Scoop review: Powerful retelling of a real-life crime, this show puts the spotlight on media and mafia

Supposed to be the first installment of telling stories from the fascinating world of crime under a new franchise – Scoop — this six-part series explores the inner workings of a daily newspaper, professional rivalry, journalistic ethics, the job of telling the truth and how that’s compromised in the pursuit of grabbing eyeballs. Scoop largely gets these things right. Just the way, Scam 1992 did. There are no loud news anchors, glammed-up journalists or unnecessary use of expletives. The show ticks several pertinent boxes: it sticks to facts, gives an accurate picture of print media warts and all, and, most importantly, tugs at the heart without being melodramatic. This is the best approach while recounting a series of sensitive and sensational incidents that shook Mumbai.

The show does make a statement about the biases and perceptions around “strong women” and how they make people around them feel threatened. There is a price that these women often have to pay. Yet, the writers (Mrunmayee Lagoo Waikul & Mirat Trivedi) manage to infuse some positivity into the story. Even when Pathak is going through her darkest hours, she still has the support of her family and fellow journalists, who believe in her. One minor quibble though: In an effort to join the dots, the show packs too much information in the last episode that a viewer might find overwhelming

Scoop director: Hansal Mehta

Scoop cast: Karishma Tanna, Mohammad Zeeshan Ayyub, Harman Baweja, Deven Bhojani, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Tejasvini Kolhapure, Shikha Talsania, Tanmay Dhanania, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Inayat Sood, Swaroopa Ghosh, Malhar Thakar, Shikha Talsania, Ira Dubey, Ishita Arun, Sanat Vyas