Willem Heskes

Outstanding series for those that enjoy intelligent, well researched, superbly acted and directed, serialised TV drama. If you loved Mad Men, here's a series with similar ambition, albeit at a smaller scale. . The Newsreader is a period drama set in the 80s that tells the story of a coming of age Australian, and by extension Western, society. Faced with multiple, hard to avoid, societal and political challenges: AIDS, sexual orientation, gun control, drug abuse, aboriginal protests and racial integration to name some. This is all told through the lens of a TV broadcasting company as backdrop, and the people that work in it as the protagonists. . The complexity of the characters, their relationships, power struggles and political games, the way this incredible jigsaw of pretend-morals, questionable ethics and personal ambition is played out in front of us, becomes utterly compelling and addictive. . The beauty of the writing lies in not taking the viewer for granted. The continuing subtle changes in individual decisions, makes it hard to second-guess, or know where the story will lead next. . It is a triumph of character writing and interpretation by the whole cast and creative team. Thoroughly recommend.