What I’m Watching: The Newsroom

The Newsroom: Season 1, Episode 5 “Amen” (B+)

This show is really indulging in its cinematic moments, but all of the superb dialogue and compelling plotlines leading up to them make them worthwhile. This episode got right into it with a depiction of the events in Egypt in early 2011, and it gave Neal a great role as he set up the relationship between the network and their Egyptian correspondent on the ground, Amen. His excitement about Amen referencing WikiLeaks was fun, and punching his fist through a computer was quite a show of passion. Elliot getting attacked when he left his hotel room added some depth to an otherwise comic character, and allowed Don to experience a crisis of conscience which he hadn’t previously done. Inserting Valentine’s Day into the mix was quite hilarious, and I enjoyed Maggie’s careful preparation of a seduction plan for Jim which he managed to mess up completely, requiring some iffy defense from Maggie. Sloan tutoring a hapless Mackenzie in economics was amusing, as was Will gathering the attention of the entire staff to point out that Mackenzie needs to subtract with her fingers. On a more serious note, Wade managed to reveal himself to be cruel and uncaring in the way that he spoke to Mackenzie, and the relationship ended quite poorly. Will, on the other hand, proved himself to be extremely loyal, both in his threatening of Nina and his wiring of his own money to save Amen. He may be gruff, but his actions do seem to merit a “Rudy” moment.