Mrs. America

Mrs. America is a critically acclaimed nine-part mini-series produced by Hulu and FX, released in 2020. Dramatizing an era of tremendous societal change in America, the primary focus is on the women's rights movements in the 1970s, particularly the contentious fight surrounding the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA).

At the helm of the series is Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett, who portrays Phyllis Schlafly, a shrewd and polarizing conservative activist. Schlafly firmly opposes the ERA, asserting the belief that the amendment, by mandating absolute equality of rights under the law regardless of sex, would undermine traditional family structures and values. Schlafly’s character is also remarkable for the manifest contradictions, an educated woman with political aspirations of her own who's campaigning against the very ideas that could empower her.

Challenging Schlafly and her conservative followers are some iconic characters, historical figures who champion the ERA. Rose Byrne plays the charismatic feminist icon Gloria Steinem, founder of Ms. Magazine, while Uzo Aduba brings to life Shirley Chisholm, the first black woman elected to the United States Congress and the first woman to run for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination. Other key characterisations include that of Betty Friedan by Tracey Ullman, Bella Abzug by Margo Martindale, and Jill Ruckelshaus by Elizabeth Banks.

Mrs. America does an exceptional job of presenting a complex narrative with ambivalence and ambiguity. It refuses to paint characters in black and white brushstrokes, instead opting for shades of grey. Schlafly's opposition to the ERA is not depicted as purely malicious or misguided, and the women fighting for the amendment also display their own personal foibles and political missteps. The show presents these real-life characters not as saints or villains, but as thoroughly human, with their complexities, strengths and flaws intact.

Visually, Mrs. America vibrantly captures the period of the ’70s in its minutest details, from wallpaper patterns to the characters’ wardrobes. This helps the series reproduce the atmosphere of the era authentically and charmingly. It transports the viewers back in time, providing a nostalgic – and for the younger audience, educational – experience. Symbolically, it uses this visual theme to explicitly sketch the traditional versus modernist clash which forms the crux of its narrative.

The series masterfully exhibits the multi-layered social, cultural, and political undercurrents of the time, bringing discourse on feminism, identity, power, and rights to the forefront. Each episode, while advancing the overall narrative, is centred around one particular personality, offering an in-depth exploration into their lives and ideologies, confronting their hypocrisies, struggling with their setbacks, and celebrating their small victories.

The performances in Mrs. America are uniformly strong, led by Cate Blanchett whose stoic, calculated Schlafly being every bit as compelling as Rose Byrne's conflicted and charismatic Steinem. Meanwhile, Uzo Aduba's portrayal of Shirley Chisholm poignantly captures the struggles and determination of a woman fighting on multiple fronts – not only as a feminist but as a woman of color.

The series also serves as a timely reminder of the cyclical nature of history highlighting the fact that the debates sparked by the ERA in the 1970s are still ongoing, with the amendment having never been ratified. It underscores the relevance and the necessity of continued conversations about gender equality and feminist discourse.

Overall, Mrs. America is a deeply engaging and sophisticated portrayal of the 1970s feminist movement. It's a period piece, a feminist narrative, and a character drama all rolled into one series. With its unfailingly strong performances, a gripping storyline that does justice to its complex real-life subjects, and its relevant, thought-provoking themes, Mrs. America emerges as a must-watch for audiences looking for high-quality, earnest, and meaningful television viewing.