Imagine all the delicious troupes of a typical lifetime movie except stretched into a 6 episode mini-series. You've got everything you've wished for. Career-focused leading lady who might be spending a little too much time at her work instead with her kids, A philandering husband, A sassy grandmother, a gay drug-addicted pill-swallowing hard-drinking son and so much more. Watch as themes like cheating, attempted suicide, sexual repression, eating disorders, the pressure of being in the closet and coming out in a public spotlight, drugs and sobriety get discussed. All while juxtaposed with sad attempts at comedy in a political setting. Oh and sappy music. Lots and lots of it.
We have Sigourney Weaver playing Hillary Clinton but slightly less robotic and with slightly more charm, in a performance that rivals Disney's John D'aquino in its sheer shamelessness and pseudo-poise. Watch as she enters a room and proudly proclaims herself to be "The Secretary of State of the United States of America". The way Sigourney enunciates her words reminds me of Lisa Kudrow in web therapy, except Lisa's show was a comedy and her over the top performance intentional.
The supporting players do not dissappoint. We have Ciarán Hinds playing Bill Clinton, without a tenth of the charm and a really annoying accent. While Bill Clinton had both the looks and the charisma to woo young ladies our actor sadly has neither. But that doesn't stop the show from pretending he is sex on a stick. Cringe as hot young ladies pretend to be into him and his protruding beer belly. We have Sebastian Stan being gay and hot and that's all you need to know. We have DL icon Ellen Burstyn being the grandmother all queers wish they had. We have Carla Gugino (who btw is an underapperciated icon with a pornstar name) being a nosy reporter who unintentially ruins lives and people's marriages. We have some really hot guy playing the elder son who is supposed to be the perfect foil to Sebastian's decadent partying nature. But no one is perfect, especially when a beautiful woman is involved. Feel the tension as he decides whether or not he should whore around on his perfect multi-ethnic wife, who is a model and might be a bit too thin for grandma's liking.
The presentation is so over the top. There is a scene where Sigourney Weaver cries (no tears, just noises) over a pretty serious thing that happens to a family member (I won't spoil it in case you want to watch it) and it is so hilariously overdone. Sigourney pretends to cry while mustering all the strength in her 6 foot body to squint her heavily botoxed face while Carla Gaguno tries her hardest to pretend her character gives a shit. The scene is poorly lit, badly choreographed and the music choices are questionable. A perfect representation of this outrageously campy show.