Mrs. America Season 1 is an American miniseries based on the historical events of the opposition to the Equal rights movement led by Phyllis Schlafly portrayed by Cate Blanchett. It was produced by FX Network and created by Davhi Waller. It has an ensemble cast that includes Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba, Elizabeth Banks, John Slattery, Tracey Ullman, and Sarah Paulson.
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Mrs. America Season 1 Ending Explained
The final episode of Mrs. America leaves us at the end of the 70s. A lot of events unfolded in this episode. Bella Abzug is fired from her role as the head of the National Advisory Commission of Women by President Jimmy Carter. This makes all the other women in the commission quit in solidarity. Ronald Reagan wins the presidential elections. The Equal Rights Amendment Act never gets added to the Constitution. However, Phyllis does not get the cabinet seat that she wants as Reagen wants the backing of Pro-ERA voters.
Alice confronts Phyllis in an anti-ERA parade after she tells Pamela to put up with her abusive husband. She asks her when did she become so mean. Much later on, when the two women run into each other again, Phyllis is astonished to learn that Alice has taken a job as a 411 operator. Alice says not having to ask her husband for money is “empowering.”
“You used to feel empowered by me,” Phyllis says. “I used to feel scared,” Alice replies, then drives away. At the end of the episode, we see Phyllis working in the kitchen with an apron on and peeling off apples but it is hard to feel empathy for her due to her actions.
Mrs. America Season 1 Cast
- Cate Blanchett as Phyllis Schlafly
- Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm
- Elizabeth Banks as Jill Ruckelshaus
- Rose Byrne as Gloria Steinem
- Kayli Carter as Pamela
- Ari Graynor as Brenda Feigen-Fasteau
- Melanie Lynskey as Rosemary Thomson
- James Marsden as Phil Crane
- Margo Martindale as Bella Abzug
- Niecy Nash as Flo Kennedy
- Sarah Paulson as Alice
- John Slattery as Fred Schlafly
- Jeanne Tripplehorn as Eleanor Schlafly
- Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan
Mrs. America Season 1 Plot
Mrs. America deals with two groups of women. One is the feminist group who are fighting to ratify Equal rights acts in the country. The other is led by a conservative housewife, Phyllis Schlafly who is trying to stop ERA. This is because she thinks that it will take away American Woman’s basic rights if men and women are treated equally. The group of feminists which includes prominent second wave icons like Gloria Steinem, Betty Friedan, Shirley Chisholm, Betty Azbug and Jill Ruckelshaus are fighting for problems that they themselves face daily. Problems like patriarchy, misogyny, and sexism.
Their battle is personal to them. Schlafly is a genius in the strategy of defense. However, what she desires is power. A seat in the cabinet. A woman in defense wasn’t useful to the men in parliament and thus she decides to do something that will be. It was to stop the ERA. For her, it’s a battle for power. She is a great speaker who could influence people with her words. The show progresses with this conflict between both the groups being the main plotline and the looming presidential election in the background.
Mrs. America Season 1 Review
Mrs. America has got widespread acclaim from critics and audiences alike. It holds a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The website’s critics say: “Mrs. America captures the complicated life and times of Phyllis Schlafly with poise and style to spare, brought to vivid life by a superb ensemble led by another masterful performance from Cate Blanchett.”
It has 87 out of 100 scores on Metacritic indicating universal acclaim. The writing was praised for its masterful and vivid depiction of America in the past. It has been named one of the top 10 best shows of 2020 by the American film institute.
Where To Watch Mrs. America Season 1?
Mrs. America is available on Hulu under FX on Hulu.
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