Ep 2. The Harrington Commode

Payton Hobart, played by Ben Platt, is the main character in this witty comedy show, The Politician. In this episode, Payton is campaigning to be Student Body President and touting his progressive ideals for the betterment of the student body. He is lagging behind in the race and learns of a secret leverage point to use against his opponent, Astrid Sloan, played by Lucy Boynton.

Payton's campaign team decides to purchase a piece of vintage furniture to give him credibility and poise against his opponent, who is supposedly a direct descendant of royalty. The commode, the focus of this episode, is an antique piece that comes with a rich and illustrious history. Payton struggles with doubts about accepting this dirty tactic but ultimately buys it.

However, things take a turn when Infinity Jackson, played by Zoey Deutch, accuses Payton's grandmother of being a racist, thus causing him to struggle to defend his family against these charges. The episode shows how Payton tries to navigate through this situation tactfully while still trying to come out on top. Meanwhile, Alice, played by Julia Schlaepfer, Payton's girlfriend, struggles with her boyfriend's secrets and political strategies.

Finally, towards the end of the episode, Payton's campaign team discovers a piece of evidence that they think proves that Astrid used her position as Student Body President to get a person expelled from school, which could potentially lead to disqualification from the election. The next episode is set to reveal the aftermath of these discoveries and how Payton and his team will use this to their advantage.

Overall, this episode is filled with numerous twists and turns alongside witty jokes and sarcastic retorts. The characterization adds depth to the show and engages the viewer. The use of modern-day issues such as climate change and student loans, and the inclusion of dark humor makes for an entertaining watch. This episode is definitely one of the best-packed episodes, and season 1 is a must-watch for all political enthusiasts.