The Loudest Voice Review: 2001 (Season 1 Episode 2)
War arrives on The Loudest Voice Season 1 Episode 2, “2001,” as a national tragedy marks a turning point for Roger Ailes and Fox News.
The episode rides the line of whether or not Ailes delved into exploitation with the footage, or rather used it to show the horrors of the attack. The close-up on Russell Crowe’s face, eyes wide and darting, you can feel the wheels turning in his head, trying to make a decision on whether or not he will be the first to air those jumping from the World Trade Center buildings.
That instance, of coming to the decision, shows the first of several instances where those close to him are starting to question intent. Seth MacFarlane’s Brian Lewis, especially, questions intent at this occasion and becoming propaganda for the White House. There’s a line everyone wants to tread, but Roger appears ready and willing to hop the line at his own whim.
Roger’s paranoia, setting up cameras, having private meetings with only top staff, blowing up at Lachlan Murdoch over downplaying the anthrax scare in the building, shows a man who is at his most dangerous when he feels like something is out of his control.
It comes across as though the terror attacks sends some sort of realization into Roger that everything he knows can be gone in an instant, a thought many likely had at the time. But it comes as a controlling nature here, where what he can’t control must be forced into his control.
Roger’s words becoming Dick Cheney’s words on stage are the start of something larger, a messaging campaign where two heads become better than one. The way the White House and Fox News work in tandem on the episode, at first subtly and only known through word choices and a phone call with Karl Rove, is a frightening use of information warfare.
That he uses Rove leaking information as a way of gaining full access to the White House, and likely furthering those connections, is a sign of the loss of honest journalism for those in Roger’s orbit. Roger’s even warned multiple times as he crosses those lines, but he’s treating these times as special circumstances where it’s a necessary move.
The episode does struggle, however, with no longer attempting to humanize Roger Ailes as the premiere attempted. It’s for good reason, as there’s some irredeemable behavior at hand, but it does prove as a suffering on the events of the episode, not much beyond his family as something to latch onto emotionally.
This is now the second episode where Roger’s improper behavior is only somewhat hinted at.
The Laurie Luhn angle to the story is tackled with distance, where they appear to be heading to a hotel room rather than revealing the full sexual abuse. Perhaps it’s an artistic choice, to see them but not know their full meaning quite yet, but it’s part of the Ailes story a little glossed over so far, which hopefully future episodes tackle in detail.
The Loudest Voice Season 1 Episode 2, “2001,” does the remarkable job of showing the terror and paranoia of the September 11th attacks and their aftermath. The episode strikes a balance with showing how one event sparks many, but finds itself lacking a little in empathy in the process.
What did you think of this episode of The Loudest Voice? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Loudest Voice airs Sundays at 10/9c on Showtime.
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Kevin Lever
Kevin Lever has been following television closely for most of his life, but in starting to cover it, he has grown a further appreciation. He strives to give the blockbusters their due, and give the lesser known shows a spotlight to find more fans.