--- title: "Mrs. America: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/tv/mrs-america/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/tv/mrs-america" critics_score: 78 critics_reviews: 12 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Mrs. America (2020): what the critics said Critics' score 78 from 12 reviews: 11 positive, 1 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics come away impressed, and the praise clusters in two places. The first is Cate Blanchett’s Phyllis Schlafly, described across the reviews as the performance that holds the series together and gives a woman many viewers arrive disliking something close to humanity. The second is the ensemble around her, with Rose Byrne, Uzo Aduba and Tracey Ullman singled out most often. Nearly every review also credits the writing for refusing to make either the feminists or their opponents into saints or cartoons, and several find the parallels to present-day politics well judged rather than laboured. The spread is narrow, running from good to very good, with a single mixed notice. Variety is the outlier, arguing the series never quite gets a grip on Schlafly herself and works better with its lesser-known figures. The Ringer, otherwise warm, agrees the material on her private life overreaches. The British reviews, arriving later, are a shade cooler than the American ones without disagreeing on much. ## The Hollywood Reporter — Inkoo Kang Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2020. The miniseries is a tremendous balancing act between historical accuracy and humanizing its figures in the ERA battle. It excels at making history come alive through strong performances and thoughtful parallels to the present. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/mrs-america-review-1288076/) ## Vulture — Matt Zoller Seitz Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2020. The limited series succeeds as engaging television by focusing on complex characters and political dynamics rather than strict history lessons. It excels through its strong ensemble performances and nuanced portrayal of both feminists and their conservative adversaries. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2020/04/mrs-america-fx-on-hulu-review.html) ## Radio Times — Flora Carr Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2020. The series humanizes Phyllis Schlafly through Cate Blanchett's standout performance and colors in the black-and-white portrayals of both sides in the ERA fight. It makes the story multi-dimensional by showing hypocrisy and complexities on each side. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/mrs-america-review-cate-blanchett/) ## The Times — Hugo Rifkind Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 10 July 2020. Blanchett is mesmerizing in this broadly excellent biopic of Schlafly, which sympathetically portrays the conservative right and shows how her politicking and charisma reshaped the landscape despite her ultimate misalignment with changing times. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/mrs-america-review-its-no-longer-the-homemakers-world-they-just-dont-know-it-gcf7809dj) ## Evening Standard — Lucy Pavia Rating ★★★★✩. 8 July 2020. The series is a nuanced, stylish drama that examines second-wave feminism through Schlafly as its anti-hero; Blanchett delivers an impeccable performance bringing humanity to the character. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/mrs-america-review-episode-one-phyllis-a4492356.html) ## IndieWire — Kristen Lopez Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2020. The series showcases an ensemble cast led by Cate Blanchett and Rose Byrne in a compelling look at 1970s feminism and its opponents. It highlights the divisions among women that ultimately hinder progress toward equality. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/mrs-america-review-1202220003/) ## The Guardian Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2020. The miniseries offers a nuanced portrait of Phyllis Schlafly without reducing her to a simple villain, showing how she mobilized opposition to the ERA while highlighting the broader context of 1970s feminism and its setbacks. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jul/08/mrs-america-review-cate-blanchett-fights-off-feminism) ## Variety — Caroline Framke Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 2 April 2020. The ambitious limited series paints an impressive historical picture of the ERA fight but struggles to get a grip on its central characters, especially Schlafly. It succeeds more with lesser-known figures than with the biggest names. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/mrs-america-fx-review-cate-blanchett-phyllis-schlafly-1234569426/) ## Paste — Allison Keene Rating 9.7/10. 15 April 2020. The limited series offers a fair and balanced portrayal of the fight over the Equal Rights Amendment, avoiding both reverence and caricature in its depiction of real women on both sides. It excels through its stellar cast, authentic humanity, and insightful exploration of feminism's complexities. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/tv/mrs-america/mrs-america-review) ## Consequence Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 13 April 2020. The star-studded series powerfully depicts the battle over the ERA through courageous women leaders on both sides of the debate, emphasizing their personal experiences and the ongoing fight for equality. Strong performances, especially by Cate Blanchett, Rose Byrne, and Uzo Aduba, drive this nuanced historical drama. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2020/04/tv-review-mrs-america/) ## The Ringer — Alison Herman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2020. The critic praises the series as a shrewd, clear-eyed exploration of power and politics, placing it among the finest TV series of the year. She singles out its ensemble cast and structure centering different women for praise, while noting some overreach in portraying Schlafly's personal life. [Read the review](https://www.theringer.com/2020/04/15/tv/mrs-america-review-womens-lib-best-shows-2020) ## Collider — Liz Shannon Miller Rating ★★★★. 15 April 2020. The series shines thanks to Cate Blanchett's lead performance as Phyllis Schlafly and an exceptional ensemble cast that brings depth to historical figures. Standout portrayals include Tracey Ullman as Betty Friedan and Uzo Aduba as Shirley Chisholm. [Read the review](https://collider.com/mrs-america-review-fx-hulu-cate-blanchett/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/tv/mrs-america.md