Ep 12. Denial

Lou Grant season 2 episode 12, titled "Denial", follows the staff of the Los Angeles Tribune as they investigate a prominent businessman accused of being a Nazi war criminal. As the team starts digging into the allegations, they encounter resistance from the businessman's high-powered lawyer and discover that the evidence is far from clear-cut.

The story begins with Rossi and Billie receiving a tip that a wealthy businessman named Hans Bjornstad may have been involved in war crimes during World War II. They start investigating the claims and discover that Bjornstad was a high-ranking officer in the German army during the war, and there are rumors that he was responsible for the deaths of many innocent people.

As the team begins to dig deeper, they encounter resistance at every turn. Bjornstad's lawyer is a powerful and intimidating figure who warns the Tribune against reporting on the accusations. Meanwhile, the Tribune's owners are concerned that publishing such a story could expose the paper to a costly libel lawsuit.

Despite these roadblocks, Rossi and Billie persist in their investigation. They interview survivors of the war who tell harrowing stories of Bjornstad's brutality. They also discover evidence linking Bjornstad to a massacre of Jewish children. However, the evidence is circumstantial, and without hard proof, they know they can't take their story to print.

As the episode progresses, tensions rise within the Tribune as the owners and editors debate whether or not to run the story. Lou Grant, the paper's editor, must navigate the competing pressures and decide what is in the best interest of his paper and the truth.

"Denial" is a tense and thought-provoking episode that raises difficult questions about journalistic integrity and the power of the press. The story raises important ethical questions about what constitutes sufficient evidence to support a controversial claim.

The episode also delves into the psychological phenomenon of denial, as characters struggle to come to terms with the unpleasant truths they uncover. This theme is particularly evident in Lou's storyline, as he grapples with his own personal demons and the role he has played in perpetuating the culture of denial surrounding war crimes.

Overall, "Denial" is a gripping and emotional episode that explores complex issues with nuance and depth. Fans of investigative journalism and ethical dilemmas will find much to chew on in this thought-provoking episode.