Mrs. America (2020) User Reviews

Characterfully Partisan

[owen-watts · 8/10 · 29 May 2020]

Mrs. America is a granular and semi-realistic political series principally about the Equal Rights Amendment bill and its empowerment of female issue groups to enter into the two-sided American political system. Even though I think you could certainly call it biased towards the democratic side of thinking, it does a great deal to humanise all participants and doesn't shy away from the very real splintering and compromising that goes into "fighting for what you believe" in political reality.

The real draw is the extraordinary Cate Blanchett who puts in a stunningly mannered performance as conservative titan Phyllis Schlafly, it's such an incredibly magnetic act that you genuinely feel her absence when she's not on screen. Liberal firebrands Friedan & Abzug are played with glorious panache by Tracey Ullman and Margo Martindale respectively, although there are very few weak links present. Each episode has a specific theme and the penultimate one "Houston" which shows Sarah Paulson's Alice Macray in a drug-induced revelatory odyssey through the 1977 National Women's Conference may be my TV highlight of the year.

What Mrs. America sacrifices in realism it makes up for in spades with strong characters, some very distinctive filmic photography and some extraordinarily well-judged storytelling without necessarily sugar-coating the tangle of compromises necessary when going from being a grassroots political activist to entering the mainstream.

Something for Everyone

[kyra_hemsworth · 9/10 · 19 April 2020]

Very interesting time capsule (and kickass 70's soundtrack) that is more sympathetic to Phyllis Schlafly than I expected.

She was a savvy and determined woman; no matter your politics, the Schlafly family is remarkable and accomplished. Fantastic irony that the feminist movement she loathed was the very vehicle that gave her a voice.

Completely disagree with her politics and beliefs; but, credit where credit is due - she was a fighter and a worthy opponent.

A tour de force

[boophillips · 9/10 · 25 July 2020]

The writing, the acting, the cinematography, the soundtrack, the costumes...... all are of such incredible quality that it was hard not to binge watch the whole series in one go. I had to limit myself to 2 episodes per viewing so I could fully appreciate the context, the storylines, the historical unfolding of two very real and very opposed ideologies that run so deep in America.

Absolutely fantastic viewing.

A remarkable accomplishment

[stelladeli · 10/10 · 29 June 2020]

Impeccable cinematography, unbelievably talented cast.

Characters full of charm that captivate you, even if their beliefs may annoy you, disturb you, insult you or disgust you. This show is a cradle for experiencing how to empathize with all kinds of people. Not simply fun or entertaining, even though it certainly is due to the aforementioned reasons, but this show is like experiencing personal, political reinvention.

Can one's character be separate from their true or false beliefs? Have you seen how might beliefs collapse and shatter and turn into a different kind, all in one person's mind? And most importantly, how do you feel about feminism? How do you feel about the political subjugation of women? The answers to these questions will be find if you give this show a chance.

This show deserves a 10 star rating because it was essential for me and I believe it is essential for all. Highly recommended. Congratulations to the creators and cast!

Extremely well-researched, superb acting and shows ALL the sides of the ERA-fight

[arne-54177 · 10/10 · 6 May 2020]

In most political tv-dramas ala West Wing there are the good sympathetic side, the pragmatic middle-ground and the evil/greedy/malicious adversaries. Not here. You will at times feel sympathy for both Cate Blanchetts complex portrayal of Shaftlys campaign against the women's liberation movement and disgust at the Pro-ERA proponents that ignore, undermine and fragment themselves in the fight for true equality between the sexes. The conversations are realistic "-Have you read Xs new unamed book? -No. I hear it is boring. -She is always a bore -". Events that we tend to think were front and center in the 70s are not dominating the narrative. Watergate, Vietnam and hippies are not shown to be the centre of the world like in Forrest Gump, rather they are mentioned briefly in passing conversations. Things that were way more discussed then but nearly forgotten today, like SALT and the awkward situation with the political parties in mid-shift is prominent. The conservatives and liberals are not synonyms to the respective parties. We meet the progressive republicans and the chauvinistic democrats. Kudos for showing that. Roe vs Wade is not shown to be the giant battle we think it was today, but rather we are treated to the more bipartisan support it enjoyed. ERA is not shown to be a life or death struggle with a small group of women standing up for it, rather a manifestation of a beginning culture war. There are no heroes, no easy answers or giant victories. This could have been a Wicked witch Shcaffly vs Saint Steinem series. It is not. We see Steinem avoiding picking sides, pedantic infighting, racial unspoken tension, the emergence of lgbtq-struggle, a wide range of christian views from the new evangelicals to the practical pragmatic Catholic mother who shield her gay son in Scafflys case. I love it. Because it does not try to dumb a complicated era down, rather we are shown an era were having a mailing list of 30 000 people was considered a major political asset... and where by-then-standard progressive women still considered it their duty to drive the daughters to tennis-lessons so their husbands could succeed... Where married women debating without their husbands present on television was strange. I am captivated( and also a man), in a way I have not been since Rome was premiering on HBO.

