The Aaron Sorkin drama series titled The Newsroom premiered in 2012, and it saw its conclusion in 2014 after three seasons. The show revolved around a fictional cable-news network called ACN and featured an ensemble cast. The first season received mixed responses from critics, but the later two seasons had a more positive reception.
The show features Aaron Sorkin’s signature style of fast-paced dialogue and great performances by its stellar cast. The Newsroom received various nominations and awards during the run of the show. The Newsroom was supposed to be like The West Wing of cable-news. During the course of the three seasons, 25 episodes aired, and here are 10 of the best episodes, as per IMDb.
“Oh Shenandoah” (9.4)
In Season three of the show, Will is still in detention through most of this episode. Multiple things happen in this episode, with ACN being forced to change their style of news production to increase their ratings. No one in the newsroom is happy with this change and fight their own small little battles.
Sloan Sabbith does a wonderful takedown of a new app that is being developed that allows people to stalk celebrities. Don tries to talk a girl out of going on the news with her story of campus rape because he knows how the story will get twisted. There is a boiling up of emotions through the episode which concludes with several outbursts and Charlie’s death.
“What Kind Of Day Has It Been” (9.2)
The last episode of season three is mainly set around Charlie’s funeral. There are multiple flashbacks through the episode, some of which show how Charlie orchestrated the change that made ACN a place where they all took pride in working at.
All of the flashbacks help build a final episode worthy of the show. It also helps show the characters’ growth and development that has happened through the course of the show. All loose ends are tied in an episode which ends with MacKenzie being hired as the Network President.
“Run” (9.1)
This episode from season three focuses on the trouble that the network could possibly get into by running a particular story. Neal is told that he’ll be charged with espionage and has to get away from the country. In a very tense scene, we see how Will orchestrates the entire thing with a simple note that says “Run.”
Neal manages to escape in time as the FBI appears with search warrants for the ACN computers. They also have to deal with the fact that Reese’s half-siblings are attempting a hostile takeover of the network.
“Election Night: Part II” (9.1)
After Charlie, Will, and MacKenzie hand in their resignation, Leona decides that Reese will make the final decision whether to accept their resignation or not. Reese decides not to accept their resignation and makes a big show of it, but the three of them have already decided by then to not resign.
Will asks MacKenzie to marry him, and Olivia Munn’s Sloan and Don finally get together in this episode as well. This episode has high-stakes, and it ends with a good pay off as well. It is an entertaining and dramatic season finale.
“Red Team III” (9.1)
Viewers find out how the Genoa story was false and through a series of flashbacks they are shown how the story falls apart. The terrorist attack on the American consulate is also happening during the course of the episode, but they are wary of releasing the story now that their credibility is affected, and they are finding it difficult to trust their sources. This episode tries to unravel how the Genoa story came about as a combination of false threads, political and professional ambitions, and revenge.
“We Just Decided To” (9.1)
The first episode of the first season of The Newsroom is one of the best episodes of the show. It shows the rut, and the formulaic ways in which a newsroom is run and a news network produces the news. It then goes on to show the ways in which it could be done differently.
Like the title of the show suggests, some people just decided to do the news differently, and that’s all it took to make a change in the culture. The introductions of all the different characters are also done in this episode.
“Contempt” (9.0)
Even after pushing the deadline, getting the reporter out of the country safely, and getting the story sorted, Reese doesn’t allow them to go forward and run the story. This is because the new investor will pull out if the story goes out.
The story and all the information they collected is then sent to an old professor of Don’s, who they hope will run the story. Will is held in contempt of the court for refusing to give away the name of the source and is sentenced to jail. Will and MacKenzie quickly gets married before he goes to jail at the end of this episode.
“I’ll Try To Fix You” (9.0)
Will and his show become popular for their reporting and investigation. The fact that the news show’s credibility is only as much as the credibility of the anchor of the show, starts getting tested as Will makes it into many tabloid pieces. Will’s manner and behavior with women get him in trouble, which is cleverly used by the tabloid journalists to question his credibility. There is also a humorous thread running through the show where Neal tries to pitch about Big Foot to anyone who is willing to listen to him.
“The Greater Fool” (8.9)
The final episode of the first season concludes with a final showdown that gives incredible satisfaction to the viewers. It comes to light that the tabloid reports, including a potential one on Will were obtained through the illegal means of hacking into voicemails.
MacKenzie’s voicemail had been hacked to get the dirt on Will. The viewers also realize that this means that MacKenzie hadn’t actually heard what Will thinks he already told her. The showdown between Charlie, Will, and Leona and Reese now gives Charlie and Will ammunition to continue doing the show the way they want to.
“Boston” (8.8)
After the Genoa story debacle, the network has lost its credibility severely. This episode of the third season of the show picks up from here and a major event is unfolding, that being The Boston Marathon bombing. The reporting on the Boston Marathon bombing is hence done with extreme precaution.
The episode comments on the sensational manner in which such news is broadcast usually. This episode also sees the beginning of the troubles to come for Will, Neal, and the entire network when Neal is contacted by someone who gives him access to top-secret government files.
