The Politician
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Is it hard to argue something you dont believe in?
What I believe in most of all is winning the debate.
Either he was lying about that second one to others and possibly himself or thats changed.
October Surprise turns on that change, if thats what it is.
Payton no longer sees the distinction, or has chosen to ignore that distinction.
But River believes otherwise.
The kiwi they serve in the cafeteria now is evidence.
Who cares if it was politically motivated?
Its got four times as much vitamin C as an orange.
It seems clear that Payton, deep down, does not believe hes a good person.
(This suddenly feels like a recap ofThe Good Place.)
Lets talk about polling.
Obviously,The Politicianis not a work of realism.
So of course these kids have access to polling data.
What I dont understand is how the actual students in this school and not just Pierre fit in.
Theyre all willing to participate in the polling?
I dont expect them to react in a realistic way, I just dont see them reacting at all.
We see crowds, but they always feel like props.
Are they engaged in this election?
Is this a storm affecting only a few?
Or does the student body, as a whole, care?
Alice, though, comes in for a close second.
Its not the thing that brings Alice back into the fold.
Why even include that detail?
It would be a big ending on an episode with half this much plot.
And some of it works just not all of it.
That aforementioned flimsiness when it comes to Astrid and Alice in particular might be the biggest issue.
But the tonal whiplash isnt insignificant.
When the show gets that balance right, it can be magnificent.
It is here, in flashes.
But when its off, it simply highlights the other flaws.
At least its never boring.
Talking Points
Janet Mocks direction is terrific (as it always is onPose).
Its also a lot fewer consciously mannered/Wes Anderson-esque elements than previous episodes, with a style of its own.
That cut from the flashback to Payton breathing in the car.
The light framing Payton in that Harvard office.
I hope shes highly in demand as a director now.
Platts Can it, Nana!
joins WHY did you DROP out of YALE fromGilmore Girlsin my line-reading hall of fame.
Costume of the episode:AstridsMoonrise Kingdomdrag during the guinea worm incident.
Zoey Deutch is great here, she makes that breakup hurt.
