Ep 8. Vienna

Payton Hobart has always dreamed of becoming the President of the United States. Even since he was a child, Payton has been tirelessly working towards achieving his goal. Now a high school senior, Payton is running for class president at Saint Sebastian High School, but he has set his sights much higher than that. Payton is determined to win the class president election so that he can become a strong candidate for student body president, and eventually, the White House.

In the previous episode, we saw Payton struggle to come up with a compelling campaign platform. He knows he needs something that will set him apart from his classmates if he wants to win the class presidency, but he's not sure what that is. Meanwhile, his campaign manager, McAfee Westbrook, is dealing with her own problems as she questions Payton's integrity and struggles with her attraction to his opponent, Skye.

In episode 8, titled "Vienna," we see Payton take a break from his campaign for a few days as he travels to Austria with his mother, Georgina. The trip is business-related - Georgina has scheduled meetings with some important people in Vienna - but Payton sees it as an opportunity to take a breather and recharge his batteries.

However, things don't go exactly as planned. Payton's mom ends up having to work more than she thought she would, leaving Payton to explore the city on his own. At first, Payton enjoys his newfound freedom, relishing in the fact that he's in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with no responsibilities or pressures weighing him down. But as the days pass, Payton starts to feel lost and alone.

In Vienna, Payton meets a charismatic young woman named Alice, who takes him under her wing and shows him the city's hidden gems. Alice is a free spirit and doesn't seem to have any of the baggage that Payton carries with him. For the first time in a long time, Payton is able to let his guard down and truly be himself around someone.

As they spend more time together, Payton starts to realize that he has feelings for Alice. However, the relationship is complicated by the fact that Payton is still technically in a relationship with his girlfriend, Astrid. Payton is forced to grapple with his own emotions and moral code as he navigates this unexpected attraction.

Meanwhile, back in the States, McAfee is dealing with the fallout from her decision to join Skye's campaign. McAfee has always been a fiercely loyal member of Payton's team, but she's starting to see that maybe he's not the perfect candidate she always thought he was. Skye is a multifaceted person with her own ambitious goals, and McAfee is starting to find herself drawn to that.

As always, The Politician is full of twists and turns. In episode 8, we get to see a softer side of Payton as he explores the vibrant city of Vienna. At the same time, we see McAfee struggle with her own sense of loyalty and morality as she begins to question whether she's truly on the right side.