Comments | keytus_tv: The Newsroom 1.9: The Blackout Part 2: Mock Debate

marymary in keytus_tv

The Newsroom 1.9: The Blackout Part 2: Mock Debate

Aug 21, 2012 23:51

The team still need more Casey Anthony to get the debate. Lisa's only friend pimps her out to ACN, which involves a visit to Lisa's workplace you'd THINK would alienate her further (past the point where Maggie revealed her secret to a news organization for her own gain). But no, Lisa is (among other positions) a stand-up girl and she agrees to be ( Read more... )

the newsroom

Comments 26

marymary August 22 2012, 05:08:06 UTC

Though I am still enjoying this show more than enough to keep watching... I must admit that when I was listening to the opening theme, it occurred to me that it's my favorite part of the show. That's probably not good ( ... )

tomfoolery815 August 22 2012, 13:37:10 UTC

I wrote, "Sorkin has finally written a scene John Gallagher Jr. cannot deliver."
Well, if the objective was to present Jim as temporarily having no inner monologue, then ... mission accomplished. :) I did enjoy when he said "ELEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS?" Maybe I will out myself as bourgeois by agreeing with Jim that it must be a status symbol to pay that much for a single article of clothing ...

Abortion? WHAT? ...WHAAAT? I'm still so confused, but I don't care enough to try to figure it out.I think they (Maggie, and then Will and Mac) thought that Lisa would just stick to the talking points they left for her, that this was their chance to ennoble rolling around in the tabloid mud with Nancy Grace. What they did not count on was Lisa seizing the moment to talk about women having no alternative to carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term. And of course, since this is in the Sorkin universe -- a place I do love to visit, and will continue to -- this prompts an anti-abortion person to vandalize the place where Lisa works. Because that's ( ... )

tomfoolery815 August 22 2012, 13:49:41 UTC

Will's pants. Not funny.
Yeah, I hear you. I think this is why Sorkin thinks the criticisms of his female characters aren't valid, because he has the male characters doing pratfalls and looking ridiculous. Regarding that scene specifically: If there had just been the conversation with the tailor/wardrobe guy about the pants, it would've been fine. That's funnier to imagine than actually see.

But seeing Will over Mac's shoulder at the climactic moment just seemed like ... well, if Mac's impassioned defense of Will served only to set up Will's pratfall, are we to take Mac's argument seriously? It's too bad, because that was a nice speech Mac gave about Will's willingness to change his mind.

Jim is delivering a long speech, trying to convince Lisa to go on air. Lisa starts glancing at Maggie. She interrupts Jim and addresses Maggie: "Will and MacKenzie are counting on you?" I thought that was really well-written and well-delivered.
I agree, Mary. Kelen Coleman did a really nice job there. I also thought that she and JGJ were very ( ... )

tomfoolery815 August 22 2012, 14:12:59 UTC

From Sepinwall: Way too much of Mac appearing to be a completely insane person in front of the entire staff (even if she was also presented as being right throughout the episode).
Emily Mortimer has done a lot of yelling in the middle of that newsroom this season, hasn't she? That's on my Season 2 wish list: No instances of Mac acting crazy in front of the staff.

marymary August 22 2012, 14:39:07 UTC

And of course, since this is in the Sorkin universe...this prompts an anti-abortion person to vandalize the place where Lisa works. Because that's what people who disagree with the good guys do. /dismay

Exactly. I thought that was a leap, and then there are a lot of police hanging around and then Lisa and Maggie call Jim (??) and then Will shows up? IDK, something seemed way overplayed there.

I did understand that the point was that Lisa went off-book and they had to dial it back. I just thought the abortion thing was really wedged in there.

...I do like the idealism behind this idea. There should be real debates, with the candidates in both parties being made to answer follow-up questions. But the cynic in me recognizes that neither the RNC nor the DNC is interested in anything other than the joint press conferences Jed Bartlet complained about.Absolutely. I loved the idea, until I saw how Will executed it. And then I still loved it, but realized it was absolutely ridiculous of them to think this demonstration would sell the RNC ( ... )