The First Lady

Name: The First Lady
Genre: Drama
Released: April 17, 2022
Rating: 50

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Mixed or average reviews based on 22 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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2.7

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2.7	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 6 Ratings

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Series Details & Credits

SHOWTIME | Release Date: April 17, 2022

Summary: The anthology series created by Aaron Cooley focuses on the personal and political lives of the First Ladies. The first season will feature Michelle Obama (Viola Davis), Betty Ford (Michelle Pfeiffer) and Eleanor Roosevelt (Gillian Anderson).

Genre(s): Drama

Recent Episodes

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S1:E10. victory dance
Air Date: June 19, 2022
tbd
S1:E9. rift
Air Date: June 12, 2022
tbd
S1:E8. punch perfect
Air Date: June 5, 2022

See all Seasons and Episodes

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Critic Reviews

Collider Alyse Wax

Apr 13, 2022

Season 1 Review: The First Lady is a fascinating series that does a great job at boiling down the important parts of three influential First Ladies and reintroducing them into the national dialogue (or, in the case of Michelle Obama, reminding us why we love her) — but I wanted more from each story overall. The first season of this purported anthology series manages to be perfectly emblematic of the saying that goes, “Always leave them wanting more.” Read full review

Richard Roeper

Apr 14, 2022

Season 1 Review: There are moments when “The First Lady” is inspirational and moving; how could you not tell these stories without hitting some high notes? Still, given the credentials and talents of the behind-the-scenes artists and the three leads, this feels mostly like a missed opportunity to do something special—something worthy of Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford and Michelle Obama, three truly great Americans. Read full review

Inkoo Kang

Apr 14, 2022

Season 1 Review: Perhaps it’s because Betty Ford’s story is the least known among the three that her scenes are the most compelling. ... Obvious dental prosthetics and an unfortunately mannered turn by Anderson — though less strained than her effortful pantomime of Margaret Thatcher on “The Crown” — distract from a rewriting of Eleanor Roosevelt that’s fairly bold, at least for a mainstream TV series. ... Michelle Obama’s time in the White House simply needs more time for it to be satisfyingly narrativized; she has decades yet to finish her story. Read full review

The Playlist Marah Eakin

Apr 7, 2022

Season 1 Review: “The First Lady” fails because it’s telling us stories that we already know in a fairly surface-level fashion. While it’s certainly commendable that the show shines its light on the forgotten struggles of these three notable women, it’s almost a shame that the show chose to highlight first ladies whose stories have already been so vigorously told. Read full review

Melanie McFarland

Apr 18, 2022

Season 1 Review: Glossy and celebratory yet, it pains me to say, inconsequential – a word that should never be associated with the women that inspired this show. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Apr 15, 2022

Season 1 Review: It’s too content to tell us mostly what we already know about three of the most well-known first ladies in history—a better version would have tried to bring some less-recounted stories to life—even if the consistently strong performances keep it watchable. Read full review

Meghan O'Keefe

Apr 18, 2022

Season 1 Review: It is terrible. ... The First Lady will draw viewers in who want to see great actresses play great women, but unfortunately the show’s abysmal writing lets us all down. The scripts are honestly insulting to the real women The First Lady is about. Read full review

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Seasons & Episodes

50

Series Overview
Season 1

50
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: April 17, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E10. victory dance
  Air Date: June 19, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E9. rift
  Air Date: June 12, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E8. punch perfect
  Air Date: June 5, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E7. Nadir
  Air Date: May 29, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E6. Shout Out
  Air Date: May 22, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E5. See Saw
  Air Date: May 15, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E4. Cracked Pot
  Air Date: May 8, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E3. Please Allow Me
  Air Date: May 1, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E2. voices carry
  Air Date: April 24, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E1. that white house
  Air Date: April 17, 2022