Red, White & Royal Blue

Alex and Henry are in Hyde Park with an extremely patient royal photographer, getting their portraits taken while Catherine fusses over Henry’s hair. Alex can barely believe they’re here, getting pictures taken on purpose. Finally, the shoot is over. Catherine has meetings the rest of the day, and Alex knows she’s going to start vying for the throne soon. At Kensington, Alex and Henry run into Bea, who’s setting up an outdoor charity event to support addiction recovery programs. (In the last month, both Bea and Henry have started their own philanthropic organizations to help spin the revelations about Bea’s history of drug use and Henry’s sexuality into positives.) Bea quips that Henry was too busy signing youth shelter paperwork to help her out this weekend, and Henry hisses that this was a surprise for Alex.

When Alex prods, Henry reveals that he and Catherine agreed to take Henry’s foundation international, so Pez signed over four LGBTQ youth shelters. This means he’ll have one in Brooklyn, and Alex suggests Henry move to New York. Bea supports this; it doesn’t have to be permanent. Henry notes that he won’t see Alex much, anyway, given Alex’s goals—though Alex isn’t sure what his goals are now. Just then, Philip approaches. In the last month, Philip has apologized and fallen out with the queen, so things are improving. He explains he met with Gran and wanted to see if he could help Bea. Bea declines, so Philip asks Henry and Alex how the portraits went. As an awkward bonding attempt, he shares that he had poison oak on his butt when he and Martha had theirs taken.

Later, back in the U.S., Alex is begging Nora to help him choose between his blue and black blazers to wear on election night tomorrow. She thinks they’re both boring, and with prodding, Alex admits he’s anxious about going to Texas. He always knew some Texans didn’t embrace him because he was half Mexican, but now he’s bi and dating a prince and has had a sex scandal. Nora observes that he’s just trying not to look too flamboyant. She shares that polling on Alex has held steady or improved in some cases—undecided voters are angry Richards attacked a kid from Texas. Then, she says that she understands Alex just suffered some extreme trauma, and he’s afraid to do anything to draw unwanted attention to himself.

Alex admits Nora is right. He’s had this vision of his future self for years now, and now that he’s here, he’s discovering that he’s not exactly that person. Nora asks if Alex still likes who he’s become, and Alex does. This settled, Alex reveals that he took the LSAT. Nora isn’t surprised, and she excitedly suggests they can do Alex’s JD and her master’s at the same time. Then, they can work with June as their speechwriter and fight discrimination, making a name for Alex until he’s Luna’s age and everyone wants him to run for office. Alex finds it feels good to let go of his past dreams for himself—and Nora says that all of Alex’s skills will only improve with time. Then, she pulls out a ridiculous Gucci jacket with red, white, and blue stripes that Alex bought while drunk. It’s perfect.

June screams in the hallway: she got her book deal for her memoir. She, Alex, and Nora FaceTime Bea and celebrate virtually with Bea, Henry, and Pez. Hours later, after Nora and June have fallen asleep, Alex discovers a recent copy of HELLO! US featuring him and Henry on the cover. It’s a candid photo, one Alex didn’t realize the photographer took—and they look so in love that Alex can barely look at it. Maybe Ellen knows someone at NYU Law, so Alex can be in New York with Henry. Alex snuggles into bed with Nora and June, ready to greet his future tomorrow.

The next day, Alex votes for Ellen. She plans to hold her rally in Texas, even though she lost the state in 2016. Data suggests Texas is actually a battleground state this time. Alex remembers 2016, seeing Zahra crying when Ellen’s victory was announced. Now, Nora and Alex are anxiously checking results while June asks them to cool it—she’d like a drink first. Henry texts that he’s delayed and will be there as soon as he can. Oliver Westbrook tweets that Republicans who still support Richards after targeting Alex and the rumors he’s a sexual predator will have to answer to God tomorrow, while news outlets share preliminary results. Things aren’t looking good for Ellen.

Alex is trying not to stress out too much. He remembers getting to stay up late and watch Obama win, but this feels different—his family is losing. Leo enters and hands the phone to June. It’s Ellen: she’d like June’s help writing a concession speech. June shouts her refusal, and Ellen asks Alex to go out and speak to the crowd. June has no time to write him something; he’ll have to wing it. He confirms with Zahra that they haven’t called Texas yet and steps out on stage. Greeting the crowd, he notes that the last time Texas was too close to call, Jimmy Carter won it right after Watergate. The situation today feels similar: a “hardworking, honest, Southern Democrat versus corruption, and maliciousness, and hate.” He asks the crowd if they’ll make history and steps offstage.

Henry is there, wearing a tie with yellow roses on it to honor Texas. Alex kisses Henry, wishing he’d been able to do this with Henry last year rather than just standing there. Henry notes that they’ve called several states for Ellen since he arrived. Soon after, they call the West Coast, which goes blue as expected. It’s now midnight, and Alex is watching Henry fix June’s hair for her. He bumps into someone else, spilling his drink and almost falling into a cake. It’s Liam. (Soon after the scandal broke, Liam texted that he wished they could’ve been honest in high school, and to share that a right-wing reporter had approached him to ask about Alex.) So, Alex invited Liam and his boyfriend, who Liam introduces as Spencer. Spencer shares that his mom canvassed for Ellen when she ran for congress.

As Liam and Alex start to good-naturedly argue, someone shouts for Alex. He joins Zahra and his family around a TV to watch Anderson Cooper call Florida for Richards. Nora hurriedly goes through the now-limited paths for Ellen to win, just as Anderson Cooper calls Nevada for Richards. Now, Ellen can only win if she wins Texas. June excuses herself as everyone paces anxiously. A half-hour later, June reappears with a poll volunteer who says she thinks they have the votes. Moments later, Anderson Cooper calls Texas for Ellen—she won. Henry kisses Alex and then shoves Alex into a group hug with June, Ellen, Leo, and Oscar. Zahra and Shaan are kissing while Cash dances on a chair. When Henry and Alex find each other again, Henry reveals that he bought a brownstone in Brooklyn. Alex can see his and Henry’s future there.

Zahra announces that Ellen will give her speech in 15 minutes. In a rush, Alex finds himself pushed into the holding area. He watches Ellen, Leo, Mike, Nora, June, and Oscar take the stage and follows them out. Realizing Henry is hanging back, Alex yells for Henry to join him. Ellen gives her address, thanking the American people for voting for her and her family.

Later, Alex pulls Henry away. He promises Liam and Spencer beer if they can borrow their bikes, and Liam and Spencer agree. Alex leads Henry across town, past the Capitol building, and to Pemberton Heights. They stop and toss their bikes in the yard of Alex’s childhood home. This is where Alex first saw Henry’s photo in a magazine and felt something different. Now, he tells Henry that they won and, pulling out the key around his neck and the ring on the chain next to it, unlocks the door.