The Newsroom

If there was a way to promote this show, I would start by saying that it is certainly something that every media aspired person, especially journalists should see. Showcasing a behind-the-scenes set of a fictional news channel, the anchor and his newsroom staff, attempt to expose hardcore news happenings, putting the flow of proper information first rather than meeting corporate demands. 

As someone who wants to work in the field of journalism, this show gripped me with attention right from the first episode. Though the news station was just a fictional one, the creator had in fact been to real-world cable channels and used that knowledge in the show. It was quite amazing to get an insight as to how news is sorted and revealed to the audience and also to see the workings of a newsroom. The characters were as different as could be and each one had their own moral code and levels of integrity, as to what kind of news should be covered. While it was entertaining to see a lot of media professionals work together under one roof, I could also see just how challenging and argumentative it can get when trying to convince one an another of the importance of a story. 

The first season wasn't all as great as the second and third, but the overall concept of the show was both dramatic and informative at the same time. There was a coverage of various news items, including few from the past like the 9/11 memorial, killing of Osama Bin Laden and so on, perhaps in order to get the audience familiarised with the context of the whole show. The shooting format of the serial was pretty good too, not exactly a documentary but at the same time, stayed very true to the aspect of reality regarding what happens in a real newsroom. Having consisted of three seasons, the show concluded on December 14, 2014. 

Happy binge-watching! 

Game of Thrones

As someone who is an avid reader of books, I suppose I am a little ashamed to admit that I haven't read the Game of Thrones series and instead opted to watch the television adaptation. Although, in my defence, I was so impatient to become a part of the fandom that has got the whole world reeling, and I did not possess enough time to read the books. Even still, no regrets and I am so glad to have finally indulged in this amazing show. 

Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama show based on George R.R. Martin's series of novels, 'A Song of Ice and Fire'. It takes place in the fictional lands of Westeros and Essos and multiple intervening plots and characters with a primary action; playing the game of thrones. To quote Cersei of House Lannister, 'When you play the game of thrones, you either win or die.' It may sound ridiculously dramatic right now, but I can honestly say that she is not joking around. This show had me hooked on from the very start, with episodes ending with all sorts of cliffhangers that left me wanting more.

Apart from House Lannister, other major Houses include Stark, Targaryen (a House that was completely eradicated during the war, leaving behind only two survivors, Daernerys and her brother, Viscerys), Baratheon and many more. I'm sure that the series aren't all that detailed as the books and there are changes, but nonetheless, all five seasons have been nothing but captivating. The shooting locations are absolutely beautiful, the action scenes are intense, and the creators have done an excellent job with giving the whole show the authenticity and feel of the culture of the people of Westeros and Essos. 

One of the only negatives about the show that affects me is the unnecessary nudity that is frequently portrayed. Of course, it's understandable that few of the scenes are integral to the story but personally, I think it goes beyond the line many times. Furthermore, it's even worth noting that it is only the women who are subjected to this sort of objectivity and sexual violence in the show, which makes it all the more discriminative. The use of violence and torture are a bit too much at times as well, not to mention, the portrayal of rape which are in obvious ways, unnecessary. 

On the whole, it is a brilliant and amazing series and I highly recommend viewers to give it a shot. Please note that it is not for the fainthearted and scenes of gruesome violence and death are very much prevalent. 

Happy binge-watching!