However, the episode (and the season as a whole) has faced criticism for its pacing. The decision to jump between three distinct timelines can feel jarring, sometimes undercutting the emotional impact of a scene. In "Rift," just as the viewer is settling into the tension of Betty Ford’s intervention, a hard cut to a tea party in 1943 can disrupt the momentum.
Michelle Pfeiffer continues her tour-de-force performance as Betty Ford. In this episode, the Ford family is grappling with the aftermath of the pardon of Richard Nixon and the looming 1976 election. However, the true heart of Betty’s story in Episode 9 is her increasing dependence on alcohol and pills—a storyline handled with immense empathy. "Leave" portrays the mounting pressure of the "Steel Magnolia" persona and the cracks beginning to show, setting the stage for her historic journey toward recovery and the founding of her namesake clinic. Michelle Obama: The Weight of the Crown the first lady s01e09 480p