'Press' finale promo sees Holly back at Herald threaten Duncan about doing a story on him, he dares her to do her worst
In the second episode of 'Press', when Holly Evans (Charlotte Riley) needed Duncan Allen's (Ben Chaplin) help to get access to video footage, she met him at his usual coffee spot. The first thing they speak of is a piece Holly had written about Duncan, which was not very flattering.
Now, from the promo of the finale of the show, it looks like Holly will write a story about Duncan, but this time, she will have all the inputs she didn't before. She did do a stint at The Post as a correspondent, so that's an interesting turn of events in the finale.
After having worked for years at The Herald, Holly couldn't work for Duncan's Post too long. She couldn't deal with being in the gray area when it came to reporting. In episode 5, it was clear from the moment she stepped into The Post that she was uncomfortable.
She tried to deal with her discomfort by pushing herself to focus on her work. She also had to deal with not being a part of the team that decided what went on the page and what didn't. Considering, the reason she left The Herald was because an apology she didn't agree with was published, this is ironic.
We also saw Holly and Duncan have a face-off after an editorial meeting. Duncan knew Holly's editorial instinct is still in tune with how things worked at The Herald. So, he tried to keep her out of the editorial meetings, but she comes in anyway and just as he expected, says something that would have probably worked at The Herald.
At The Post though, she is chased out of the meeting for making too much noise. The Post goes after their stories with viciousness. Holly witnessed it first hand when a 17-year-old boy faced trial by media for bullying.
Duncan's argument was the boy was almost an adult and did worse when he bullied and attacked others. So, the way the media treated him, was not unfair. Holly, on the other hand, believed Duncan's call was not the right one to take because he is just a 17-year-old boy.
It is a matter of reporting on a minor, and she is already wary of Duncan's methods. As a result of media persecution, when the teenager committed suicide, Holly understood The Post may be bigger, more powerful and resourceful than The Herald but it is definitely not the right fit for her just like her wardrobe change.
So, when we see Holly back at The Herald and reporting on "Resonance" with James' assistance we are excited. The Herald had got the first tip on "Resonance" when James Edwards (Al Weaver) was approached by a man who claimed to work for the government.
The effect reporting on "Resonance" would have is something Holly understood after Duncan assigned the story to her at The Post and claimed it could be damaging to the Prime Minister. So, Holly is completely aware of the repercussions of such a story. Yet she seems to be moving forth with it.
We also see Duncan and Holly meet after she has moved to The Herald. At the meeting, when Duncan tries to see how far Holly is ready to go, she tells him "you are my next story". Upon hearing this, Duncan is furious because no one had the gall to challenge him like this before. He dares her to do her worst and we cannot wait to see how this confrontation will unfold.
The next episode of 'Press' will air Sunday at 10 p.m. on PBS-Masterpiece.
