The Newsroom – Season 1 Review

20th Jul 2013

The Newsroom is easily one of the best dramas currently on television. Audiences are given the double whammy of an HBO produced show (True Blood, Game of Thrones, Girls, Band of Brothers) and Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) at his very best. The Newsroom is easily of the same quality writing and acting as The West Wing at its peak.

The show revolves around the production of an American cable news show. We begin the season with our disillusioned lead Will McAvoy (Jeff Daniels on superb form), a news anchorman having a very public rant. His news show is then turned around from safely reporting stories to talking difficult issues and reporting what people should know rather than want to watch as entertainment. This is all led by his new producer Mackenzie Hale (Emily Mortimer) who just happens to be his ex-girlfriend whom he ended on bad terms with. The season follows the news show and each week revolves around Mackenzie, Will and the supporting cast of people who work on the show.

So what makes The Newsroom such an impressive piece of television? If you have watched The West Wing you will know that Sorkin is one of those rare American television writers who doesn’t treat his audience like an idiot. He expects you to be able to follow a fast pace, lengthy and information packed exchanges and he never has to slow down to explain the plot.

Sorkin is also not afraid of making political statements, really taking a look at the state of America. One of the reasons The Newsroom will engage you is the fact real world events are used. The season one timeline goes from 2010 and into 2011. Those events you remember watching are now played out for you but from the viewpoint of the newsroom. The audience can recollect and connect with the characters as they experience reactions to something we have reacted to ourselves. This aspect of the show creates anticipation for next season and the season after that, what is happening in our world right now is going to happen to our characters. The majority of the time our escapism into television shows is to watch characters unconnected from the real world. It is a refreshing change to have that turned around.

Sorkin has also given us beautifully written characters. From the fragility and stubbornness of Will to the outright bonkers behaviour of MacKenzie we have leads whom you can really invest in. The supporting cast are also outstanding. There is a slight shift in balance from previous Sorkin work in the way that the job that the characters are doing does not eclipse the focus on their personal relationships. Whilst each episode does revolve around a real world event it is framed around what is occurring between them.

If there is one boxset you look to invest in this summer this should be top of your list. It is a hugely impressive show in every respect and with the added bonus of a whole host of features on the DVDs you will be more than satisfied. This is a show you will revisit and be reluctant to lend to friends encase they don’t return it.