Theo Germaine – The Politician

By starrymag | June 30, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) When we pick up in Season Two, Payton has once again assembled his crack team, but this time to help him win Dede’s seat in the Senate. What past strategies and lessons does the team take from Payton’s first political go round and learn and adapt from going forward?

 

A) Payton (Ben Platt) ran his last campaign on a lot of ambition, strategy, some genuine activism – as well as some performativity and bad behavior (trying to get Andrew Cushman to be his VP/trying to get Infinity Jackson (Zoey Deutch) to be his VP/setting traps for his opponent, holding a secret blood drive, using money to bribe people, etc).  His morals are question a lot in the first season. This all carries into Season Two and I think the team takes a lot of these tactics into their next campaign, but this time it feels like there’s a Battle of Morals happening. I think part of the challenge the characters face is – are they going to grow from their last campaign? And because so much of politics can get pretty dirty, they could use all their old tricks and play by certain rules to win.  Ultimately, Payton ends up maturing a little bit and it’s like the little angel on his shoulder wins over the devil on his other – he runs his campaign on climate change, although people (like James) tell him he’ll lose if he breaks too many rules.  It also seems by the end of the season he understands his place a little more and is committed to working to improve NYC.  

 

Q) Payton’s ambition has always been an asset and a detriment, and it’s become a grenade in his life over and over again. How does the team help him not fall into old habits, pitfalls, and campaign conflicts?

 

A) Honestly, I think Infinity Jackson is the person who ultimately gets him to change his ways.  She offers to help him, but only if he actually commits to making a bunch of change in how he lives his everyday life.  She essentially tells him he’s performative if he doesn’t commit.  I think the season consists of Payton and the team trying to catch up with her – and sometimes Payton (and the team) go willingly and sometimes there’s a lot of obstacles, grumbling and resistance. 

 

Q) What I love about the series is there is such a complexity to each character and on an infinite amount of levels. There is such an enormous inherent gradient that we get to see portrayed. How will we see these dimensions and boundaries be pushed even further this season?

 

A) You’ll get to see a little more of the background of some of the characters!  You’re just going to have to watch!  

 

Q) In Season One we saw James in passionate love with Payton’s ex-girlfriend Alice. Now that she’s in with Payton for his political ride, will that interfere with their affections for one another and how will that dynamic be tested?

 

A) In my opinion, no.  That affair/storyline doesn’t continue into the second season at all.   

 

Q) This season is seven episodes, unlike the first’s right episode. Does the pace and feel of the series stay the same or does it amplify even more with one less episode?

 

A) It’s hard to describe, but it’s a very different pace! 

 

Q) Politics plays by its own set of rules, and it’s one thing to follow them or not for a high school election, but a Senate seat is on another level. What kind of rules will we see the political trio Payton, James and McAfee push the envelope on?

 

A) James wants to play by the rules (and sometimes dirty rules) of politics and spends some time confused as to what position characters like Payton and McAfee (Laura Dreyfuss) stand on – he thinks they are contradictory at times.  He also ends up getting left behind in the show, over his stubbornness to grow into a campaign focusing on climate change.  He’s worried they won’t be able to win the election because of the amount of people who don’t care about climate change at all/who don’t believe it’s real.  It’s a legit concern – but – when Payton and McAfee grow up a little bit and start taking some risks, James has a ton of growing pains during his process of catching up.  

 

Q) So much of the series we see Payton grapple with the question is there a world where you can balance empathy and authenticity with blind ambition? And do you need to pick one or the other? How does that theme from the series trickle over into our current political landscape with how we can make a difference in our democracy?

 

A) I think about this a lot.  My takeaway is when a politician says they stand for something, do your research.  Do not take them at face value.  What do they really stand for? What work have they done?  How do they hold themselves accountable – how do they respond to being called in?  How far do they have their head up their ass?  Working on the show called me in on maturing the way I thought about politics. Don’t settle for blind ambition and performativity.  

 

Q) You get to work this season with legendary ladies Judith Light and Bette Midler who are a central part of this season. What nuances and lessons did you really learn from working with these multi-talented dynamos?

 

A) Oh gosh.  They are both just so talented.  I did not have many work days with them – but I did get to observe them while I was shadowing Gwenyth Horder-Payton, one of the directors.  They are a joy to watch.  I’d say I learned more about comedic timing, about commitment to your character and BEING FLEXIBLE.  It was also just a delight to get to be around actors who have been in the industry for so long and see how they work.  I got to spend a little more time with Judith – she’s a very special person.  When people ask about her my answer is always is that she’s managed to retain so much of herself in an industry that can crush you.  She’s an activist, she’s kind and social – she remembers your name, she asks how your partner is doing – she has just about the best etiquette on set somebody could ever have!  

 

Q) June is pride month and in many ways it’s being celebrated and recognized differently this year. What are ways that we can all keep the spirit going and that you have been doing to make sure the spirit of Pride is still being acknowledged in all its forms while still respecting and supporting the movement?

 

A) Two things that come to mind are sharing and education.  Share wealth and redistribute money to the most marginalized in the LGBTQ community – invest in their futures, their presents and help them thrive.  Educate yourself on queer history – dig, dig, dig!  Make these two things part of your everyday life, all year round.  

 

Q) Is there anything else you’d like to say about the season or touch on that we didn’t talk about?

 

A) I just hope people enjoy! [smiles]