In today’s world, sometimes we would rather escape from politics when we watch television, while other times it can add drama.
In these instances, either running for office or social politics hurt a character or the entire show. Some of these series have ended, while others, like When Calls the Heart, still have the opportunity to rectify matters.
Here are some examples of how politics can ruin a perfectly good show.
When Calls the Heart
When the Hope Valley residents realized that Mr. Montague and the Governor were corrupt, they worked together to stop them.
The main problem was that Lucas Bouchard became the sacrificial lamb.
Related: When Calls the Heart Season 11 Report Card: A Lackluster Season With a Few Bright Spots
While Lucas had big dreams, he seemed content bringing those dreams, like the radio, to Hope Valley to help his friends and community. He wanted to build a home with Elizabeth and Little Jack among friends.
Getting appointed Governor meant that Lucas lost everything he cared about to save Hope Valley.
He had to move to Capital City, and Elizabeth broke up with him since she would never leave her little town.
More than that, Lucas’s priorities shifted. He wanted to create a resort in Hope Valley and was willing to invest with almost anyone because he thought it would help their economy.
A Million Little Things
Regina Howard’s running for Council during A Million Little Things final season didn’t work, partly because the storyline didn’t begin until the final episodes. If they had begun it earlier, they could have shown Regina rallying at the women’s shelters or homeless shelters that she was passionate about.
Regina’s character changes drastically during Season 5 because she is invested in social topics she has never been to.
It’s not that Regina wasn’t a good-hearted person, but she wouldn’t have butted into Dustin’s life and tried to force foster care onto him and his daughter. She understood boundaries.
Foster care and women’s issues would have been wonderful issues for her platform, but the series went about her final storyline all wrong.
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Station 19
Somewhere around the sixth season, we got a preposterous storyline about Travis Montgomery running for mayor. While his intent was noble, as he attempted to keep the bigoted police chief Dixon from winning, it mostly felt as if they didn’t know what to do with Travis.
He didn’t even want the job, was woefully unprepared for any aspect of politics, and whined the whole time. He was dragged kicking and screaming into any aspect of it, and it was ludicrous that he didn’t consider any of this.
It was Travis at his most whiny, and in true fashion, he also got involved with his campaign manager and made a mess of that, too.
Yellowstone
Jamie Dutton ran for Attorney General in Yellowstone Season 1. John and Beth teamed up to run another candidate against Jamie: Cassidy Reid. Due to some Montana government machinations, he eventually became livestock commissioner and then acting Attorney General.
In any event, this would cover both politics ruining a family relationship (Jamie and his dad, John, become estranged) and politics ruining an individual character because Jamie starts to unravel due to his political maneuverings.
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He goes from being insufferable but capable to being untethered, uncertain, and homicidal.
Sweet Magnolias
The mayoral recall storyline during Sweet Magnolias Seasons 2 and 3 was the least interesting, and it did not paint the Magnolias, especially Maddie, in a good light.
Led by Maddie Townsend, the Magnolias try to recall Mayor Trent Lewis because the town is in disarray, which only angers his wife, Mary Vaughn, who digs into Cal Maddox’s past and works to get him fired.
It was good drama, but it made Maddie look like a busybody, invented gossip and made Cal look violent.
Mayor Lewis eventually resigned because of rumors about mismanagement of the town’s funds and wanting to avoid humiliation. If the Lewises truly leave town, the series will lose its main antagonists, hurting the show.
Law and Order: SVU
While most of the season had political undertones, Law & Order: SVU Season 25 Episode 4 changed the course when a neighbor raped Chief McGrath’s daughter, and Captain Benson investigated.
It blended personal and professional issues, and most of the team worried about the political repercussions of getting involved with the Chief’s daughter’s case.
Olivia used her sensitivity to get through to Shea, but getting IAB involved when McGrath lost his temper complicated matters.
He lashed out like any father would in some ways, but he needed to control his anger not to jeopardize the case. While he deserved to lose his job, it was difficult not to feel for him.
Related: Law & Order SVU Season 26: Cast & Character Guide
After he left, it seemed odd that Captain Curry and Shannah Sykes joined the team. Having so many temporary people assigned hurt the team’s camaraderie, and hopefully, we’ll have an acting chief again in the fall.
Walker
Ever since Liam Walker lost the District Attorney race at the end of Walker Season 1, he struggled in Season 2.
Finding out that the winner, Stan Morrison, killed Cordell’s wife, Emily, was a huge blow. So was the fact that their archrival, Denice Davidson, slid into the position instead of Liam receiving it.
Then Liam lost it. He filed a false arrest report against Denice’s estranged husband, Dan Miller, another rival. This jeopardized his job as the assistant DA, his statement with Northside Nation, and his keeping Serrano locked up. After a few run-ins with intoxication, he eventually pulled his act together.
These are only a few shows and characters affected by politics. Which TV shows or characters would you have chosen?
Let us know in the comments below.
