The Loudest Voice

The Loudest Voice is a riveting drama series from Showtime, first broadcasted in 2019. Boasting an impressive cast line-up of Russell Crowe, Simon McBurney, Naomi Watts, Seth MacFarlane among others, the series intricately sews together the rise and meteoric downfall of one of the most influential figures in cable news history - Roger Ailes.

Very vividly personified by the talented Russell Crowe, Roger Ailes is a figure of great influence, who ushered in a new era of cable news. He's an unstoppable media titan, known as much for his visionary genius as for his unparalleled ego. Crowe's detailed portrayal of Ailes beautifully captures his prowess, ego, manipulation tactics, and humanity, alluding to the complex character that he was.

The show mainly focuses on the last decade of Roger Ailes' career while shedding light on defining moments from his past. The narrative pivots around key events in his tenure at Fox News, showing both his undeniable success in turning the network into a media juggernaut and the controversies that began to eclipse his formidable legacy.

Playing the foil to Ailes is Naomi Watts, interpreting the real-life character of Gretchen Carlson, a Fox News anchor who eventually sues Ailes for sexual harassment. Watts delivers a nuanced performance that is both a testament to Carlson's resiliency and a critique of the highly toxic culture that Ailes cultivated at Fox News.

The series further brings Fox News to life through its uncanny representation of figures like Rupert Murdoch, played by Simon McBurney. His portrayal of Murdoch's hands-off approach and preference to remain on the periphery of the drama unfolding in his newsroom presents an intriguing perspective on the media mogul's leadership style.

Seth MacFarlane, widely known for comedy, narrative fiction, and animations, surprises the audience with his dramatic acting prowess. In the role of Brian Lewis, Fox News' public relations chief turned Ailes' outcast, MacFarlane provides a critical viewpoint of the behind-the-scenes power dynamics at play within the organisation.

The Loudest Voice is an in-depth character study enrichened by remarkable performances and credible scripts. It is less bothered about Fox News or its political implications and more tuned into understanding the man who birthed and shaped it – Roger Ailes. The scenes are often unapologetically direct and visceral, unafraid to delve into the minutiae of Ailes' modus operandi, including his abusive behavior and manipulation tactics.

The series doesn't shy away from displaying the darker aspects of Ailes' personality while showing how he perpetuated an institutional culture of sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. However, it also shed light on how Ailes helped shape the television landscape with his audacious vision, frontier spirit, and a keen understanding of the public's conservative pulse.

The narrative of The Loudest Voice is painted on the vast canvas of American politics and media. Still, at its core, it is an intimate, well fleshed-out study of individual characters navigating an often-toxic environment under the shadow of a larger-than-life persona like Roger Ailes.

The plush production design, sharp dialogues, meticulous attention to period details, and a powerhouse of performances from the ensemble cast, all pivot the series into a must-watch. The Loudest Voice prompts its viewers to contemplate the pervasive influence of media and the individuals that shape it on our daily lives and choices. The consequences of corrupt power structures, the manipulation of public opinion through news channels, and the personal impacts these have on individuals working inside the system remains an undercurrent throughout the series.

In conclusion, The Loudest Voice is not just a series about Fox News or Roger Ailes; it's a cautionary tale about the kind of power we give to our news channels and how it can be misused behind the scenes. It's a hard-hitting drama that captures the viewer's attention through powerful acting performances and well-paced storytelling that delivers an insightful depiction of one of the most discussed figures in cable news history. The series does encourage its viewers to question everything, reflecting the very essence of journalism it portrays. And through it all, it echoes a question - what kind of voice would we choose to rule us and how loud should that voice be?