Anna Torv and Sam Reid return for the second season of ABC's hit period drama The Newsreader, set against the backdrop of the 1987 federal election. The show continues to explore the lives of Helen Norville and Dale Jennings, whose romantic relationship blossomed in season one, but the newsroom remains the central focus.
Creator Michael Lucas and director Emma Freeman have sharpened the plotting and deepened the performances. The season tackles media ethics, including debates about gun control and the treatment of female presenters, with network boss Lindsay (Daniel Gillies) criticising Helen's style as 'too aggressive'.
The supporting cast shines, particularly Michelle Lim Davidson as producer Noelene Kim and William McInnes as the bear-like newsroom chief. Hunter Page-Lochard also appears as Lynus Preston, an organiser of Aboriginal Bicentenary protests.
Period details, such as brick-sized cordless phones and a muted colour palette, evoke the 1980s convincingly, though the show's diverse newsroom may not fully reflect the era's white male-dominated media landscape. Nonetheless, The Newsreader remains a compelling drama that doesn't shy from difficult subjects.
