HBO has never been known to shy away from controversial topics. In fact, the network is known for causing more controversies than it ever avoided, and while it may end up offending some, it has always produced content that pushed the envelope. The Newsroom is no exception.
While the show was initially received with mixed enthusiasm, a strong second season was enough to renew the series for a third and final run. The Newsroom's third season may only be six episodes long, but if the new trailer is anything to go by, the series will go out strong.
For fans of the show, the number of different story threads continuing from the second season is a nice treat, but the focus of the trailer is clear. The 2013 Boston Marathon bombings were followed by panic and misinformation, and it seems that The Newsroom is set to accurately depict the fallout of the tragedy. Social media presence in the news and the idea of protecting one's sources are also major themes that the third season will tackle.
It's a shame that The Newsroom will only have six episodes to do so. The upcoming storylines could easily be the high point of the show, but the third season has been cut to half its original length. This is likely due to complications during negotiations between Aaron Sorkin, the show's creator, and HBO. The Newsroom's second season also fell victim to a number of delays due to re-shoots, and eventually, comedian Patton Oswalt's appearance was cut in its entirety.
HBO also released a short featurette on the making of season three and the themes the show would tackle, though it does exclude any behind-the-scenes frustration:
Initially, opinions of The Newsroom were mixed. Critics of the first season cited the show's writing as a weak point, with some reviewers calling out Sorkin for simply furthering his own political beliefs. The second season, while not a universally critical success, did manage stronger reviews than previous episodes. Unfortunately, troubles during production of season two meant that a third season was dangerously close to never happening. Eventually, HBO did renew the series, though the season was cut from 10+ episodes to only six.
If the show continues to improve as it has over the past couple years, than The Newsroom could certainly end on a high note. It's sad that so much trouble behind the scenes has crippled the production, but thankfully, fans will at least get an ending to the series.
The third and final season of The Newsroom begins Nov. 9 on HBO.
