Raw Data: Unintended Consequences

Thoughts and observations for Newsroom episode 2-04, "Unintended Consequences" written by Aaron Sorkin and directed by Carl Franklin who was an actor on The A-Team in the 1980s and recently directed "Chapter 10" and "Chapter 11" of House of Cards.

• Following a morning visit to the Newseum I hoped this week's episode would deal with a high minded look at ethics in journalism or something similar.  Instead, we got a lot of Maggie.
• I find it difficult to read any other analysis of Newroom, but for a different reason than before.  Some now include faint praise of the episode but in a backhanded manner.  Writers will praise an aspect of the show, explain why it was lacking, that it was identified in the media and pat themselves on the back for recognizing it and raising it to the attention of Sorkin.  They will also compliment Sorkin for taking their sage advice.
• Noticing the word 'abudiate' I wondered how Maggie (who reclines her seat all the way on airplanes) could have a word in her vocabularly that I did not.  Quickly fixed by acknowledging this is not a word.  See "refudiate" for Real World example.
• Whatever happened to Gary Cooper?
• He was gay?
•  Maggie and Gary are going to do some piece on KONY 2012.  Is that the same reason as before?
• This OWS girl is dressed much more nicely than one would expect for a OWS-er.
• All of Will's points are valid, considering that she cannot articulate a best case scenario.  Or even identify who would meet with Congressional leaders if they walked down there one day and said they were willing to listen to their (scatterbrained, disorganized) demands.
• Will is still battling with that internal conflict to be liked and though of as a moderate, admitting to being harder on OWS than he had to be because they are a convenient target for someone in his position with his credentials
• Though I didn't think she took any lumps that weren't warranted or justified.
• Mentioning Entebbe brings to mind this movie
• Here I am thinking this fixer is as useless at his job as Maggie, who is terrible, is at her's.  But when the cattle bandits come, he's pulling out his gun, checking things out and getting everyone onto the bus.  Bam!
• This scene brought out a tension and suspense not often seen in Sorkin's work.
•  Good plan to stay off the doctor prescribed Paxil.  Very smart.
• The Mayo Clinic states the generic form of Paxil, Paroxetine, is used to "treat mental depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder (also known as social phobia), premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Paroxetine belongs to a group of medicines known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). These medicines are thought to work by increasing the activity of the chemical called serotonin in the brain."
  They mention SSRIs earlier in the episode, but I can't recall the context
• Instead, Maggie (who is a poor tipper) medicates herself via haircut which lies somewhere between here and here and here 
• Speaking of tropes, Mac is on her way to becoming the Only Sane Employee
• Did they bring the funny?
• "I always...I hate that name...I did it..." - Jim, of all people
• "Couldn't find a map with a fucking map" - Will
• Don's rambling on how he's the only one who can save the situation with OWS and the source, followed by his immediate bungling of the situation

What everyone will hate
Sorkin used kids, African kids no less, to manipulate the viewer, introducing a character for the sole purpose of drumming up empathy and magnifying the tragic outcome.

However, I'm sure everyone will pat themselves on the back for calling out Sorkin on smugness and making him draw attention to it as Will, Sloan and Don march in a self aware smugness and condescension parade toward the OWS rep.

Oh, but they are going to lose their minds about Halle's editor yelling at her over the phone.  "No one could ever say that!"

Uganda
Part of the problem with the Uganda story is it will ultimately not be worth it because of the simple fact it is happening to the worst character on the show.  Trauma is a tricky thing to convey because it relies much on the established endearing nature of the character.  Besides the quality of the Maggie character lacking, the quantity of time we've gotten to know her is lacking we well.  Newsroom has only broadcast 14 episodes so far, eight less than the number than ran before "In the Shadow of Two Gunmen."

It's also unclear to me how the Uganda story connects with the subject of the wrongful termination suit, besides Maggie's (the insane, unbalanced one) ability to testify as a credible sane person.  Which I'm not sure she could do anyways.  Also, why she has to tell them every excruciating detail.  It's a matter of suspending disbelief which I will give someone like Jeremy Goodwin when he writes his deaf sister Louise, but not to a terrible character like Maggie (who we hate).

And ultimately, the terrible thing that happened to Maggie (blah) didn't actually happen to Maggie (blerg).  It happened to someone else, and she bore witness.  Which is terrible.  But not as terrible as Maggie (narf).


Next week!
Trayvon.  Fuck.