The Loudest Voice Review: 2009 (Season 1 Episode 4)
The psychological effects of Roger Ailes’ efforts becomes the focal point of The Loudest Voice Season 1 Episode 4, “2009.”
Laurie’s descent, caused by Roger’s control and assaults, is one of the darkest through-lines of the episode. Annabelle Wallis plays each scene with such heartbreaking loss, as the walls continuously close in on Laurie mentally.
The episode plays out as though it’s expected of Laurie, with the knowing glances of those around her at work, and Roger judging her for her rejecting reaction to the abuse after all this time. It’s burned into her mind by this point, leaving this disturbing reality that it’s to be accepted for the furthering of her career, which is so devastating to watch.
Gretchen’s twirl for Roger, which at first almost feels like she’s unwilling to comply with, feels like the start of a process for how Roger works. There’s the testing of boundaries, and seeing who reacts in what way before further advances.
The episode is all about reaction, cause and effect.
The damage of the episode also comes through tearing America apart through the idea of news no longer being journalism; it’s now a battle of good versus evil, one side versus the other. It’s such a dangerous notion, and the episode lets it be known through quick clips of the disorder being created throughout the country. Anger drives ratings, and that’s all that matters to Roger.
Roger even can’t let a small town breathe, twisting a zoning issue to his own benefit, and then dropping it once he got his way. It’s corrosive and upsetting to watch how Roger loosely bends anything to his will, regardless of the consequences.
There’s this sense that people with morals in Roger’s orbit are hesitant, but the allure of power and prestige he offers leaves them unable to fully speak up or push back. The punishment is too great, and so they push on, despite corrupting themselves.
The Loudest Voice Season 1 Episode 4, “2009,” is a stark reminder that we’re watching a car crash and a trainwreck combined spread over two decades. The characters have their own version of doing what’s right, which is crushing anything in the way or bending things to their will.
The turning of a small-town newspaper into an arm of reshaping the very town it represents, the verbal fray against the White House, and most importantly, the mental and physical cruelty done upon those with less power is an astonishing amount for the show to take on, and it does so unflinching.
The Loudest Voice isn’t rewarding the characters for their bad behavior, despite how cheery they are in the moment. It’s showing what happened, and showing how much they loved tearing things apart. Thankfully, the show is making sure to show who they tear apart 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.