‘Scoop’ Review: Netflix’s New Courtroom Drama Goes Deep Into the Dangers of Journalism

Since its inception, journalism has been one of the most rewarding professions a person can dedicate their life to. The search for the truth lives inside each of us, and yet, only a few manage to pursue it, no matter the cost. This also means that with that big reward come even bigger risks, and Netflix‘s new courtroom drama, Scoop, is designed to show how the pursuit of truth can be distorted and threatened by those who prefer to remain in the shadows as they work their evil intents upon the world.

Scoop is a TV series developed by Netflix and created by Hansal Mehta, and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul. The series starts with a fantastic cast of actors: Karishma Tanna, Mohammed Zeeshan Ayyub, Prosenjit Chatterjee, and Harman Baweja.

The series tells the story of an up-and-coming reporter named Jagruti Pathak, who has been blamed for the death of another reporter. Now, she will have to find allies and answers as she moves through the terrible mechanics of the Indian justice system and descends into the city’s underworld.

Scoop is a TV series that brings the best from the courtroom drama genre and manages to create a compelling mystery that will keep the story rolling throughout its six-episode run.

Audiences love courtroom drama; why? Because it allows them to be participants in the story in ways other genres cannot really achieve. To see the clues and make connections is just part of the fun of creating and watching these shows. Thankfully, Scoop manages to do it consistently, even when the entry-level to the mystery is a bit rough.

The series brings the best elements from the courtroom drama genre into its own story and makes a compelling social commentary relating to journalism as a way of expression for modern societies.

The series makes a compelling argument for journalism to be treated with all the seriousness it warrants, but it is also not afraid to point out the flaws in the profession and make them clear enough for all to see. It is not easy to be a journalist in the wolves’ den, but someone has to be there to report on the things that happen and those that don’t.

The show’s creators, Hansal Mehta, and Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul, are really taking the best bits of shows like The Lincoln Lawyer, also a Netflix series, and even some parts of the magnificent, The Wire, to build a case and a mystery that are worth following all the way through. However, for how interesting everything is and how intriguing it is to see if the main character manages to save herself from going to prison, the way the show starts and progresses the story might sometimes feel a bit confusing. The story blasts us from the beginning with tons of information that we need to process fast if we are really going to partake in this story.

This is an issue with journalism as a subject. Journalists mostly report on things they hear and have confirmed sources for it. Journalists don’t report on things they have witnessed themselves, so reporting becomes a thing of conjecture most of the time to try to create the most factual image out of rumors and misinformation. It is not an easy task; you can ask any journalist.

However, when it comes to translating that kind of element into a visual narrative, it becomes a bit difficult to do. We are told a lot of details about things we didn’t see and we never will.

This is something that happens for most of the show, so you need to be prepared to use your own imagination to fill in most of the blanks as the series progresses. There will be a lot of names being thrown around. Names from people you don’t know and never will, and also from people who will never appear in the show.

It all becomes a mental gymnastic exercise. It is compelling but also confusing most of the time, and for some audience members, it will feel more like homework than anything else. So, if you are not in the mood for something that is heavy on exposition, you might want to try another more simple and well-directed TV series.

For those of us who will stay on top of what is happening on screen, better grab your own notebook and start making the connections yourself. Thankfully, following the case becomes easier to do thanks to the performance of Tanna, as the main character, Jagruti. The actress is not only quite beautiful, but she possesses a great presence that would make her a great journalist. She seems approachable, but the moment she starts asking the tough questions, then you have already lost. Many characters fall for this ability of hers during the show, and it feels genuine.

The rest of the cast does a pretty good job, especially the actors playing the part of Jagruti’s colleague journalists, some of them become quite important as the story progresses, and in different ways, they can make an impact both in the story and in the audience. The villains also make a compelling case for themselves by being some of the year’s most obnoxious and frustrating characters.

That is their job, so they are not to blame; they really make for some terrifying obstacles to overcome.

Visually, the series does the minimum sometimes. The courtroom drama genre has never had the need to push the visual boundaries of cinema when it comes to telling its stories, and Scoop is no different. You have seen many different TV series from several countries that look just the same as this. On the one hand, it is great because the show knows how to deliver its visual information in the simplest of ways, but it is also sad that the show’s visuals don’t have any personality. It makes the show a bit forgettable, as no use of imagery feels potent enough.

Ultimately, Scoop does what it came to do and creates a compelling courtroom drama with a fine protagonist at the center of it all. Yes, sometimes the details can be overwhelming, which leads to confusion about who is talking to who or what the characters are even talking about, but with a bit of effort on the audience’s part, the show can become quite a nice experience, one that will push your own ability to make connections and find the truth. It isn’t perfect, but it is quite entertaining.

SCORE: 7/10