"State of Affairs," NBC's upcoming political series, will shed light on the hopeful future of America with its cast of two women holding significant positions in the U.S. government.
In the show, Constance Payton (played by Alfre Woodard) is serving as the country's first black, female president, and Charleston "Charlie" Tucker (Katherine Heigl) will be her wing woman as a CIA analyst in charge of handling PDB's, or President's Daily Briefings.
Essentially, Charlie will make sure the president is up to date with ongoing situations or conflicts, but she must choose which information to reveal.
"Going one way could lead to the satisfaction of justice but cost an innocent man his life while the other option could lose Payton and Charleston their chance for closure. Should the show continue on this track of presenting decisions that need to be made by Charleston and Payton - hopefully ones far more difficult from a foreign policy standpoint than the one in the pilot - the potential for the series to ultimately shine will come through," wrote Merrill Barr of Forbes, regarding the drama surrounding Charlie's decisions.
Charlie, an ironic name choice for a female leader, has more personal ties to the president than just being her go-to assistant. She was engaged to Payton's son, Aaron, before an unexpected terrorist attack killed him, according to Hallels.
As a woman who's already serious about her position in office, Charlie will become even more determined to seek justice for her fiancé, using her power and knowledge to the best of her abilities.
Heigl, the star from the hit series "Grey's Anatomy," has been praised for her role as a Charlie Tucker, despite earlier comments that referred to her in a negative light. Her character's attitude echoes the stern nature of President Payton, and the two work well side by side.
Joe Carnahan, renowned for directing "The Blacklist," created "State of Affairs" at the opportune moment, and the content will allow viewers to reflect on current political issues, if they haven't done so already.
Political dramas are gaining popularity due to the public's curiosity about foreign and internal affairs, and this genre can work to educate while it entertains. This show will definitely strike a chord with many inquisitive, developing minds.
Heigl will challenge viewers to see her with a new face - one that strays away from the stigmatized, romantic roles that portray her as a predicted hometown sweetheart. She will command attention from the get-go.
"State of Affairs" will premiere on Monday, Nov. 17, at 10 p.m. on NBC.
