This cold open features Derrysburg High School students asking the reporters questions about what they do and other similar questions, simple enough. The students are basically on a tour of the office to ask questions and learn about reporting. One of the students ends up telling Mare about the music teacher retiring from the high school (Mr. K.) whom she remembers, and that he’s putting on one final show.
Another student questions Ned on how he feels about outlets like SoWesley that do the same thing Truth Teller does, but with no expenses. She then goes on to talk about the guy who runs it, Wesley Holzwanger, and how his blog is the most popular local news blog in Lucas County. He’s in the grade above her and has a massive following of 300,000 subscribers. He’s also doing this by himself. Ned then looks at one of his articles and proceeds to poke fun at it, even leaving a comment on it.
Mare and Oscar walk into Ned’s office and tell him about heading to the high school, where Mare will write about Mr. K. retiring, and Oscar will write a review about the play. Ned agrees and tells them to go do it, especially because he wants to compete and outwrite the Wesley kid. Ned overhears Esmerelda laughing and asks her what’s up, to which she shows him the article Wesley wrote about Ned’s comment on his previous article, calling him a cyberbully. Ken even reprimands him, telling him he may need to apologize.
Detrick tries unsuccessfully to be nice with Nicole by giving her a homemade bird (isn’t it obvious that he likes her?). Ken and Esmerelda supervise Ned as he calls Wesley to try and apologize, and even asks if he could take the article down, which doesn’t go well. Esmerelda tells him about TTT online, offering to let him intern there, and he agrees. Mare and Oscar head to the high school auditorium, where we get to see Mr. K. Esmerelda tells Ned to meet her in the parking lot, and shows him that SoWesley wrote another article, exposing Esmerelda for trying to get him to work for her, and mentioning child labor laws.
Next, Oscar and Mare are talking to Mr. K. Mare brings up a bit of a grudge where another student got a part in a play when she was in school that she felt she deserved. She also mentions rumors that the student got the part because the parents donated a fog machine. Back at the office, Esmerelda then pitches several ideas to Ned about how to stop Wesley. Ned gets an idea that they’re going to anonymously send him a fake press release, and if he publishes it, his reputation will be ruined because it will show that he doesn’t check his sources. Mare is then seen trying to get some negative information about Mr. K, and Oscar watches the play.
Ned and Esmerelda are sitting at the computer trying to write the anonymous email, and Esmerelda sends the email before they are ready, because she “doesn’t want to be there all night,” even though it might not have been the best it could have been. Mare looks for dirt on the student, Alison, and Mr. K., trying to prove that she got in via the parents. Ken questions Ned on why he let Wesley get the story, which shows that he did take the bait and posted the fake story. Mare ends up writing the story about Mr. K, with nothing bad in it, until she gets a call from someone who reveals dirt on him. She edits the article, revealing Mr. K. never went to Juilliard as he claimed. Detrick then talks to Nicole, apologizing for doing too much, and tells her he likes her. Toledo Truth Teller publishes the article about SoWesley spreading lies. Our end-credit scene involves Travis and his drone.
The show seems like it’s rushing certain character developments, like the Nicole and Detrick love story (We’re only on episode 4, and they are shown kissing already, isn’t that usually kind of early in a show for something like that?). This episode again has more going on, but it still lacks interest. It has an interesting premise, but it comes out a little lackluster.
Rating 6.7/10