The Newsreader

A very well developed group of characters. Starts out simple but becomes richer with every episode. Very blunt but done with a good heart. Superb acting and plot make up for low budget settings. A good watch indeed....

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.

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.

The day to day goings on at an Australian news team in the 1980's, a team that deals with terrorism, nuclear disasters, as well as all manner of personal problems.

This awesome series is packed with heart and meaning, almost every action, every line has a significance, and a relevance, it is very much a well crafted, intelligent series. I hate to use the word simple, but there is a simplicity about the earlier episodes, that changes as it develops, it becomes more complex as it develops.

It really wasn't what I expected, it truly does manage to move and entertain in equal measures, it deals with subjects you really wouldn't expect, though when you think of it, quite a lot happened in the 1980's.

I cannot say enough about the acting, it is quite something, Anna Torv and Sam Reid are awesome, and their chemistry is terrific. Credit also to Robert Taylor and Chai Hansen in particular, though the acting throughout is top notch.

9/10.

The Newsreader is a brilliantly acted and written drama series. I absolutely love TV shows that are based around historic events and this is the best example since Mad Men. I'm really hoping for a second season.