manipulative Siobhan, and the warmer, scared, ex-stripper Bridget. She is the lead, plain and simple, and everyone else in the series revolves around her. But she can handle that. A peek Bridget's relationship with her NA sponsor, Malcolm (Mike Colter, The Good Wife), and the fact that Bridget lets slip to Malcolm enough clues that he will eventually be able to find her, show there is some love and trust between them. Whether Siobhan has grown so cold that she won't mind her sister being murdered or not remains to be seen. Yet, Gellar plays both with enough levels that neither seems simple to figure out.

     The four men who are Gellar's co-stars also do quite well. It is not surprise that Carbonell can handle mysterious drama, given his previous track record. But Polaha really stands out, completely shedding his past roles, and holding his own against some very talented actors. There isn't a lot of Colter in "Pilot," but Gruffudd manages to show some vulnerability in the scenes with his daughter.

     Of course, the point of the first episode of Ringer is to open up a lot of questions, and it does. Why doesn't Juliet's mother want her? Why does Siobhan fake her death? When will she return? What happened to a boy (Siobhan's son?) that drove the sisters apart six years ago? Is Henry the father of Siobhan's unborn baby?  And who will catch Bridget first?

     Do not miss Ringer, airing Tuesdays at 9 p.m. ET on the CW.

     If you like my reviews, please follow me on Twitter!

Article first published as TV Review: Ringer - "Pilot" on Blogcritics.