Summary
Episode 5 demonstrates how voters work and how easy it can be to sway from one candidate to another.
This recap of Netflix series The Politician season 2, episode 5, “The Voters” contain spoilers.
How does The Politician season 2, episode 5, “The Voters” open?
Episode 5 opens up with the news playing in regards to Dede’s throuple and how her husband is part of a scandal where he exchanges money with students for papers. The news also reveals that the throuple was invented to gain more voters. A mother and a daughter are watching the news and the daughter explains how Dede is a liar and that Payton is a genuine, honest man. The mother argues how Dede has made their lives demonstrably better — Jayne (the daughter) calls her a boomer. An argument ensues between the younger and older generation who both claim they know better — this scene gives a sense of the type of voters Dede and Payton are trying to win over.
Biggest turnout
Jayne is a volunteer for Payton’s campaign team and overhears Payton arguing how the bombshell makes him look bad. She sits down and starts ringing people, asking them to vote. Payton then tells everyone to mute their phones and he fires James. On the news, there is an upturn in voters and Payton is pumped — he asks Jayne if her friends will be voting for him. Skye reveals this could be the biggest turnout in New York history. The Politician season 2, episode 5, “The Voters” sees Payton’s fortunes turnaround due to Jame’s misdemeanour.
The polling station
Jayne’s mother Andi is a volunteer at one of the polling stations and sees Dede getting swamped about the story of her in the article. Payton then enters the polling station and tells the journalists that they are expecting a baby. Andi approaches Dede outside and makes her aware that there’s a lot of young people voting. Dede tells Andi that they are going to win and invites her to their victory party.
Do you care
Payton tells McAfee and Jayne that the exit polls are all over the place. Jayne asks Payton if he genuinely cares about the environment. Payton says that if he wins, it will be his focus but also it works in yin and yang — he cares about the Climate Emergency but he also wants young voters to vote in order for him to achieve that dream. The Politician season 2, episode 5, “The Voters” encapsulates a politician’s balance between wanting to win and fighting for what they believe in.
A change of heart
When Andi goes to Dede’s office she realizes that they do not recycle and warns them about the young voters again and that they need to head down to the NYU campus and tells students to vote for her. Dede tries to convince Andi that she cares about the environment but that young people should only be part of the conversation, not in charge. Andi is starting to see the true colors of Dede — Hadassah is not helping matters by seemingly not caring about progressive policies. Andi gets out of Dede’s car and sees Payton giving a speech and feels inspired. Payton takes a freezing cold shower in front of the crowd and recycles the water. Andi then heads to the polling station.
How does The Politician season 2, episode 5, “The Voters” end?
When Jayne gets home, Andi gives her daughter a big hug and apologises for their argument from the morning — “If I let politics get in between us, I’m part of the problem”. On the news, the results are incoming but Andi turns off the TV and says her generation did not win and that it’s Jayne’s turn. Jayne realises her mother voted for Payton. Episode 5 demonstrates how voters work and how easy it can be to sway it from one candidate to another. The Politician became oddly relatable as many around the world battle with their parents on political beliefs.
