There have always been shows that examine the fictionalized lives of people who work in specialized fields, like law or medicine, and politics is no exception. With all the crazy stories in the news about powerful figures and high stakes negotiations, it’s an industry ripe for storylines both dramatic (like Netflix’s House of Cards) and comedic (HBO’s Veep).
As Americans endure another election year, it’s worth noting that the popular portrayal of U.S. politics has become much less optimistic since the idealistic Washington portrayed in The West Wing. TV politics have increasingly – but not always – taken a darker turn.
Updated on December 24th, 2020 by Kristen Palamara: Political shows tend to take a dramatic or comedic approach to modern-day politics in the U.S. and either try to find the funny side of politics, use comedy to make satirical comedy, or mostly still to a dramatic approach. Political shows will always be a popular genre in television and in movies, but their approach to cynicism or idealism varies as most shows reflect reality with a fictional twist that either tries to find hope or goes completely to the dark side.
15 Parks And Recreation
One show stands above all others in its optimism in the integrity of our political system: Parks and Recreation, which ran from 2009 to 2015 on NBC.
Leslie Knope and her staff at Pawnee’s Parks Department were truly committed to making the world a better place, even if they had to deal with budget cuts and angry constituents. They eventually decided to take this commitment to higher office, which Leslie kicked off with her campaign for City Council. The former Parks staffers eventually made their way to the highest echelons of government in an ending so optimistic it was clearly envisioned for another timeline.
14 The West Wing
The critically acclaimed political drama of all political dramas, The West Wing dominated awards season during its run from 1999 to 2006 on NBC. Set primarily in – you guessed it – the West Wing, the show followed the fictional Bartlet administration over two terms, giving the audience a window into the political process.
The show was praised for its realism (in addition to the writing and acting, which earned it 277 awards nominations – 87 of which they won) but some critics felt it was too saccharine and optimistic. That didn’t stop the countless Washington staffers who made the decision to pursue their careers thanks to this show.
13 The Newsroom
Although The Newsroom doesn’t focus on characters within government, it does focus on American journalists reporting mainly on political stories. It’s another show from Aaron Sorkin, like The West Wing, that provides social commentary and actually takes its news stories from real-life events and has the characters report on the stories in the most idealistic way possible.
The Newsroom provides an alternate reality of journalistic integrity that sees the characters jump at the chance to report the news in the most ethical way possible without thinking about ratings.
12 Spin City
Spin City centers on the inner workings of the New York City Mayor’s office as most of the is actually run by the Mayor’s Deputy (Michael J. Fox) and his group of odd employees.
The show is more of a sitcom about each character’s personal life, but it is set within the U.S. political world and there are several storylines that reckon with the ethics of politics. Although it’s not a cynical show, it’s not entirely idealistic either but it does balance happy and dramatic moments well.
11 Braindead
This short-lived political satire merged Congressional drama with science fiction elements and a quirky sense of humor. Laurel Healy, as the new constituency caseworker for her brother Luke Healy, discovers that ant-like alien invaders have infiltrated Capitol Hill, eating brains and driving members of Congress to become increasingly partisan.
The show is definitely darker than Parks and Recreation and The West Wing, but it never takes things too far into the realm of hopelessness and pessimism. If you’re short on time, be sure to check out the very entertaining musical recaps for the “previously on …” segment of the show.
10 Space Force
Although Space Force is a funny show on the surface, it’s a political satire that has thinly veiled real-life connections and is beginning to have its own commentary on real-life events and politics.
Space Force follows the newly formed Space Force branch of the U.S. government that has military personnel, scientists, and media managers who constantly butt heads. It’s a somewhat cynical show, but by the end of the first season, Space Force is showing that some might be able to change their ways for the better.
9 Scandal
Shonda Rhimes’ political thriller stars Kerry Washington as Olivia Pope, a DC “fixer” who runs her own crisis management firm. At the heart of Scandal is Olivia’s steamy affair with President Fitzgerald Scott, which began during his presidential campaign and ended when Scott took office – or did it?
The soapy twists and turns had less to do with politics than with keeping viewers glued to the screen week after week, but the show managed to achieve one thing that reality has not: it ends with a woman in the Oval Office.
