Simply terrific episode of The Newsroom confronts the issue on bad publicity (examples include Obama's supposed anti-gun agenda and ballooned expense reports on his trip to India & McAvoy's unfortunate series of ill-fated conversations with females he either might or does date he attempts to "civilize" because of their interest in some celebreality star), gun rights and behavior (one of McAvoy's dates has a Walter PPK in her purse, and after unloading it and showing her that he can easily disarm/harm her with it, she is aroused by it!), Charlie finally admitting that the bosses might be out to hurt McAvoy's reputation, the "no-compete" clause in a contract that would remove McAvoy from the air for three years (considered a death sentence for news broadcasters), and reporting the death of a public/political figure before multiple sources confirm his/her death (Brad tries and fails to force McAvoy to call the death of Gabrielle Giffords, congresswoman of Arizona after she was shot in assassination attempt in Tuscon; this is Don's finest moment to date as he will not agree with Brad on reporting her dead despite all the other news outlets doing so). One of the constants on this show is that line between what is important and what is popular regarding the reporting of a news story and its accuracy to a public needing the truth. Seeing the news team coming together in a hurry on a Saturday morning to collectively broadcast the news story of Giffords is really a special moment where this tells us that despite the numerous outside troubles that can often infiltrate the people of the McAvoy camp, their ability to put that aside and assuage personal tensions in favor of providing the public/audience with credible reporting says a great deal about them. Maggie is quite bothered by Jim's hook up with her pal/roommate while still in a relationship with Don
all of this creates a sexual tension that further develops, letting us know that they have these feelings for each other that only intensify the longer they date other people. All of this and the passionate Bigfoot piece Neal is bound and determined to sell to McAvoy as worthy to do a news report on! Sloan Sabbith has now found a place next to McAvoy at the news desk, and she even sets him up on (disastrous as they may become) dates! This provides plenty of amusement for Charlie at McAvoy's expense (he grows accustomed to reading about Will's bad dates in gossip rags; the result seems to always end with Will getting a drink dumped in his face; the news group, for fun, together dump water in his face on the morning news meeting!). Exceptional storytelling and cast make The Newsroom must-see television. Hope Davis (The Secret Lives of Dentists) guest-starred.
3 out of 3 found this helpful.
Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink