Spoiler Alert: This summary and review contains spoilers.
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As things wrap up with each First Lady’s greatest, post-First Lady, accomplishment, we’re reminded why they were the focus of this mini-series.
| Aired (Showtime) | 6/12/2022 |
| Director(s) | Susanne Bier |
| Writer(s) | Nikole Beckwith, Ellen Fairey, Abby Ajayi |
| Introduced This Episode | |
| Anna | Cailee Spaeny |
| Sasha | Saniyya Sidney |
This content contains pertinent spoilers.
Recap
Betty – Betty, Gerald
After a successful rehab stint, Betty takes note of the lack of access in the area. Thus, with the encouragement of Gerald, she decides to open what would become the Betty Ford Center.
Michelle – Michelle, Malia, Sasha, Barack
Trump winning the election is devastating for the Obamas. Michelle takes it personally, thinking it was a retaliation for a Black family being in the White House. Malia gets obsessed with the news cycle to the point of opening a social media account for keeping things hush is infuriating, and Barack and Sasha? Barack is still in office so while upset, he isn’t getting as passionate as the ladies in his family, and Sasha just wants to not deal with all that is happening.
Luckily though, while Malia believes she doesn’t have an outlet, so she must go online, Michelle gives her the ability and permission to express her rage in a cathartic way. Thus bringing them closer and letting Malia know she isn’t alone in her frustration.
Eleanor – Lucy, Eleanor, Franklin, Anna, Tommy
At the tail end of Franklin’s life, he finds himself spending more time with Lucy, even with him and Eleanor in a better place. But, so it seems, while the friendship has healed, things aren’t romantic between the two. However, he does know she is his top advocate, and her advice is invaluable. Be it on creating the UN or, after his passing, her work towards setting standards for human rights and decency.
But, while she has done well, work-wise, Anna, her daughter, points out her failings as a mother. Eleanor has half a dozen kids yet barely a relationship with any of them, especially her only daughter. Heck, Tommy, an employee, is closer to Eleanor than Eleanor’s own flesh and blood. This is something Eleanor acknowledges, her difficulty to love, but she says she’ll improve. It isn’t made clear if she actually did, however.
Things To Note
Collected Quote(s)
Sometimes, just because you want something, doesn’t mean you’ll be any good at it.
— Eleanor
Review
Highlights
A Good Send-Off
While you know there are decades of Eleanor’s life left unexplored, Betty’s as well, “The First Lady” ends at an acceptable point for them, and Michelle releasing her book “Becoming.” Now, are you left wanting more? Kind of. If you read up on Eleanor, you’d likely want to see her political career without being bridled by her mother-in-law or husband. You may also wonder, after the Betty Ford clinic, what else did she do? However, to do either story justice, this show would need to have a singular focus because the split may have gotten us to many a historical point in their lives but didn’t always give us the meat and potatoes.
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