Best Political Shows: A Break from the Real World
By Julian Glickman
In today’s heated political climate, sometimes we need a break from the constant back-and-forth of Democrats and Republicans. Some may seek refuge in a non-political activity; but some, like me, enjoy seeing the political world in a new form, a fictional form. Political shows have become an increasingly popular genre of television, from the constant laughs of Veep to the thrilling nature of Designated Survivor. Whether you are interested in politics or not, political shows can be an interesting way to take your mind off of the crazy news that we hear every day.
Julia Louis-Dreyfus, who is known for her career defining roles as Elaine Benes in Seinfeld and Old Christine in The New Adventures of Old Christine, won a record number of Emmys for her role in HBO’s Veep. The show follows the life of neglected Vice President Selina Meyer, a fictional 2012 presidential candidate who lost in the primary and was eventually chosen as the running mate of President Stuart Hughes. In an effort to focus on Meyer, the series never shows what Hughes looks like. Meyer tends to be selfish and impulsive with her staff that consists of her Chief of Staff and friend Amy, her Communications Director Mike, her Deputy Communications Director Dan, her right-hand (body) man Gary and the White House Liaison to Meyer’s office, Jonah. Meyer’s ex-husband Andrew and daughter Catherine are also included in the show. Meyer constantly feels as if she doesn’t have enough of a role in Hughes’ administration and often asks her secretary Sue Wilson (Sufe Bradshaw) whether “the President called,” to which Wilson almost always answers with a definitive “no.” In addition to never showing the President, the show also never states which political party each politician belongs to. In an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Louis-Dreyfus said, “It is without party … there’s just us and them which I think is useful because then no matter what party you are in, you might get a kick out if it … we’ve had people on both sides of the aisle, and I mean extreme sides of the aisle, really dig this show and tell us how much they like how we are making fun of the other side.” While there are a scary number of similarities between Veep and the real world, everyone is guaranteed a laugh during every episode of all seven seasons. Just one warning: expect profanity and a lot of it.
Without a doubt, one of the most legendary political shows is The West Wing (NBC) which is about the common-sense Democratic presidency of President Josiah “Jed” Bartlet (Martin Sheen). While the show is based on Bartlet’s presidency, it focuses more on his staff. Chief of Staff and long-time friend Leo, Press Secretary C.J., Deputy Chief of Staff Josh, Communications Director Toby, his deputy Sam and Bartlet’s young body-man Charlie. The show is famous for its many “walk-and-talks,” where characters’ scenes tend to be when they are busily walking around the White House, conducting their business, and talking with others about critical issues. The West Wing has been a well-known political show since the late 1990s when it was created, but in my view, it lacks a bit of vigor. As I watched the show, I realized that in many episodes, very little happens in the plot of the show, and a small fire is put out by the President that adds almost nothing to the general story. It is a feel-good show, and watching it makes me think of times when politics was much more friendly than it is today.
“Its politics lack depth or authenticity and make it seem as if a presidency is just fun problem-solving.”
A lesser-known political thriller is Designated Survivor. Originally airing on ABC, the show is fast-paced and has a plot with many ups and downs. It focuses on a little-known constitutional fact that, if all members of the line of succession are killed in a large attack, a cabinet member who is named the “designated survivor” becomes President. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman (Kiefer Sutherland) is named designated survivor for the State of the Union only a few days before he is going to be fired by President Robert Richmond. Richmond, his cabinet, and all of Congress are killed in a massive bombing of the Capitol, making Kirkman, President. Talented FBI Special Agent Hannah Wells (Maggie Q) is tasked with leading the investigation into who was behind the Capitol bombing and bringing them to justice. Designated Survivor, which lasted two seasons with ABC and its final with Netflix, is a dramatic show that is not comedic but keeps everyone at the edge of their seats in almost every episode. The FBI finds one survivor in the rubble, Rep. Peter MacLeish of Oregon, whom President Kirkman welcomes; but Agent Wells is skeptical because she believes nobody should have survived the bombing. Kirkman becomes the first Independent President and meets Rep. Kimble Hookstraten of Missouri, who reveals she is a designated survivor by her Republican Party so Republicans could have representation after an attack. Hookstraten is set on her beliefs but likes Kirkman’s style of governing and is willing to work with him. The show also follows Kirkman’s loyal staff and family including Alexandra, Aaron, Emily and Seth (Kal Penn, the actor actually worked in the White House!) I enjoyed the fast-paced thrill of the show, but not everyone I know is impressed. A friend, who is a political buff like me, pointed out the corniness of the show, saying: “Its politics lack depth or authenticity and make it seem as if a presidency is just fun problem-solving. Its FBI side plot with Hannah Wells is also laughably simplistic and awful, with lines we hear in any cop drama like ‘loose cannon’ and ‘gone rogue.’” If you want to dive deep into the thrill and stress of the political world, then Designated Survivor is for you, but if you want to go for something more comedic and realistic, it might be best to find something else like Veep.
“The show is also not comedic but is a much more realistic view of our political world and the general workings of D.C.”
Finally, if you don’t want to escape our current political world but do want a new perspective on it, then head over to Showtime to see The Comey Rule, which is a two-part docuseries about the investigation of former Secretary Hillary Clinton’s emails during the 2016 presidential election, as well as the investigation into the dealings of then-President Donald Trump and his administration with the Russian government. Both scandals were headed up by FBI Director James Comey, who was later fired by Former President Trump. Comey is played by Jeff Daniels, who portrays Comey in a quiet, yet cynical fashion where Comey is always ahead of the game. Brendan Gleeson, an Irish actor, plays a surprisingly accurate portrayal of Trump, including his unique mannerisms and voice. Comey’s biggest claim to fame was that days before the 2016 election, he announced he was reopening the FBI investigation into Secretary Clinton’s emails, following the findings of emails on the laptop of disgraced former Rep. Anthony Weiner of New York. Many said this announcement and decision from Comey might have cost Clinton the election— resulting in the election of Trump, who became one of the most contentious presidents in American history. In the show, Comey’s family is angered at Comey for reopening the investigation as they are hoping Clinton will win. I enjoyed watching the majority of the two episodes with my family, who enjoyed it as well. My mother, who enjoyed seeing how Comey worked with his staff, said, “As is the case with many historical fiction movies or TV shows, The Comey Rule seemed at times unrealistic, especially when Comey’s family would disagree with his decisions.” The show is also not comedic but is a much more realistic view of our political world and the general workings of D.C. than a thriller like Designated Survivor.
Whether you like seeing the hilarious acting of Julia Louis-Dreyfus in Veep or the constant thrill of Designated Survivor, we can agree that it’s always refreshing to catch a break from today’s ever-changing and quarrelsome political climate, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: If you want to see some other political shows, check out Parks and Recreation on Peacock, Alpha House on Amazon Prime Video, House of Cards on Netflix, and Madam Secretary which is also on Netflix.