American Crime Story
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Its a bombshell claim, but for Ken Starr, its lowkey inconvenient.
He wants to charge Bill with lying and abusing his power; rape is too distracting.
Put her in a footnote, Ken tells an attorney helping to draft his report to Congress.
A footnote within an appendix, actually.
We visit each multiple times because onImpeachment, Bill Clinton isnt the star of the Bill Clinton story.
Even more torturous than being Bills wife right now is, in some ways, being his First Lady.
Everything good in my life comes out of us together, Bill tells her.
Shes either unmoved (YES, GIRL, LEAVE) or pretends to be.
Hillary offers to call Rep. Jim Moran and persuade him to close rank on impeachment.
This isnt about Bills affair anymore; its about showing the GOP that hunting season is over.
In other words, Mrs. Clinton said she would whip the votes herself.
As the East Wing battens down the hatches, though, the Joneses are folding.
Paula wants to move home to Arkansas, but Steves too embarrassed.
(YES, GO.
GOOD RIDDANCE, STEVE.)
Meanwhile, Linda Tripp has evolved into the grand dame of the Residence Inn.
Shes persona non grata at the Pentagon, hanging onto her paycheck by a thread.
Lindas paranoid delusions of a takedown by the Clintons have already come to fruition, no Clintons necessary.
They hate her descriptions of Monicas neediness and volatility as a friend, which sound self-serving despite being accurate.
They sensibly question why, if Monica was so annoying, Linda didnt simply ask her to stop calling.
And if Bill was so bad for Monica, why did Linda sometimes encourage her?
Lindas received as terribly as Mike Emmick worried she would be episodes ago.
Somehow she even manages to shoehorn into her testimony her suspicion that the First Family killed Vince Foster.
But when Linda later shares prepared remarks with the press, she seems like a different person.
Less angry, more duty-bound.
And sad, too.
Except shes not like us in one very unlikeable way.
Do you regret taping Monica?
a reporter asks Linda when shes finished her speech.
Which brings us, lastly, to Monica on the day of her grand-jury testimony.
If Lindas was a firing squad, Monicas more closely resembles group therapy.
As she did in real life, Monica explains why: Im just 25.
Not if I get married, she replies.
These scenes are Beanie Feldsteins best work of the series.
Its Monica, not Linda, who feelsjust like us.
The jury is putty in her hands.
As she did in real life, Monica adds with a flourish: And I hate Linda Tripp.
It should be the end for Monica Lewinsky, but its never the end for Monica Lewinsky.
Monica testifies that she orgasmed the first time she hooked up with the president.
She tells them that, once, Bill penetrated her with a cigar.
She doesnt need to tell them this.
Monica is depicted as unfailingly kind.
To the Ann Coulters of this vast conspiracy, shes collateral damage.
Yes, They Really Did That
Monica Lewinskyreally didwin hearts and minds during her grand-jury testimony.
In fact, the jurors tried to comfort her.
Weve all fallen short.
We sin every day.
I dont care whether its murder, whether its affairs, or whatever.
And we get over that, one juror told Monica.
You ask forgiveness, and you go on.
So to let you know from here, you have my forgiveness.
Because we all fall short.