8 Succession
Sure, the competition between Logan Roy and his four children over the future of a media conglomerate is in itself political, but we aren’t talking about office politics here. The political storylines on Succession hinge on Siobhan (Shiv) Roy, the only one of the Roy children to make a career for herself outside Waystar Royco.
Shiv works for Senator Gil Eavis, whose progressive agenda is a threat to the company’s interests. Whether she’s just sticking it to dad or acting from real conviction, it’s clear that Shiv’s divided loyalties to Gil and her family will need a difficult resolution. With corporate power finally at her fingertips, and an anti-corporate potential president for a boss, it’s safe to say that things are going to get messy.
7 Homeland
Homeland debuted as part pulp thriller, part psychological drama, and part political commentary in 2011. While its settings and plot shift dramatically over the seasons and sometimes dives headlong into familiar Washington politics, the heart of the show is in Carrie Matheson’s (Claire Danes) Central Intelligence Agency, neck-deep in shadowy pragmatism and self-doubt.
More than any other spy show, it examines the real-world ramifications of worldwide covert actions and the toll they take on the people involved.
6 Veep
The raucously hilarious HBO comedy Veep, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is known for its biting vulgarity and the utter disdain it has for the incompetence and naked ambition of its characters. Viewers would be horrified to learn that many political insiders have called it the most accurate portrayal of the American government on television.
Whether it’s showing the banality of day-to-day work in the White House or sweeping nationwide scandal, you’ll find yourself rewinding to hear every joke you missed by laughing too much at the trainwreck.
5 Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica might be set on a fleet of migrant ships deep in uncharted space, but there’s no denying its society’s conspicuous resemblance to mid-2000’s America. From the business suits to familiar office settings (but in space) to the military jargon and constitutional governance, the show practically screamed that many of its episodes were commentaries on the politics of the day. The show depicts a society in political crisis, forewarning the tumultuous possibilities that arise when the stakes are high and the powerful have wildly different ideas about the future.
Will Lee Adam’s liberal idealism, Laura Roslin’s blend of religion and pragmatism, Tom Zarek’s revolutionary fervor, or Gaius Balthar’s masterful self-promotion win out in the end … or will something entirely unforeseen take shape?
4 24
24 focused on a branch of government solely dedicated to counterterrorism and showed a pretty terrifying reality of criminal profiling and torture during its run. It reckoned with the behind the scenes of government departments and of agents who weren’t publicly elected and operate in the shadows without public knowledge.
Although the show, unfortunately, made most of the agents like Jack Bauer out to be heroes even with their brutal tactics, there has been criticism of the show since it began airing that critically thinks about the profiling and torturous aspects of the show.
3 The Handmaid’s Tale
The Handmaid’s Tale is a cynical look at a dystopian American future where a totalitarian society has taken control of the United States instead of democratic politics. The dystopian future includes environmental disasters and ever-decreasing birth rates as women are treated as property who are only used for attempting to repopulate the country.
The show centers on Offred, who is one of the last fertile women in America, as she plots a revolution. Although an incredibly cynical show, there is still some hope for the revolution which makes it a little less cynical than others.
2 The Wire
What started in 2002 as a grounded and gripping cop show set on the mean streets of Baltimore soon evolved into a sprawling examination of American urban life. Bringing together a cast of detectives, drug dealers, dockworkers, politicians – and in a particularly poignant arc – a group of schoolchildren, the show’s central theme is that “everything is connected.”
When the show’s blend of high drama and meticulous realism takes the everyday failures of a political system into the lives of our beloved characters, it dishes out gut punches we won’t soon forget. On the other hand, it did give fans an unforgettable role for Idris Elba.
1 House Of Cards
The Underwoods are a politician’s power fantasy. After the newly elected President reneges on his deal to appoint Frank Underwood as Secretary of State (in exchange for his support during the campaign), Frank initiates a major power play with the ultimate goal of gaining a cabinet position. He is joined by his wife, the equally ambitious Claire Underwood, whose clean water NGO is more than a little shady.
The couple shares a lust for power and a philosophy of ruthless pragmatism that would horrify Leslie Knope. It’s a vision of Washington so pessimistic that one can’t help but wonder where the country is headed if this is how politics really works.
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