Edith!

Rosamund Pike playing the secret first female president of the United States is a pitch that practically sells itself, and the execution matches the premise. Edith Wilson's husband Woodrow suffered a paralyzing stroke after World War I, and rather than let anyone know, Edith ran the country from behind closed doors for nearly a year -- signing documents, making decisions, and keeping the whole charade going. This really happened, and it is bananas. Gonzalo Cordova and Travis Helwig created the show as a collaboration between Qcode and Crooked Media, playing up the absurdity of the situation with modern comedic sensibility while keeping the historical skeleton intact. Pike is clearly having a blast with the role, bringing an aristocratic sharpness to Edith that makes her scheming entertaining rather than off-putting. The supporting cast handles the political maneuvering and scandals with equal energy. At 11 episodes running 27 to 34 minutes each, it moves fast and does not pad itself out. The 4.5-star rating from over 1,800 reviews reflects an audience that came for the absurd true story and stayed for Pike's performance. If you have ever thought history podcasts are dry, this one will change your mind. It is basically Veep set in 1919.