From the producers of The People vs O.J. Simpson & The Assassination of Gianni Versace comes a new American Crime Story: Impeachment, a retelling of the Clinton-Lewinsky Scandal of 1998.
Rated with 4.4 stars on Rotten Tomatoes, the show stars Sarah Paulson as the notorious Linda Tripp (whistleblower of the scandal), Beanie Feldstein as Monica Lewinsky and Clive Owen as Bill Clinton.
With the help of Monica Lewinsky herself, Ryan Murphy crafted a phenomenal 10-part installment with the main focus on the “villain” of the scandal: Linda Tripp. The series opens with a scene from 1998 as Tripp leads the FBI to Lewinsky who takes her away to a private hotel for questioning.
What's It About?
For those who do not know much about the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal, this series covers every inch of it. With the help of the real Lewinsky as a co-producer, each scene is entirely vulnerable.
Following the first scene, the series moves back to 1993, when Clinton’s skeletons began to come out of the closet with his first allegation from Paula Jones (Annaleigh Ashford). Jones remains prominent throughout the series as it was her investigation that led to the unfolding of Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky.
From that point, the series moves in chronological order.
Sarah Paulson truly moved the story with her reenactment as Linda Tripp. In comparison to the real Linda Tripp, the comparison is spot on. Unfortunately, I think if Linda Tripp were around she would not enjoy her portrayal in the show.
Tripps character is depicted as a bitter, divorced, middle-aged woman who eats microwaved meals for dinner while sitting in front of the TV indulging in the news. She is portrayed as someone who is obsessed with all things in the White House, particularly the West Wing where she was removed from long before the scandal ensued.
The series implies that her removal from the position in the West Wing and relocation to a job in the Pentagon - where she met Miss Lewinsky - is what caused her to seek revenge and expose Clinton’s affair with Lewinsky. However, in reality Tripp was just trying to expose President Clinton for his wrongdoings… And write a book about it, of course.
At the Pentagon is where Tripp meets Lewinsky and after much bonding and many conversations, finds the opening she needs to expose Clinton. As Lewinsky grows close to Tripp, she starts confiding in her about her relationship with the President.
When Tripp brings this information to a literary agent she is encouraged to tape the calls (which is very illegal in some states). Rumors began to circle and eventually the media and FBI got a hold of this information and BOOM.
We all know what comes next: a long trial, the eventual impeachment of President Bill Clinton and a lot of public scrutiny on Monica Lewinsky.
Watch It Or Not?
Unlike previous American Crime series, this one offers the audience to look at history from a different point of view. While watching, viewers see more from Monica Lewinsky’s perspective - a young intern who fell victim to the most powerful man in the country. The media and public attacked and shamed her throughout the incident and even for many years after.
This show gives viewers the opportunity to reflect and perhaps change their opinions. While it does not candidly bring to light the underlying issues with the case such as misogyny and gender inequalities, it does force those ideas to come to mind.
Ryan Murphy really outdid himself with this series and I rate it a 10/10.
It is available on the FX App with a subscription or your TV Provider.
