Hailed as “one of the best dramas of the decade” (via The Age), The Newsreader has returned to BBC iPlayer, with the third and final season available to stream on the platform.
The Australian drama, which stars Anna Torv (The Last of Us, Mindhunter) and Sam Reid (The Riot Club, The Hunting), has received glowing reviews, with seasons one and two receiving back-to-back scores of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, which is no easy feat.
Set in the 1980s, the show follows Helen Norville (Torv), the first female newsreader at the News at Six, and her complicated relationship with junior reporter Dale Jennings (Reid), as they attempt to make waves in commercial TV.
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The third season, which picks up in 1989, marks the beginning of the end for The Newsreader, with the cast and crew explaining that it was a tactical decision. “It’s a three-act show really,” Torv told TV Insider.
Echoing this sentiment, writer Michael Lucas said: “For a long time (since season one, in fact), we’ve seen this saga as three acts, and the coming series is designed as an emotional and cathartic third act for the whole vivid ensemble. This will be very clear to audiences when they see it.”
BBC/ABC
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Season three, which premiered in the UK this month, has yet to receive a rating on Rotten Tomatoes, however, critics have shared their thoughts on the show’s six-part conclusion.
“It’s been one of the best dramas of the decade. With its third and final season now airing, the series has proven to be consistently compelling,” raved The Age.
“Well-drawn characters, strong performances and a good pace keep this format engaging, although for me this latest – and last – season has dipped a little, losing spark and lustre,” wrote The Guardian.
BBC/ABC
Meanwhile, The Rolling Tape argued that while season three contained moments that “feel truly earned as stories end,” some of the “elements of the show that made it so intriguing to watch” were missing. “It feels as if intertwining certain characters and relationships became an afterthought,” the publication noted.
All three seasons of The Newsreader are currently available to stream on BBC iPlayer.
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Megan is a freelance news reporter for Digital Spy.