I am taking 3 points off this episode entirely on the sheer absurdity, constitutional impossibility of John Adams casting the deciding vote on ratification of the Jay Treaty. Not only did this not happen it cannot happen. Per plain text in the constitution a treaty is ratified iff 2/3rds of the Senate votes to do so. Therefore, in the event that a treaty receives 50% of the votes in the senate it is dead and the vice president tie breaking vote is irrelevant. Screenwriters are taught to keep characters active-especially main characters-and I am sure that is why this idiocy exists. John Adams has to date cast the most number of tie-breaking votes as VP-Harris might be giving him run for his money soon!-so the option was open to give Adams something to do in that way but most of these votes are trivial in comparison to the Jay treaty. The Jay Treaty is really important for set-up of the next episode in terms of story as well but a more creative approach should have been taken to reconcile these competing interests. Vice Presidents do not do a lot. Adams was famously frustrated by this. Perhaps we should have focused on that.
4 Reviews
The Vice President
jotix10023 July 2009
Warning: Spoilers
John Adams finds himself in the position of having the second highest job in the new government, yet, his voice is not heard as it should be. He is ridiculed by what he sees the President's title ought to be, something that meets the disapproval of the higher ups in the senate. What's more, Adams finds himself ignored by Washington, as shown in the dinner where he is politely asked to step out of the room as the General wants to conduct business with the cabinet, including the odious Alexander Hamilton, or his friend, and ally, Thomas Jefferson. It is indeed a defeat.
The war in Europe takes its toll in the new country. Loyalties with France are an issue. The greatest United States ally has its own worries, exacerbated by the French Revolution. At home, the Federalist movement begins to take its toll on John Adams. He watches as people like Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton favor the trend.
In the end, John Adams is vindicated. After eight years serving his country as the Vice President, Adams is elected United States President. Thomas Jefferson was elected to serve as the second in command. The two friends had to endured a difficult time in that period of history.
"Unite, or Die", the fifth chapter in the series, brings about the fragility of the new nation into focus. Tom Hopper directs with sure hand the adaptation of Kirk Ellis of the David McCullough's novel. Tak Fujimoto and Danny Cohen do their magic with their impeccable photography.
All the principals do their best as in the other installment. Rufus Sewell appears as Alexander Hamilton, a man that brought with him a lot of controversy to his position in government. Kevin Trainor plays Charles Adams, the son that turns badly because of the way he conducted his life. He was a thorn in his father's heart.
The war in Europe takes its toll in the new country. Loyalties with France are an issue. The greatest United States ally has its own worries, exacerbated by the French Revolution. At home, the Federalist movement begins to take its toll on John Adams. He watches as people like Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton favor the trend.
In the end, John Adams is vindicated. After eight years serving his country as the Vice President, Adams is elected United States President. Thomas Jefferson was elected to serve as the second in command. The two friends had to endured a difficult time in that period of history.
"Unite, or Die", the fifth chapter in the series, brings about the fragility of the new nation into focus. Tom Hopper directs with sure hand the adaptation of Kirk Ellis of the David McCullough's novel. Tak Fujimoto and Danny Cohen do their magic with their impeccable photography.
All the principals do their best as in the other installment. Rufus Sewell appears as Alexander Hamilton, a man that brought with him a lot of controversy to his position in government. Kevin Trainor plays Charles Adams, the son that turns badly because of the way he conducted his life. He was a thorn in his father's heart.
Unite Or Die.
kylehaines9631 December 2011
Warning: Spoilers
In Part 5 of our fantastic Mini-series John Adams played by Paul Giamatti is trying to preside over The Senate and to debate over what to call the new President. Johns opinions are ignored and he has no actual power. He is excluded from George Washingtons inner circle of cabinet members and his relationship with Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hammilton are strained. Part 4 concludes with Johns inauguration as the second president and his subsequent arrival in a plundered executive mansion.
Not Rated.
1hr 3min/63min.
****/****
Not Rated.
1hr 3min/63min.
****/****
The worst episode of the series
yavermbizi28 January 2021
This episode manages to contain much of the worst content in the series. The characters make dumb decision after dumb decision, behave more uncivilly and viciously with one another than could possibly be warranted under the circumstances, and continuity is nearly forgotten about: for Christ's sake, Washington repeats the same bit of monologue twice in the same conversation, word for word! What on earth was going on in the editing room that they couldn't have possibly fixed it?!
It's rather boring too - perhaps it's a stylistic choice, reflecting how much these years sucked for John Adams, but I think that it's just uninspired, the same as the title which is a ripoff of the series' 1st episode.
It's rather boring too - perhaps it's a stylistic choice, reflecting how much these years sucked for John Adams, but I think that it's just uninspired, the same as the title which is a ripoff of the series' 1st episode.
See also
Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews
