Impeachment: American Crime Story

The docudrama, which is co-executive-produced by Monica Lewinsky, sets out to retell the complicated story behind President Bill Clinton's impeachment through the eyes of the three women who had a major role in it. Rather than simply focus on the infamous Clinton-Lewinsky affair, it chronicles the events that took place during Clinton's political career, and how this culminated in the efforts by conservatives to remove him from office. It shows how attitudes about women and sexual harassment during that time, and the rise of the internet and blogs, contributed to what transpired. But it also argues how each of the women (although clearly some more than others) were in some ways manipulated, and in some cases bullied, into becoming active participants in the process by the people around them.

Impeachment: American Crime Story features a heavy-hitting cast, including Sarah Paulson, Judith Light, Edie Falco, and Clive Owen, some of whom showcase impressive transformations while playing their roles. There's also some dramatic fiction mixed in with the facts to be more entertaining. Nonetheless, some viewers may find themselves wondering why the overall story is being revisited, especially given the various documentaries and dramas produced over the years on the subject. Others may find it disturbing, thanks to the many parallels that can be drawn between what was happening then and the political climate of the early 21st century. But it does offer an interesting take on the political dynamics of the time from points of view often dismissed by the media and the public.