The Newsreader

Roku isn't known in the US for great format or content (ahem The Most Dangerous Game movie, broken up into ten'ish 10 minute "episodes"). The Newsreader has moved my opinion a bit on Roku, and I just hope that it gains more traction, because this show deserves it. I understand the comparisons to The Newsroom (which I absolutely love), in that it uses real events in the story, but the similarity ends there. The newsreader doesn't have the quick wit, but it does build chemistry and character, IMHO, much better than The Newsroom. In an age when it's easy to feel there's not much to watch amid an ocean of content, The Newsreader is a lifeboat of story. Not once have I been bored, and I've only wanted to keep watching. At the end of episode 4, I'm already sad there's only 6 episodes.

Born in the mid 70s, I grew up in the 80s (a decade of which I am not a fan in terms of fashion, art, design and decor). And tbh, I thought I wouldn't be able to take The Newsreader seriously at first; let's face it, most shows set in the 80s are hard to watch because the sets and costumes can be caricatures. This show does it right. It's real to the era without making fun of it. Combine this with strong writing and we get a winner like The Newsreader. Im glad I started it.

Just watched first episode of "The Newsreader" and it didn't disappoint.

As a former award winning Radio Newsreader and growing up on Radio & TV in this era it really connected with me.

Great cast, script, direction, cinematography, editing etc.

Plus the bonus of major world news events from 1986.

The newsroom is a ruthless arena and only the strongest gladiators will survive.

It's showing the changing of the guard from the old style of news reading to today's double header desks with sports and updates, of heavily repeated footage and the drama.

Anna Torv is superb as the female anchor trying to forge her way in a mans world.

Hardly recognised my mate William McInnes, as the Editor in Chief, who is always amazing.

Great to see Stephen Peacocke back on the telly.

Robert Taylor is the quintessential 70's/80's TV Newsreader and always playing Walters.

And Sam Reid is the find of the year after working in London for the past decade as the up and coming producer and fresh face of TV News.

First class drama.

ABC iView.

I know nothing about newsrooms and I have never seen HBO's 'The Newsroom ' series, so when I watched the first two episodes, it was just about entertainment, and in that it didn't disappoint.

The 80's hair, wardrobes and sets were great. It's a quality cast and script, & as someone who started work in the late 80's, I can attest that in the financial institution that I worked for, there were Managers like the character that William McInnes plays.

I did think that the cast was more ethnically diverse then what I remembered from that time, but that's a minor critique. Overall, the series doesn't take itself too seriously, and it's interesting to see the take on the 80's news of the day, so enjoy!

As an update, I just finished watching the final series and I loved it. I don't think I'm giving anything away by saying that it was great to see the women realise their worth and their power.

Wonderful series, interlinked with real life events of the time.

Helen's voice when she reads the news is so professional and assertive. Where as off camera she is an emotional wreck.

I jumped the gun and rated this lower for early episodes, but it builds as the series progresses. Having lived through these times and watched these 80's stories when they happened, this brings back so many bitter sweet memories. I'm glad the production team didn't exaggerate the 80's vibe as many other shows do - They nail it. The acting seems shallow at first (like the TV industry), but builds into something complex and real. Sam Reid's acting exposing his character's growth is exception - but you need to watch the whole series to see what this amazing talent can do with a slow arc.