The Newsreader

An excellent blend of functional character driven drama, intertwined with the real stories of early 1986... Such a great concept really.

Great set design, costumes, and all things 1980s...

It's really worth viewing and runs the perfect length of 6 episodes... Enjoy.

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.

I haven't written a review in ages but I felt like I needed to express my appreciation for this show in some humble way after just finishing the second season which, miraculously, managed to live up to my high expectations.

I consider this show a bit of a hidden gem, especially because I discovered it completely by coincidence. It's difficult to put into words what an intense viewing experience it is. The backdrop setting of a 80's newsroom is so delicious it feels like it could have been written for me personally. The rise and decay of these characters, especially the two leads BRILLIANTLY portrayed by Anna Torv and Sam Reid, is extremely captivating.

I'll be (im)patiently waiting for the announcement of a third season because there needs to be one.

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.

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.