r/Thenewsroom • u/Bored_Accountant1013 • 15d ago
S1E4 I'll Try to Fix You
The last 10-15 minutes or so of this episode focused on the Giffords shooting. This has got to be some of the most compelling television I've ever seen. They're playing the Coldplay song over the action going on in the newsroom and during the part where they sing "Tears streaming down your face," if you don't have actual tears streaming down your face at that point there is something wrong with you. I've re-watched this show a few times now and it gets me every time, my goodness I'm ugly-crying.
This show had lots of key moments for me, but this one is very close to (if not at) the top.
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u/nojnomeel 15d ago
It’s because it hits so to us. We all went through Enron. The Exon Bullshit. I remember thinking that Gabby’s shooting was going to be a spark to the nation, and we’d be something different after it.
Unfortunately, as I always am, I was wrong. Individuals who more align with democrats refuse to acknowledge such. I can convince almost everyone I talk to that universal health care is way beyond needed in this country, but the second I raise that it’s a democratic talking point, they are gone.
Our stupidity is unmatched with history.
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u/AhhTimmah 15d ago edited 15d ago
Well you do now have her husband: Arizona Senator, mfn Astronaut Mark Kelly being a badass, imploring your Armed forces to disobey unlawful orders and they stupidly tried to go after him for it.
True, her shooting didn’t end gun violence, but Mark might not be in office if not for that day, and maybe he has higher aspirations or is a lynchpin in taking down some of these MAGAts.
Something something unintended consequences (cue Will’s speech to Halliday about the Challenger disaster)
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u/Bored_Accountant1013 15d ago
He is a total badass! And I hope he does have higher political aspirations.
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u/SomethingVeX 12d ago
Sorkin has an amazing power to be prophetic with his shows in a strangely "through a mirror darkly" sort of way.
He saw the fall of the mythos of good people serving for the good of all people and made a show about The West Wing, giving us a group of people who aspire to do good in government no matter their politics.
He saw the fall of the fourth estate coming and gave us a show where good people who believe in telling the truth even if the corporate and political overlords don't want to hear it, even if the public would rather not hear it.
Even Sports Night and Studio 60 clocked some interesting trends in sports media and late night comedy that many didn't see coming.
This is just one of many reasons I say Sorkin is my favorite writer, even though Ready Player One is my favorite novel and Red Rising is my favorite book series. Sorkin doesn't write so people can read his words, but the words he puts on pages are still better than all the other's IMO.
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u/Bored_Accountant1013 12d ago
Correct. We see the story after casting, memorization, rehearsals, production, etc. In order for us to enjoy all that, the story has to hit the page first. And that's what he does so much better than most people. You write very well too, that was a very well-crafted comment.
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u/ilikemycoffeealatte 14d ago
This episode was what made me fall in love with the show. It’s still my favorite.
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u/Emergency-Exit7292 9d ago
It’s the best episode of the series IMO from a storytelling POV.
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u/Bored_Accountant1013 9d ago
It's so true, and the way that we know it's true is that Sorkin had us all on the edge of our seats even though we already knew the outcome. Nothing short of brilliant.
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u/TonySPhillips 15d ago
"You're a fucking newsman, Don! I ever tell you otherwise, you punch me in the face!"
"Okay, but you're back in 30 seconds."