I guess that was a thing. I don’t know, guys, all this seemed like it was a fairly good set-up for so many potentially interesting storylines, but instead of getting into any of those things, it’s just over. It feels like they had a lot of potential and they squandered it.

I think Greg Berlanti was banking on getting some sort of renewal from the get-go; he pretty much says as much here. It just kind of pisses me off that they wasted what could have been six excellent episodes into one long exposition/set-up for something that may or may not happen. It’s a disservice to the viewers who may never get to see any more of these characters, and honestly, I think it’s a disservice to the fine actors who spent their time and talent on this.

That isn’t to say there weren’t some great moments in the finale, just that they should have happened in episode 2 or 3, not in 6. Also, the tone was so wildly inconsistent that it ultimately felt awkward to the point of sloppy.

Anyways, let’s get on to the run down.

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Before we jump into the episode, bad wigs and all, how about a funny-sad story? I was at the gym last Monday and saw the promo for this episode in HD for the first time on one of the tv’s there, and upon seeing this face of James Wolk’s I nearly fell off the cross-trainer. I think this means both that I am a female Sorkin character (which I can live with) and that Jame Wolk’s face is so damn attractive that it is literally dangerous.

Alright, now that that’s out of the way (just kidding, we’re going to talk much more about James Wolk’s face) let’s talk 16 Hours, which I think was probably the best episode of the series since the Pilot. People who previously had no purpose got to hang out and reveal things (Ann and Granny Lush), people who are usually annoying actually became characters instead of caricatures (Bud), Sebastian Stan’s beautiful face was seen but his cliché storyline not heard, Elaine got to be awesome, a douchebag was punched in the face and two incredibly hot people got drunk and had sex on a plane.

I would have been happy with just that last one, but altogether? Awesome.

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What can I say, I give the people what they want.

I think most/all summer shows are currently working their way up to their finales, but are stuck right now with less action-y episodes. It’s like the first big climb on a roller-coaster, but while some shows have that clicking noise, the one that creates a pit in your stomach in anticipation for the big finish, others make it feel like you’re still boarding, or worse, still in line.

Which is all to say that the pace continues to move at a snail’s pace; I get that they’re setting things up, but I think it could be done in a way that isn’t so damn slow. I think someone called it in the comments of a previous post, that the mini-series will end with Elaine announcing her campaign, but where’s the drama in that? We knew this was going to happen since the end of the first episode.

Maybe they’ll throw a curve ball and, I don’t know, Garcetti is somehow removed from the presidency an the Evil Vice President succeeds him? Or Elaine does the logical thing and dissociates herself from her entire train wreck of a family? I just don’t have a lot of faith the rest of the ride is going to be all that exciting.

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Oh,  Political Animals. I don’t know quite what to do with you. This episode marks the halfway point in this 6 episode run and not only is the plot painfully slow, but it’s not clear at all where the show is heading, and not in a good “this show is so crazy I have no idea what’s going to happen next”, more like a “I don’t really understand how they think they’re going to wrap this up in 3 more episodes” kind of way.

However, the fact that not a lot happened plot-wise makes it somewhat easier to recap.

Elaine got to spend this episode hanging out with her former law school professor, mentor and Supreme Court Justice Diane Nash, played by Vanessa Redgrave. Just take that in for a second; Sigourney Weaver and Vanessa Redgrave, just sitting around, being their BAMF selves.

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You know how after the first episode nearly everyone was like, “the exchanges between Elaine and Susan are the best. More of that please.” Yeah, well too damn bad. They exchanged all but two lines of dialogue in this second episode. Hopefully they are saving up for some great showdowns later on.

It wasn’t a total waste of an episode though. I thought it was interesting to see the contrast between First Lady Elaine and SoS Elaine. Seeing her go from angry to devastated, fiercely defensive and finally totally depleted – and then comparing that to Elaine in the present – added great depth and makes her a much more dynamic character overall. We got to see the side of the story Susan Berg never knew; I wonder what she would say to Elaine’s “I married the nation” justification. (I also wonder what the reaction of real-life first wives of cheating presidents would be, both to the situation and to how Elaine handled it).

Still, this episode did serve as a solid companion to the first, in terms of fleshing out the characters and setting up the main conflict of the season. Susan (and by extension, the audience) got to witness Bud as slightly less than the ridiculous caricature he’s been played as, and see (sort of) why he is and was a successful diplomat: he has some excellent bullshitting acumen.

Alright, let’s run each of the stories down, from least to most interesting.

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You say you’re a bitch like it’s a bad thing. Don’t you know that bitches get shit done?

The Pilot (or whatever we’re calling it; the first part of a “limited series blahblah”) of Political Animals is a tough nut to crack. I was looking forward to the premiere, based mainly on it’s cast, all of whom have either been in some things I’ve loved or I love them individually as actors. I was especially looking forward to the dynamic between the female leads, Sigourney Weaver and Carla Gugino. However, while those scenes shined, and Greg Berlanti damn well sure knows how to write quippy lines (there are plenty in the quotes section down below), the surrounding stuff was pretty trope-y, not particularly original, and in some cases slightly problematic. I’m always one to give shows the benefit of the doubt when it comes to Pilots; Pilots and their expositionary obligations are tough.

First though, let’s start with a quick (okay I lied it’s kinda long, but there’s gifs! Gifs make everything better!) run-down of the basic set-up of the show.

The basic set-up is that this is sort of an alternate universe version of the Clinton… situation. Sigourney Weaver plays Elaine Barrish, the former First Lady to President Bud Hammond (played by Ciarán Hinds aka Julius Motherfucking Caesar from Rome). As President, Bud was exposed as a serial philanderer, but since the public viewed Elaine as an ice queen “political animal”, they thought a manwhore President was roguish. Elaine and Bud have twin sons who grew up as teenagers in the White House: golden boy Douglas (played by the adorable James Wolk), who can do no wrong, and troubled Thomas aka T.J. (Sebastian Stan, who is great but has mostly terrible luck with roles), the first openly gay child of a President, who was forced to come out (outed?) as a First Son. Since then he’s been in and out of rehab for a cocaine addiction and all sorts of other self-destructive behavior. Finally, there’s Elaine’s mother Margaret (Ellen Burstyn) who is the typical cynical, booze-pickled loose cannon who’s not allowed to talk to the press.

We open on a political party, what I believe is at least a few years after Bud’s presidency, which provides a nice introduction the the members of Hammond family. Elaine has chosen to run for President, but tonight is conceding the Democratic nomination to her opponent (and future President) Paul Garcetti (Adrian Pasdar). Afterwards, Elaine complains about campaigning, “an Olympic sport in hypocrisy” and says that she hates lying. However, while Bud blusters and boasts about how he’s not going to support Garcetti in his campaign, basically being his typical self-centered bastard self, Elaine shuts that shit down. She knows Garcetti is going to win because he believes the lie. Then, as she leaves the room to head home, BAMF Elaine arrives for good: “And Bud. I want a divorce.” Shut. It. Down.

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