Netflix’s The Politician is a comedy about a boy who wants to be president, and it treats that ambition with a strange mix of sincerity and mockery. The show follows Payton Hobart, played by Ben Platt, as he navigates the treacherous world of high school politics before moving on to college and state-level campaigning. It is a series about power, influence, and the people who try to control both.
The premise is simple: Payton has known since childhood that he will be president. He has spent his life preparing for that moment, and the show tracks his journey through increasingly difficult races. The first season is set at Saint Sebastian High School in Santa Barbara, where he runs for student body president against River Barkley. The second season moves to New York City and Albany, where Payton runs for a seat in the New York State Senate against incumbent Majority Leader Dede Standish. His adoptive mother, Georgina Hobart, played by Gwyneth Paltrow, runs for Governor of California.
Payton Hobart and the Cast
Platt carries the series with a performance that is both smarmy and oddly touching. Payton is a wealthy, privileged young man who genuinely believes he is destined for greatness. He is not a villain, but he is not a hero either. He is a figure of pure self-interest, and Platt plays him with a kind of brittle charisma that makes the character compelling even when his actions are reprehensible.
Judith Light joins the main cast in the second season as Dede Standish, the incumbent senator. Her performance is a highlight of the season, bringing a sharp wit and a commanding presence to a role that could easily have been a caricature. Bette Midler also appears as Hadassah Gold, Standish’s campaign manager, and she brings a campy energy that fits the show’s tone perfectly. Gwyneth Paltrow plays Georgina Hobart, Payton’s adoptive mother, with a quiet desperation that anchors the series’ central family dynamic.
Zoey Deutch plays Infinity Jackson, Payton’s vice-presidential candidate in the first season. She is a cancer patient with Munchausen by Proxy disorder, and the show handles her condition with a surprising amount of care. Lucy Boynton plays Astrid Sloan, River’s girlfriend, and Theo Germaine plays James Sullivan. Rahne Jones plays Skye Leighton, River’s vice-presidential candidate, and Laura Dreyfuss plays McAfee Westbrook, one of Payton’s key allies.
The show’s casting is a strength. It draws talent from across television and film, and the ensemble feels carefully assembled. The supporting players get room to breathe, and the show often finds humor in their reactions to Payton’s relentless drive.
The High School Race
The first season’s central conflict pits Payton against River Barkley. River is popular, athletic, and the kind of guy everyone likes. Payton is rich, smart, and completely unlikable. The show spends a lot of time establishing the dynamics between these two, and the election itself becomes a battle of image versus substance.
Payton’s campaign is run by his friends McAfee, James, and Alice. They are all ambitious in their own ways, and their loyalty to Payton is tested as the season progresses. Infinity Jackson, Payton’s vice-presidential candidate, is a complex figure. She is a cancer patient, and the show handles her illness with a sensitivity that is rare in network television. Her presence forces Payton to confront what he is willing to sacrifice for power.
River’s campaign is run by Astrid, who is loyal to a fault. She believes in River, and her devotion to him is a counterpoint to Payton’s ruthless pragmatism. Skye Leighton, River’s vice-presidential candidate, is a gender-nonconforming black classmate. The show uses her character to explore issues of identity and representation, though the treatment of these themes is uneven.
The season ends with a climactic election night that is tense and well-executed. Payton wins, but the victory comes at a cost. The show does not celebrate his triumph; it shows the toll it took on those around him.
The Senate Race
The second season shifts to New York, where Payton attends New York University and runs for a seat in the New York State Senate. The incumbent, Dede Standish, is a formidable opponent. Her campaign manager, Hadassah Gold, is a sharp-tongued political operative who provides a worthy foil for Payton’s own machinations.
Payton’s campaign is now led by Infinity, who has become a climate activist. The show uses this angle to comment on environmental issues, but the message is less sharp than the personal drama. Georgina Hobart, Payton’s adoptive mother, also runs for Governor of California. This creates a familial triangle that adds depth to the show’s exploration of legacy and ambition.
The season is darker than the first. There is more betrayal, more loss, and more of the show’s central question about what it means to win. The final episode leaves the future open, but the tone is somber rather than triumphant.
The Tone
The show’s tone is a blend of satire and sincerity. It is a comedy about politics, but it takes the characters seriously. Payton is a ridiculous figure, but the show never fully mocks him. It allows him to be a tragic figure as well as a comic one.
The humor is mostly verbal, with witty banter and sharp observations. The show is at its best when it is pointed, and at its worst when it relies on physical comedy or broad sight gags. The writing is sharp, and the dialogue is often clever, but the show’s visual style is more muted. It is a talky show, and the pacing can suffer as a result.
The Creative Team
The show was created by Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, and Ian Brennan. They also serve as executive producers, along with Alexis Martin Woodall, Ben Platt, and Gwyneth Paltrow. The trio has a history of working together, and their collective influence is visible in the show’s tone and structure.
The show was released on Netflix, which gave it a platform that allowed for binge-watching and a larger audience than it might have found on traditional broadcast television. The show was announced in 2018, with casting announcements following over the next year. Dylan McDermott joined the cast in October 2018, and January Jones was announced in December 2018.
Barbra Streisand was initially in talks to join the series, but she turned down the role in order to work on her album Walls. Jessica Lange took over the role instead. The show premiered on September 26, 2019, and the second season premiered on June 19, 2020.
What Works and What Doesn’t
The show is at its best when it focuses on character relationships. The scenes between Payton and Georgina, or between Infinity and Payton, are some of the strongest in the series. The show’s ability to balance humor and pathos is impressive, and it rarely leans too far in either direction.
The show is weaker when it tries to be topical. Its commentary on climate change and identity politics is thin, and the show’s attempt to comment on current events often feels dated within months of release. The show is also limited by its format. It is a half-hour comedy with dramatic ambitions, and the brevity of each episode means that subplots are often rushed or dropped entirely.
The show’s ending is open-ended, which is a deliberate choice. It leaves Payton in a position of power, but it also leaves questions about his character unresolved. The show suggests that winning is not the same as succeeding, but it does not offer a clear answer.
Key Facts
- Creator: Ryan Murphy, Brad Falchuk, Ian Brennan
- Network: Netflix
- Seasons: 2 seasons, 15 episodes
- First aired: September 27, 2019
- Last aired: June 19, 2020
- Score: 6.6/10
| Season | Episode Count | Premiere Date |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 8 episodes | September 27, 2019 |
| Season 2 | 7 episodes | June 19, 2020 |
Final Word
The Politician is a flawed but engaging show. It has a strong lead performance, a talented ensemble, and a willingness to ask difficult questions about power and ambition. It is not a perfect show, but it is a consistently entertaining one. The second season is darker and more mature than the first, and it rewards viewers who are invested in the characters.
The show’s central question — what does it mean to win? — is a genuine one. The show does not answer it, but it raises it in a way that is both funny and affecting. That is a rare achievement for a comedy, and it is why the show deserves attention.
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