'Mrs America' Episode 6 Review: Phyllis and Jill's internal conflicts mirror Shirley's fight against harassment
Spoilers for Episode 6: 'Jill'
As Phyllis Schlafly (Cate Blanchett) continues to pretty much obliterate her opponents in debates, what becomes evident is a penchant for shutting people down with poise and composure if they digress from her faith and beliefs even in the slightest. But it is these very faiths and beliefs that we see Phyllis battling against as 'Mrs America' continues to humanize and glorify the avid anti-feminist activists protest against women's liberation movement.
Phyllis' fight sees her take down Jill Ruckelshaus (Elizabeth Banks) in Episode 6, but her inner conflict isn't too far off when compared to Jill's — both of which are rivaled by Shirley Chisholm's (Uzo Aduba) fight against workplace sexual harassment and coercion for that matter.
The episode reintroduces us to a certain rage and panic in Phyllis as she looks like she's almost unraveling under the growing popularity and support for the ERA. As more and more states ratify the amendment and Phyllis' family becomes consumed by Jill's speeches on live television, she fears the STOP ERA aren't making an impact big enough. Sadly, the harder she pushes her allies, the more they slip out of her fist like fine sand. There is Pamela's abusive relationship and Rosemary's constant desperate attempts to steal Phyllis' best friend, Alice's thunder. Speaking of which Phyllis is also coming close to losing Alice as an ardent ally as her trust in Phyllis begins waning.
With Phyllis's interest in sneaking up on the Reagan administration takes center stage, Alice is pretty much done with her sh*t. But that is still not the biggest conflict Phyllis faces; her troubles lie with her son's sexuality and this fiery need to detach him from their family. The duality in Phyllis — both in her home and outside — jumps out when she joins arms with religious extremists against gays and abortions purely for their 15,000 subscribers. The group's fight is against homosexuality, as they label as gays as "perverts." In her quest to convince them, Phyllis agrees to their ideals during a hunting spree as her own closeted son sits back home, unaware of the deals his mother is committing to. Phyllis finally comes undone during her confessional in a scene where Blanchett shines brighter than ever as she questions, "Why did God put this fire in me if he doesn't want me to act on it?" Teary-eyed and flustered, Blanchett has us convinced this year's Emmy is in her bag already.
Her strongest contender, in this episode specifically, is Banks as Jill. The fierce conviction with which she counters every ideal of Phyllis, pretty much trying to bribe her with a meeting with Rumsfeld so she can pursue her ulterior motives with defense are commendable. Due nod goes to creator Dahvi Waller too, exclusively for those scenes between Phyllis and Jill where both are trying to maintain a civil front even though the claws are out and ready to pounce the moment the chance presents itself.
Jill talks about harassment and accuses Phyllis of climbing her way to the top on the shoulders of men. But she also very poignantly adds how the very same men will be looking up her skirt — something that resonates with the last few seconds where Phyllis is in a roomful of men to discuss Reagan's policies, and all they can do is crack crude jokes about shutting up secretaries and brush their lingering hands against Phyllis for seconds longer than acceptable.
Jill's battle is not just with Phyllis though, as her husband's nomination for the post of vice president poses threats from her "outspoken" feminism. The same husband she brags about being okay with her stepping out to win the world as he takes charge at home doesn't want her rally alongside the ERA activists because it puts his nomination at stake. She stays home like the supportive wife, dutifully writing a nomination announcement speech for her husband — all for nothing as he doesn't get the nomination anyway.
Jill's devastating realization and regret matches that of Shirley when she does all she can to orchestrate an expose on congressmen coercing their secretaries, only for all of them to shower her with further rage while suffering no consequences. Unfortunate cartoons and mockeries aside, it is a wonderful parallel to the blooming ERA, highlight further how no matter how far women's liberation movements go, the end goal of ultimate equality is still a dream far away.
'Mrs America' drops new episodes on Wednesdays at midnight only on Hulu.