Late to ‘Mrs. America’? A beginners guide to the cast and more

There are a lot of reasons to watch Mrs. America so if you haven’t gotten in on it yet, have no fear. The miniseries premiered on April fifteenth and the final episode is set to air on May twenty-seventh giving the first season a total of nine episodes. Which is an easy enough binge watch for most.

However, if you haven’t started the Hulu show yet, you’re probably wondering what it’s all about, who’s in it, and why it’s worth your time. So, allow us to answer all those questions so you know whether or not you want to dive headfirst into Mrs. America.

Premise

The show is loosely based on true events from the 1970s civil rights movement. However, this show takes an odd perspective on the movement compared to pretty much every other show or movie based on the subject.

This show follows conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett) as she fights against the Equal Rights Amendment. It does balance the show by also following a group of second wave feminists, though.

The show, while focusing on a movement of the past, is still incredibly relevant to the world of today. Even in the trailer there are arguments and concerns about the movement which are still being put forth today. It’s a clever way to expose the issues of the present while speaking of the past.

Cast

The cast is filled with talented and well-known actresses who portray real people who have been somewhat fictionalized for the purposes of telling a story. Cate Blancett plays conservative & anti-feminist Phyllis Schlafly and John Slattery plays her husband.

Rose Byrne is Gloria Steinem, Elizabeth Banks is Jill Ruckelhause, Uzo Aduba is Shirley Chisholm, Margo Martindale is Bella Abzug, and Sarah Paulson is Alice Macray. It’s a star-studded cast, and there are more familiar faces than just the ones we’ve mentioned.

Why watch

The series is a political one, there’s no hiding this fact or sugar coating it. If you aren’t wanting to watch something which is unapologetically about both the politics of the present and the past then Mrs. America may not be for you. However, a lot of people will love this show for the very same reason.

If you care about feminism, American politics, history, and/or just all-around well-produced miniseries, then this show is worth adding to your watch list. The show currently has a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The phenomenal acting is what seems to be the biggest positive for reviewers.