The Newsroom Review

The Newsroom is a drama series about the behind the scenes, day to day workings of a TV newsroom which was created by Aaron Sorkin, who is also known for his work in The West Wing and A Few Good Men.   It stars Jeff Daniels as Will McAvoy the anchor of News Night and Emily Mortimer as Mackenzie McHale, News Night’s executive producer. 

The series uses real life events in its news stories to frame each episode including events such as the Boston bombing and the US presidential election. It portrays a factually based but highly dramatised version of a newsroom.   The show focuses equally on the professional aspect of the newsroom, and the personal relationships between the characters. The history between Will and Mackenzie is a constant story throughout the series, as well as the various love triangles, professional competition, and personal setbacks for the other characters. Will’s abrasive personality is the cause for a lot of conflict in the first part of the series, such as when he describes the Tea Party as the American Taliban. The balance between business and personal in the show allow for both story and character development.  

However, the show can be overly dramatic and can be seen to take itself too seriously at times. The writing is heavy and the characters each have a lot to say which can add to a sense of over dramatisation. However the acting by Daniels and Mortimer and the complex story line make up for this.   Big names such as Jane Fonda, the network boss, Dev Patel as the social media expert and Alison Pill as Will’s assistant Maggie who works her way up to associate producer, also give great performances in the show. The Newsroom is a highly entertaining, sometimes informative show, with a great cast and characters that make it a must watch for anyone who loves drama series.