The First Lady

Showtime's ambitious anthology series The First Lady received largely negative to lukewarm reviews from critics, who widely viewed it as a missed opportunity. Despite focusing on iconic figures Eleanor Roosevelt, Betty Ford, and Michelle Obama, reviewers felt the show offered a superficial celebration of its subjects that failed to dig beyond textbook historical summaries or examine their legacies with true depth.

The writing and direction were major points of contention, with critics describing the narrative as clunky, disjointed, and heavy-handed. Many reviewers noted that jumping between three distinct eras resulted in uneven storylines that felt more like a dramatization of Wikipedia entries or checkbox historical drama than a compelling, cohesive character study.

While the series as a whole fell flat for most critics, the performances—particularly Michelle Pfeiffer's portrayal of Betty Ford—received consistent praise. However, even strong turns from an acclaimed lead cast were generally not enough to overcome the series' obvious dialogue and surface-level execution.