Newsroom - Episodes 1 & 2

Newsroom
Season Three
Episodes 1 & 2

Newsroom returned for its abbreviated final season and Aaron Sorkin’s television swan song.  Not unlike Newsroom’s protagonist frustration reaching a boiling point and seeming ready to call it quits for the news business, Sorkin noted that after this fourth go around on the small screen, it’s time to turn out the lights.  I can’t help but think his frustration with not just the commentary on the show but the tone and myopia that populate that commentary at least partially mirrors Will’s frustration with the lack of ratings generated by the cautious tone ACN takes in wake of the Genoa scandal.

Boardroom

The hostile takeover hit a solid point with the “what can you buy with $3.1 billion that you can’t buy with $2.3 billion” argument.  It is exemplary of an argument that is divided by nothing less than values that define our political beliefs. Being taxed at a low rate isn’t acceptable if you can get an even lower rate.  And a lower one after that, and then find loopholes to artificially lower it even more.  At some point reasonable people realize enough is enough and don’t get particularly upset if some of their money is used for healthcare. 

“We may get into Bitcoin.” – Audible guffaw!

Don and Sloane

Let’s hope two of the most interesting characters’ relationship aren’t reduced to simply talking about their relationship.  That said, Sloane’s Leslie Knope-ish waffle fixation and their chemistry allowed some levity in an otherwise ethical dilemma filled episode.  

Tweet

The tweet about the GOP happened and was dealt with.  Either this was solely to give Jim something to do, or it is going to launch something bigger with Hayley working at a competitor and grinding an ax, as Jim predicted.  Or at least being expected to grind an ax.  It’s the sort of thing that happens to the Juan Williams of the world.

Maggie Being Terrible

Even if this was Didactic Sorkinese, you have to appreciate the arguments, legal, ethical, moral, personal, from both sides of Maggie’s eavesdropping.  The Newseum in Washington, DC has an Ethics Center were you can read about ethical dilemmas reporters have faced, make your own decisions about how to act in said situation, and read poll results from those in journalism about what they would do.  It’s more exciting than you would expect for an exhibit about ethics.

The circumstances here make Maggie into a mere tabloid and gossip shill.  The EPA official, let’s call him Toby Flenderson, isn’t saying anything that’s not obvious.  The difference is he’s giving a name and face to it.  Maggie slinking down in her chair, eavesdropping on another reporter and threatening to publish what she heard (and what she heard is technically half a story) doesn’t serve to do anything except embarrass the speaker and in the long run make Maggie look bad.  If Maggie came into some earth shattering news that actually affected the general welfare, then it may be a different ballgame.  But doing a gotcha for the sake of gossip is completely unacceptable and I can’t imagine Will or Mac would want to dedicate any airtime to it. 

Having the ethics professor conveniently sitting there was a bit much though.  Maybe someone will happen to be walking down the street with $4 billion that Leona can have.  Professor McPoyle may pop up again if he starts seeing Maggie, which means he may stop by the newsroom which means he may mix in on the leak story.  

Leak Story

While we took a bit of time rehashing the events of the previous episode, we did learn about the possible consequences from both Mac’s FBI friend, let’s call her Commander Kate Last Name Unremembered, and ACN’s favorite counsel, Rebecca Halladay.

You can compare this story to Maggie’s terribleness on the train.  On the train, Maggie came by useless information by arguably unethical or immoral, yet legal means.  In the newsroom, Neal came by earth shattering information via illegal means. 

But you have to like Will “getting some skin in the game” while he’s at the end of his rope.

·         Commander Kate classifies whistleblowers as those who decide which laws they’d like to follow. 

·         Equatorial Kundu is the country from West Wing Season Four where a genocide mirroring the Rwandan genocide takes place, leading to a foreign policy shift by President Bartlet

·         Charlie asks if you’ve ever seen a more trustworthy person than him which is exactly why Sam Waterson does financial investment commercials