Try it for yourself. Keep your mind open. You will learn much if you do.

[stefania-c14 · 10/10 · 21 April 2020]

I have only seen the first two episodes back-to-back so far, and am just about to dive into the third. Before I do that, I feel the need to clarify some things that I've noticed in other reviews.

First of all, you don't have to listen to the nay-sayers. They don't know everything. The fact that this title rates at only 7.5 shows there are a lot of them. This series is, like many others, possibly to subtle in its intelligence to be understood honourably by many. Here are my main points, with my sole wish to you: keep your mind open, see this for yourself, and try to *pay attention*:

1. The acting is phenomenal. This has been said before. Cate Blanchett, and most of the other actresses, sustain a show that, while slow-moving to some, is enchanting at every minute. Blanchett, like always, claims the whole show, and portrays from the depths of her soul a woman who, while sincere, was very much understood superficially, perhaps. This is something the whole debate illustrates:

2. In episode 2, you can see one of the feminists claim something along the lines of, "we are against housewives." As in, acknowledging that the whole movement, meant to empower women, stands against a vast majority of women they claim to want to "free." NO one has ever obtained freedom by suppressing the experience of an entire group. This show, I think, might just be built around this ONE point, which i see repeat itself in every single movement we are seeing today: Claiming to stand for some "valid," "enlightened," "progressive" idealistic view, movements suppress the voices of people they supposedly desire to help, accusing them of ignorance and devilishness. This is not so. This series brings the point home so far, and I can't wait to see how the message unfolds.

3. If you read articles and watch videos of, say, Gloria Steinem, from the '80s all the way to the 2010's, you will catch this same ignorant bias in her interviews. Claiming to be for women's liberation, she abruptly and self-righteously criticises women whom she does not deem as "liberated," only because they have chosen another way of life. She puts down and looks down on women who do not conform to her "liberated" view. And I ask you, how liberating is any view, if it is built on the spine of the continually oppressed, the ones whose experience is nullified and deemed invalid?

4. Lastly, the cinematography is gorgeous. Well crafted and immersive. So are the costumes. The dialogue is sharp and reveals subtleties in relationships between women. THIS is what we must look for.

If you have read so far, I kindly hope you will keep these ideas in mind. So far, they seem to be the "philosophical" core of the series, though I could be wrong. Do not listen to those who think they know more than they do, criticising the pacing of the movie or other such aspects. Everything is subjective. I pray that people will not look at the rating for this one, as it is undeservedly low.

Try it for yourself. Keep your mind open. You will learn much if you do.

Loved it!

[jsmyth-244-333339 · 10/10 · 28 May 2020]

Sophisticated look at multiple perspectives on women's rights. Still relevant today.

Extremely Engaging

[Holli_Would · 6/10 · 16 April 2020]

I was born a decade after the events in this series, but knew some of the this and that of the era. Of course, artistic licensing is taken here and historical accuracy is not its point, but what's been created is very engaging and entertaining (thank goodness).

The miniseries draws you in with the writing and the story, and with the likes of Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson, Jeanne Tripplehorne, Uzo Abudo and the rest of the fantastic supporting cast, you just don't want to shut it off.

Blanchett, of course, knocks it out of the park with her acting, with every thought and emotion written all over her face, while Byrne manages to steal our hearts so we cheer her on, whatever she chooses to do throughout the series. I binged watch this into the early morning hours and can't wait for the remaining episodes to drop!

