Rating: â â â â â (4/5) Episode 9 deepens the political and personal stakes for all three First Ladies, juxtaposing Eleanor Rooseveltâs pioneering social agenda with Betty Fordâs struggle with addiction and the early machinations of a modern political dynasty. Itâs a strong, characterâdriven installment that balances historical detail with the seriesâ contemporary sensibility, though some subplots feel a bit rushed. 1. Plot Overview | Character | Storyline Highlights | |-----------|----------------------| | Eleanor Roosevelt (Loretta Devine) | - Pushes for the Fair Labor Standards Act and fights the entrenched bureaucracy of the New Deal era. - Faces backlash from both progressive allies and conservative opponents. - A poignant scene with her teenage daughter Anna (Mackenzie Astin) reveals Eleanorâs vulnerability and the personal cost of her public crusade. | | Betty Ford (Megan Mullally) | - Grapples with a relapse into alcohol after a highâpressure fundraiser. - Her husband, President Gerald Ford (John Stamos), tries to keep the scandal under wraps, but the mediaâs relentless pursuit threatens to derail his administration. - A tender moment with her son, Michael, underscores the toll of fame on family life. | | Michelle Obama (Viola Davis) â flashâforward | - The episode ends with a flashâforward to 2008, where the newlyâelected Barack Obama (Mahershala Ali) asks Michelle to help shape his âFirst Ladyâ platform. - A brief but powerful montage hints at the modern social media landscape that will define her tenure. |