This was an exemplary example of how to take recent events and give what seemed to be a very true account of it with marvelously nuanced portraits of all the participants. Schlafly, before I saw this series, had always been seen by me a a somewhat flat and predictable figure, fighting against the tide of history but in this telling and with the luminous and exquisitely judged performance of Blanchett, she was shown as a remarkably intelligent, smart and, ironically, very independent woman - in many senses more independent than some of those arrayed against her - but to say ‘arrayed’ suggest something much too simplistic about the two opposing points of view. they were very skillfully shown, very largely by the writing, as having equally thoughtful and committed sets of beliefs, and both with tremendous drive and the ability to do what was necessary to achieve their aims.
The disclaimer at the beginning - that certain scenes, and some characters had been created for the purposes of the drama, intially gave me pause but everything about all the scenes seemed totally authentic. The Sarah Paulson character was a fascinating one - a very thoughtful and nuanced picture of someone involved who grew and changed and developed in the course of her involvement -and as a created character she played a very important role and position in the whole drama. She was both emblematic and representative as well as being a fully rounded and interesting human being. It would be fascinating to hear form the participants about how they regarded the series. I have the feeling that even if the actual details and statements of certain scenes were not wholly historically accurate but were imaginative creations, that they were be[nevertheless wholly true and plausible in spirit.
The final scene, in absolute silence, was very powerful and very touching and one really felt for Phyllis in terms of how things turned out at the start of the Reagan era. A mean minded person may well say - well, she ended up doing, literally and symbolically, what she wanted all other women to do - baking in the kitchen - but that would be a very mean, narrowly small-minded and inaccurate view. I would also be most interested to know if the amount in infighting in the pro ERA group was historically accurate.
So, a superb series which everyone, regardless of political affiliations should watch.