Episode 1: Pilot
Payton Hobart (Ben Platt) wants to be president.
Eventually, President of the United States.
But first, student body president of Saint Sebastian High School.
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But River’s campaign also has a calculated branch in the form of Astrid, Payton’s nemesis.
Seeing his campaign in freefall, Payton again confronts his opponent, his earlier threats having fallen flat.
After apologizing and professing his love for Payton, River takes his own life in front of his opponent.
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With her son struggling in Mandarin, Georgina Hobart (Gwyneth Paltrow) hires River to tutor Payton.
Astrid confronts Payton in the library, revealing River told her everything.
And thus, his search for VP continues.
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He’s now in a medically-induced coma.
Outside, Payton is confronted once more by Andrew, who continues to raise concerns about his running mate.
He reveals he told two teachers about his suspicions regarding Infinity’s mystery cancer but was punished for bullying.
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He ominously encourages Payton to “follow the bloodwork.”
But when Payton arrives at Infinity’s house, he sees Nana shaving her head.
But when Payton warns them that their father is improving, the pair devise a plan to commit patricide.
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The twins are left with nothing save the titular Harrington Commode, a tax nightmare antique.
McAfee does some digging and determines Infinity may have Munchausen by proxy.
But there’s only one way to truly find out:“follow the bloodwork.
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“Under McAfee’s direction, Payton organizes a fake blood drive to collect a sample.
Payton is haunted by River’s death, and while practicing piano, imagines River is playing with him.
Specifically, a Slavic languages department.
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Later, McAfee meets James and Payton with the blood test results: Infinity doesn’t have cancer.
In the present, Payton continues the breathing exercises before meeting with the Harvard admission team.
Stunningly, this pays off as the admissions team relents and accepts him to Harvard.
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Skye, frustrated at Astrid’s inaction, suggests killing Payton.
Dubious at first, Ricardo’s ultimately convinced as Andrew laments at how Nana and Payton are using Infinity.
Ricardo scoffs, “What am I supposed to do, kill them?”
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But that seemsexactlywhat Andrew has in mind.
Ricardo approaches Astrid, offering the Busch Gardens video as a means to derail Payton’s campaign.
Reeling from this latest roadblock, Payton goes to Alice and the pair reconcile.
Oh, and Infinity’s faking her illness.
Feeling betrayed by Ricardo for giving over the tape, Infinity breaks up with him.
Devastated, he breaks into Astrid’s house and seemingly kidnaps her.
Meanwhile, Team Payton is still dealing with the damage from Infinity’s damning Busch Gardens video.
With a loss imminent, they decide they have no choice but to cut Infinity loose from the ticket.
It doesn’t take long for Payton’s diner outburst to make its way to the police.
Meanwhile, Skye hosts a vigil for the still-missing Astrid, vowing to run in her place.
Infinity confronts Nana at the Olive Garden, no less!
about Munchausen by proxy, adding that she was fired from the campaign.
Nana repeatedly denies the claims blaming Payton and Ricardo, among others, of taking advantage of her.
Infinity continues questioning the obviously-dubious medical care she’s been receiving and reveals Payton’s blood test results.
However, McAfee, who is secretly seeing Skye, promises to make it happen.
Taking the stage to introduce hernewrunning mate, Pierre, Astrid claims she fired Skye.
Astrid arrives to deliver one last election day surprise she withdrew from the race to spite him.
His administration is off to a tempestuous start as the school board swiftly defeats his policy proposals.
Confronted with the reality of his presidency, Payton is feeling down.
He apologizes to Infinity for the ruthless manner in which he laid out the devastating reality of her life.
Taking a new approach to living their lives, the pair decide to join the school playAssassins.
Despite not being a student, Ricardo also manages to snag a part in the play.
While the pair balk, they eventually sign.
Wound up by hisAssassinsresearch, Payton accuses McAfee of trying to poison him and fires her.
She, in turn, accuses Skye of poisoning Payton, who denies the claim and dumps McAfee.
However, later Skye disposes of a box of rat poison.
McAfee goes to musical rehearsal to see Payton, who apologizes for suggesting she tried to kill him.
Feeling betrayed by her secret, Payton ends his professional (and presumably personal) relationship with McAfee.
Despite being a truly terrible performer, Ricardo takes the method approach to his role of John Wilkes Booth.
Nana is outraged that Ricardo didn’t follow through with her plan to shoot him with arealgun.
Georgina reveals that Payton thought someone might have poisoned him.
That’s twice in one week but"he’s a very polarizing figure.
She and Payton are out of his will after he recovers.
Ricardo goes to visit Infinity at her motel, where she’s mourning Payton’s precarious medical situation.
Ricardo comes clean to Infinity, revealing Nana was behind the attack.
She races to the hospital to inform Payton’s doctors and mom.
She then goes to see Nana, revealing she’s called the police and told them everything.
While Infinity tries to prevent Ricard from setting himself on fire, Nana grabs a gun.
With that, Payton awakens from his coma.
Fromhishospital bed, Ricardo confesses everything to the police.
The police arrest Nana for the murder of Dana Jackson and attempted murder of Infinity.
Nana knows she’s going down and she’s taking Payton down with her.
With Payton’s knowledge about Infinity’s lack of cancer public, he returns to school a pariah.
This is his Chappaquiddick, James laments, concluding that Payton can never recover from this incident.
The dream broken, James is formally out.
Skye, now president, offers McAfee the vice presidency and the opportunity to deliver on their mutual goals.
In an iconic fashion, she invites him to cry after him, as she walks away.
And reader, hereallydoes.
The Saint Sebastian election scandal was picked up byVanity Fair, though Payton was, fittingly,notportrayed well.
And he adds he wants her to be his running mate as together they tick every target demographic.
However, she’s appalled by the campaign: which is a handful of staffers.
Windows ‘99, and some fliers.
Citing the day River killed himself where he was cruel and selfish Payton wallows.
Dejected, he retreats back to his NYU dorm, where James and McAfee are waiting for him.
However, Payton rejects the offer, his political ambitions have deflated.