To be fair, I knew the draw here was its star power and didn't expect much else from the miniseries, but I'm happy to admit I was wrong.

re: wonderful statement of female empowerment

[buzzknutson · 9/10 · 15 April 2020]

Phyllis Schlafly was a staunch conservative who stood in the way of women's rights as well as other civil movements like gay rights.

She is not the hero of this story and that's what makes the series so compelling. You get the story from many sides and each actress portrays their part with amazing talent that leaves you wanting to learn more.

I suppose the strong performances could be why some users like Liberius mistake the portrayal of individuals like Phyllis Schlafly as supporters of female empowerment when in reality she stood in the way of progress, not with facts but through charisma alone.

Noble And Important Concept Beset By Some Glaring Problems

[zkonedog · 6/10 · 30 May 2020]

In many aspects, "Mrs. America" has a lot going for it as a miniseries. One can easily tell it is manage with great care by show runner Dahvi Waller, the cast is a who's who of solid names, and the production value is Mad Men-esque quality. It also tells an important story about the history of the proposed Equal Rights Amendment to the Constitution, along the way examining both political/personal sides of the Women's Liberation Movement of the 1970s. As constructed, however, the show does run into a few key obstacles that keep it from the upper echelon of similarly-themed fare.

Ostensibly, the show focuses on the political and social activities surrounding a proposed Equal Rights Amendment (or ERA) to the Constitution during the 1970s. In one corner is presented the Women's Liberation Movement, staffed by such key figures as Gloria Steinem (Rose Byrne), Bella Abzug (Margo Martindale), and Betty Friedan (Tracey Ullman), to name just a scant few. Opposing the ERA is a group of more conservative forces led by Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett), a woman who will stop at nothing to make sure the amendment is not ratified.

To be clear, a 6/10 rating is probably the lowest I'd ever go for a show like this. It tells a lot of stories that have been marginalized through the years, and that's an exciting and interesting thing to see appear on television. Also, as previously mentioned, it was abundantly clear to me how much of a "labor of love" this was for everyone involved. From the actors to the writers/producers to the directors and everyone in between, telling these stories was extremely important.

That being said, there are two reasons why "Mrs. America" levels out on the low end of my potential rankings:

First, it's cast is actually too big, or at very least simply spread out through such a long period of time. For a show that tells such great human stories, it is frustrating to see so many characters come and go before you even have time to "figure them out". For example, there are certain characters in the first few episodes that never return, while a few other characters are merely background players at first before garnering bigger responsibilities in the end. Being bound by the long, drawn-out ERA ratification process was probably the main culprit here.

Secondly, I wish "Mrs. America" would have delved a bit deeper into the grey areas of the topics at hand. In the initial episode, Blanchett as Schlafly gives an episode-closing speech that, while most viewers inherently will realize to be "wrong" in most aspects, does hint at some intriguing grey areas to explore. But this show doesn't choose to go that route, instead continuing to take the lens of the battle between the two sides. Unfortunately, the problem with that approach is that this is something that is made clear from the word go: Schlafly is the villain, the "libbers" (as she would call them) are the protagonists, and that's simply the lay of the land.

Overall, I consider "Mrs. America" to be a solid biopic drama that is held back from greater status by its dogged insistence (forced or otherwise) on having the ERA as its cornerstone more than any single character, producing a sort of disjointed experience over the course of the episodes.

Extraordinary

[Kaygee906 · 10/10 · 24 November 2020]

Do you ever watch a show, then after it's over you just feel lost? Like nothing else you watch could possibly compare. I don't know why, but I actually cried at the end.

The performances were spectacular. I loved that there weren't cliche things stealing away from the scenes (weed, hippies, disco, etc.), but instead little jabs were made in passing or in the background. Regardless of your views, it does portray both sides & I do think there is something in this series for everyone.

I found myself on an emotional rollercoaster watching this. One minute I'd feel sympathy toward Phyllis and at other times I felt like shaking her until some sense was knocked into her. She's an extremely intelligent woman and it's a shame she was on the wrong side of the political system. Great things could have been accomplished for women if she would have joined forces with Betty & Gloria's movement.

I wanted to love this

[mls4182 · 7/10 · 20 May 2020]

This was a typically well done and entertaining FX miniseries with no dull, time extending filler. The cast is top notch. My one issue was the twisting of the truth in regards to the Tom Snyder interview. I found it unnecessary and irresponsible. I am definitely pro women's rights and equality and I feel the cause is so worthy there is no need to twist the facts.

Mostly Fictional

[dk777 · 12 April 2021]

Good cast and solid production, but unfortunately everything else is pretty disappointing.

I may have expected too much when I saw the cast, but unfortunately this is a missed opportunity. The series is largely plain fiction, I expected a different and more realistic approach, and my disappointment was even greater when I saw that many facts were completely distorted, and some even presented completely differently from the events that actually happened.

For example, the television debate is in reality completely different than what is shown in the series. There was really no need for that, and the series completely lost credibility because of that.

The acting talent presented in this series deserved a better script.

Too bad, because it could have been great, and it turned out to be just another mediocre and barely watchable series.

I've never hated and admired a Cate Blanchett so much

[jenephoto · 8/10 · 18 April 2020]

I always want to like Cate Blanchett. She's an amazing actress that chooses strong rolls. This is no different, except that I disagree with everything this character stands for. She is strong and straightforward and stands out in her time, in ALL THE WAYS I DISAGREE WITH. That being said it is amazing, stunning, unprecedented acting. She is THE BEST front runner for intelligence and ignorance at the same time! Maybe ignorance is not correct but blind faith in an outdated and unacceptable view is better said. While I aggressively disagree with her views As a character, the acting is undeniably phenomenal. The rest of the cast is also amazing and emotional, but none of them hold a candle to Blanchett. She true is the force that runs this emotional, controversial program. Agree or disagree (hopefully disagree) politically, it is an amazing piece of work. I hope the dissension is what they planned to evoke and if so... WELL DONE.

Excellent.

[Dan_1980 · 10/10 · 16 April 2020]

Excellent performances, especially Blanchett. An interesting portray of two conflicting ideologies. Remember folks - feminism is about equality - not superiority.

A great show about women, for anyone.

[jesselukecox · 10/10 · 2 May 2020]

I will start by stating that I am a man, just for any potential men reading this I do just got to keep their minds open and their hearts involved. With that out of the way, let's continue.

I'm very impressed by this series. This show tells the story of some of the most important events in modern American political history.

Among other things, this show taught me, without spoiling things, about how early the first female candidate for president came along, and unsurprisingly that she was black. The cast do an excellent job and the production is top tier. I quite like mini series format in general. Must say that I'm quite impressed with fx's lineup these days and want to see more of this and more like this.

A 10 out of 10 is rare for me.

[zlfh4 · 10/10 · 21 May 2020]

So, I am a firm believer in Women's Rights. Cate Blanchett is someone you love to hate but feel sorry for. It makes clear at the onset of the show that the male politicians were never going to take her seriously. The only reason Marsden's character was willing to introduce her was to try to get into her pants/skirt. She dealt with him handily and I give her kudos for that. I think it's clear that her ultimate goal was to have a say in defense matters. Unfortunately by not supporting the ERA, and leading the opposition to it she basically shot herself in the foot. If she had allied herself with Jill Ruckelshaus instead she might have been Secretary of Defense or State one day. In the latest episode another weakness of the movement is driven home. That there could have been middle ground. That is a lesson to be learned, but there are also lessons to be learned by those who supported the ERA. Those who choose to be housewives should not be vilified, just as women who want a career that is their own rather than a husband should not be vilified. How one person chooses to live isn't right for everyone. The two greatest female monarchs never married, they just took lovers as it suited them, though Catherine The Great at least, still had children. What this show and the history behind it does prove is that on both sides there were women who were formidable and smart and most importantly, they were women who were capable of leading. It makes me wonder what would have happened if Phyllis Schlafley had aligned with Jill? Would Reagan ever have been President? Would we have already had our first female Secretary of Defense? I think it's a question that we will never know the answer to but also one that needs to be asked.

