The past week has been eventful, with two announcements that had us glued to our television sets — the demonetisation of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes, and Donald Trump being elected as the President of the United States.
Both were surprises, bombs even, that were dropped on unsuspecting public, leading to shock, awe and panic. Both these decisions, I am sure, also involved tense newsrooms and action behind the scenes — the kind that directors and writers try so hard to bring to life on screen. It’s hard to imagine exactly what could have happened in the halls of our Prime Minister’s office, given the superficial, almost comical ways, that high stakes Indian political scenarios are played out in our films and television. However, it is possible to visualise the amount of work, the tension and the nerves that took over political offices in the United States on Wednesday morning, thanks to the abundance of excellent film and television shows that give us an intimate look into the workings of their system.
The most comprehensive show when it comes to American politics, is undoubtedly, The West Wing . The show ran from 1999 to 2006 – a true television classic, and is perhaps the prime reason behind Aaron Sorkin’s iconic status as a screenwriter today. The West Wing explores the trials and tribulations of the senior staff at the White House, as they attempt to run the most powerful country in the world, while balancing a no-nonsense President who couldn’t care less about being liked and the ground realities at Washington. It’s fast-paced, full of quotable lines, fun to watch, and most importantly, an education in American politics.
Although the The West Wing is the first show that comes to my mind at the mention of American politics, it is a decade old now, and runs the risk of being ever-so-slightly irrelevant.
Many consider its successor to be the Netflix original (and smash hit), House of Cards . It must be said though, that House of Cards is practically a fantasy show in comparison to The West Wing . House of Cards traces the ambitions of Francis Underwood, a Congressman, and his wife, Claire, as they go on a no-holds-barred spree to do whatever it takes to get to the top. House of Cards is just as well-written and snappy as The West Wing , but is also extraordinarily exaggerated. The West Wing ’s pull lay in its realism. There are plenty of moments in House of Cards where you can’t help but wonder how absurd the scenarios are. Having said that, Donald Trump is America’s President-elect, so I’m starting to question myself about the show’s farfetchedness.
Finally, it is hard to ignore Veep , the HBO production starring multiple Emmy award-winner, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Veep narrates the story of Selina Meyer, a former US Senator who becomes the Vice President after a failed campaign, and is constantly relegated to matters of unimportance. Veep is entertaining, witty as hell and sharply written. It is unfortunate though, that the one show which is focused on chronicling a woman’s effort to get to the top seat has to be classified as a comedy.
( The West Wing is on FX, Veep is on Star World Premiere HD, and House of Cards is on Netflix.)
