Director: Anthony Hemingway
Writers: Aaron Sorkin, Deborah Schoeneman, John Musero
Synopsis: As Will refuses to reveal the source of the stolen government documents, despite the threat of legal action, Sloan and Mac search for a buyer for ACN.
Although The Newsroom has swerved more specific news stories and gradually veered over into the lives of the resourceful ensemble cast, it has continued to resonate with me as a fine piece of television that continues to entertain and inform, in various different ways. ‘Contempt’ is a curious five-day episode which carries on from where we left off with Will (Jeff Daniels) being handed a subpoena for withholding the government source of the classified information ACN have been given. It runs us around a course of Will not giving that information, which he says he has, up to the Supreme Court. Of course, whatever happens with the court side of affairs, our Newsroom team are still prepping for revealing everything as it’s their duty as reporters to share it with the general public, or so that’s what we’re being told.
In every way, this last season as become a swan-song to the hopes and aspirations of a ‘truth-telling’ news organisation that is probably finding it more difficult in an age where news is everywhere. Ironically, or maybe just interestingly, Charlie is fighting off the takeover of B.J. Novak’s dislikeable Lucas Pruit who reveals his dastardly plan to Will, Charlie (Sam Waterston) and Mac (Emily Mortimer) by saying he wants to keep everyone but take them into the 21st century, where everything is digitally sharable and everyone is a contributor – which is basically the open source behemoth trashcan that is The Huffington Post. Where everyone has an opinion and nothing is neither sacred nor regulated. If The Newsroom has taught us anything, it’s the frustration of Aaron Sorkin but also the reality of the modern media and how there’s too many eggs, not enough baskets resulting in a Zombie army of headless writers chickens. I’m sure there’s a metaphor there somewhere. Despite all this though, it doesn’t stop everyone giving it a shot and believing they’re the biggest catch.
While ‘Contempt’ certainly applies the truth game alongside the hopefulness of someone actually giving us the reality in the public eye, it also occasionally embellishes the fruitful characters. Nevertheless, it also reveals their lives are both exciting and, more importantly, flawed – like all of us – but with the advantage of snappy dialogue and thought-provoking ideas. What’s interesting about this review is that it’s come to somewhat reflect Hallie Shea’s (Grace Gummer) new job and one that numerous, or not all, news organisations have started to encourage: that of the personal touch and opinion but not always encompassed with factual gravitas.
The Newsroom has had its critics but as Mac and Will married, surrounded by their work and life friends, I found it poignant with a slice of sadness as they walked towards the US Marshalls to take Will to prison. I also feel this well-designed drama probably wasn’t given enough time to really explore. Sure, it’s dived into a number of huge stories, with great characters but like many impressive TV series and ANC fictional problems, the ratings didn’t hit the heights to keep it going. The finale aired in the US yesterday, and we’re one behind in the UK and so I’m apprehensive to say goodbye, but it’s been an absolute pleasure along the way.
[usr=4] The Newsroom concludes on Sky Atlantic this Wednesday. For more details click here and for the rest of our The Newsroom blog head here.