Don't miss it

[Esmollin · 2 May 2020]

As a woman who is old enough to remember the events in this series, I can say most of it is true. And as a New Yorker, it brings back memories. Despite a few reviewers who claim this is a 'disgusting' and false portrayal of the early 70s women's movement, sorry, they are wrong. And if they look at Wikipedia's entry of Phyllis Schlafly, they will learn. This is a very entertaining and important series, don't miss it.

Stellar except for Rose Byrne

[dnymorgan · 7/10 · 19 April 2020]

What an incredible cast and story! But why on Earth would you cast Rose Byrne as a powerful, seasoned woman of late 30's Gloria Steinam? Rose didn't portray Gloria well at all. However, the story and the other characters were terrific. Growing up in the 70's with a very liberated, progressive mother, I was just sad to see them cast someone that really didn't have the right "feel and look" of Gloria of how she really was in the 70's.

How I loved and didn't love Mrs. America

[aframeyamii · 8/10 · 15 September 2021]

This show is amazing I cannot express how much I love Uzo Aduba's acting she is just great in every role she takes. Cate Blanchette, Rose Byrne, Margo Martindale, Tracey Ullman and Sarah Paulson all nailed their roles and I enjoyed every second of seeing them on my screen. However just like the real Gloria Steinem has said in some of her interviews (not to blame the actors but the showrunners) this show does not dive too deep about what actually happened during the movements and if you don't know anything about that time you will think all of it was just women fighting women and men taking advantage of that situation which in my opinion somehow puts the blame on women? I do believe they were able to show how the men in power were using those women (on both sides) to achieve their own political goals and the ending scene was one of the most powerful scenes of the show which heartbreakingly showed even the women who weren't against the system couldn't survive the system, but then again there was so much more that could have been said.

Was this show unique and beautifully written? Yes.

Was the acting of everyone involved stunning? Yes.

Was it accurate and loyal to the real events? Unfortunately No.

So I would recommend this to people because of the artistic values and the fact that it could be empowering for a lot of people to watch but at the same time I would advise you to read about what really happened during the movement and don't believe that women's rights got delayed because of a women against women situation.

Not so distant history

[lesliecurtin · 7/10 · 18 April 2020]

I lived through those days. Cate Blanchette is the bomb. Rose Byrne moved line she thought her wig was going to fall off- very distracting

Phyllis Schlafly - American Con

[bill_crit · 9/10 · 17 June 2020]

Ms Schlafly comes across as a con, using half truths and outright lies, dismissal of facts as lies and fabrication as truths, the stock in trade of many political figures today. Ms Blanchett does an excellent job of portraying Schlafly's duplicity and charisma, her ability to manipulate the moment, switch her feelings on and off in a second. and switching alliances as needs dictate, casting aside even the most loyal follower..While she buries her true feelings and emotions behind a smile and curt, submissive laugh. All personality traits of a high functioning psychopath and cult leader. She didn't lead a movement of conservative women opposed to the ERA, she led a cult of women willing to believe her every word and follow her anywhere. She cleared the path for Reagan and opened the road for Trump thirty-six years later/ The irony seems to be that the ERA stood for everything Schlafly believed in and she was willing to destroy.

A Rewrite of History

[drovers · 6/10 · 15 September 2020]

There is a mistake in a scene shortly after the start of the first episode. The scene focuses on a bookshelf lined with World War II volumes published by TIME-LIFE BOOKS between 1976-1981. The next scene shows pamphlets dated September 1971. Clearly, the book series was not published until five years later. It actually ran longer than the war itself. Trust me. I was a researcher on the TIME-LIFE staff.

Changing History

[misspaigenelson · 1/10 · 12 May 2020]

I thought this was a great show until it was obvious how many things were changed from what actually happened. For example, the debate scene where she is asked to cite the case she's talking about didn't happen. Not in that debate and not ever. It was actually the opposite, where the feminist she was debating was asked to name something she was talking about and couldn't. If you're going to make a "historical" series, make it accurate. And if you want to change it to be how you imagined it, don't say it's based off of history.

Pure Pain

[kmontgomery-98515 · 8/10 · 25 July 2021]

I'm giving this 10 stars but it was horrible to watch. It makes me angry and said to see how such a mean, power hungry person could fight for oppression and treat others so cruelly. But everything about the show is great, it's just a depressing topic.